What the hell is sustainable packaging anyway? It's late, and I'm going to rant about everything I know and how to approach sustainable packaging design. You're going to learn a few things in this one: 1) What questions to ask you supplier, manufacturer, and yourself before you embark on the road to sustainable packaging design. 2) Materials, we're going to have a heart to heart about materials. Paper, plastic, and alternatives what they are and how they work. Some we're just going to say no to....
Jul 29, 2021•54 min•Season 6Ep. 55
Jeremy Etchison & Ben Blanchard are the dynamic duo behind SONOS ' Roam packaging. Their team of designers and engineers executed what can be called the future of sustainable tech packaging. A completely recyclable product pack that uses custom paper wrapped corrugated board and molded fiber inserts to cradle and present the ROAM speaker. We discuss how sustainability was the Northstar that led to Sonos' packaging design for the ROAM and all future Sonos products. We learn about custom paper...
Jul 27, 2021•53 min•Season 6Ep. 54
Packaging designers have a superpower no other designer has. The ability to reach into the future and create it today. Learn the strategies Clark McDowall use to design packaging for Mars owned Nutro Pet Foods and legacy brand Palmolive. How to spot packaging trends without falling in love with transient trends? Applying this strategic vision to designing packaging with longevity and relevance to build a Future-Ready brand. Nutro Packaging Design: We discuss designing packaging for large to smal...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 53
Want to know how agencies are designing packaging for the future? Where do packaging innovations breed? Where do you find packaging inspiration? If you’re interested in designing forward thinking packaging that goes beyond just making bags and boxes, you gotta listen to this episode. We talk with Daniel Lowe founder of Someone and Others, a design studio based in LA working on some of the countries most cutting edge brands. Listen today and you’re going to walk away with some inspiration and lea...
Jul 14, 2021•49 min•Season 6Ep. 52
Simon Van Leuven breaks down what happens to your packaging after it's picked up for recycling. We discuss how to design packaging for sustainability, and how different packaging materials impact the true nature of sustainable packaging design. Simon is someone that I’ve followed for a while and watched many of his videos where he’s out on the job at recycling plants, MRFs, or even outdoors fishing and picking up trash. He’s a director at Vanden Recycling based in Melbourne Straya, he’s also the...
Jul 09, 2021•54 min•Season 6Ep. 51
How do you design packaging for DTC brands? How do you know how many boxes to buy when you haven't sold anything? How do you time your packaging buys when you're working with projections? The founders of Last Crumb get into these details and many more. We learn how they developed the packaging that is winning awards and most importantly selling out their weekly cookie drops. At nearly $10 each cookie these cookies are flying off the shelf and growing this 10 week old start-up. For online only br...
Jun 28, 2021•39 min•Season 5Ep. 50
In our conversation about packaging design for Pride month with Zipeng Zhu, why men's body wash has grip, and why it's important to share your work to build your network. You'll also get, How Zipeng Zhu selects colors when designing packaging, fashion, or digital? Here's a secret his current favorite color is yolk :) Harry's razors hired Zipeng Zhu to develop the packaging for the recent Pride packaging as well as developing all of the merchandise. Understand why design matters and how creative ...
Jun 16, 2021•48 min•Season 5Ep. 49
What is a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and how can you use it to make packaging decisions? If you're a packaging buyer, a packaging designer, or packaging manufacturer this episode shares insights into the LCA process as well as the value of having a human in the loop to balance the data. What questions impact data and how understanding the key areas of consumerism can determine the right packaging for you. Learn how Medoola saves global consumer brands millions on packaging, retail, and supply cha...
May 28, 2021•55 min•Season 5Ep. 48
AB InBev's Global Director of Innovation - Packaging, Keenan Thompson shares the process their Global Innovation Technology team uses for designing packaging. We get deep into the process and take apart what innovation actually means. How to take disparate information and mold it into the future when you have the right team at the table. We discuss the team's recent packaging innovation for Corona which uses agri-waste to make the board for the 6 pack carriers. We discuss the testing of the tech...
May 19, 2021•50 min•Season 5Ep. 47
A good packaging designer will create a beautiful design, a great one will design an experience that includes how materials can make you feel. We speak to Annette Clayton with Fedrigoni paper from Verona Italy where you'll learn what makes a paper luxury and how brands can use paper to brand themselves without graphics. This is episode 1 of the Package Design Unboxd, Paper Trade Show. Watch the full video on our LinkedIn page Connect with Annette on LinkedIn Follow and support our sponsor IDP Di...
May 07, 2021•11 min•Season 5Ep. 46
Packaging design powerhouse Enlisted Design has designed packaging for brands like All Birds, Fridababy, Linksys, and so many other brands. Beau Oyler CEO of Enlisted shares their approach to designing product and packaging under the same roof. Enlisted isn't just a packaging design agency, they develop and engineer products and establish the branding, delivering the complete turn key product. We also learn about the power of Enlisted Design's tools for capturing user data from e-commerce intera...
Apr 21, 2021•52 min•Season 5Ep. 45
The number one rated plastics material expert, Dr. Chris DeArmitt talks about his research on plastic and plastic packaging waste. We discuss how to reduce waste, recycle more packaging, and what questions to ask when considering paper over plastics. According to Chris, his research shows that plastic is the greenest material available for most cases. Listen and you be the judge. This episode is a real game-changer, everything you thought you knew might not be as you expect when you follow the f...
Apr 08, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 44
NOTPLA is a seaweed based material used for packaging liquids and now is being turned into heatsealable films that are completely biodegradable and edible. The zero plastics movement is growing and NOTPla is helping the packaging industry look at new ways to develop materials and packagign that does not look like anything we've ever seen. Pierre Paslier is the co-founder and CEO of NOTPla, join us as we learn what NOTPla is doing now, that verticals it serves, and what is in the pipeline for fut...
Mar 22, 2021•43 min•Season 5Ep. 43
Why did McDonald's need a packaging redesign, what was being solved, or how long ago did this project kick-off? we get into the details with Matt Sia, Creative Director at Pearlfisher. We discuss Matt's sketching, the pitch meeting, how the designers are presented, and really what it feels like to overhaul one of the biggest brands on earth. The good and the bad. In this episode you get to here it straight from the Creative Director behind the McDonald's packaging redesign, so tune in and grab y...
Mar 11, 2021•43 min•Season 5Ep. 42
Have you ever wondered how packaging designs and brands navigate timelines And manage all of the moving parts of the complex packaging industry? Have you ever tried to manage your own packaging project from design to manufacturing? Well then you know why project managers are the superstars of the packaging industry. Today we speak with the Project Executioner herself, Megan Gamble a packaging project manager based in Atlanta with clients around the globe. We discuss all of the unseen pitfalls yo...
Feb 18, 2021•40 min•Season 5Ep. 41
A big part in packaging design is selecting materials. Are the materials strong enough, flexible enough, do they produce the right amount of cushion? But beyond the protective properties of packaging, we need packaging to connect with consumers and the fastest way to do that is through touch. Selecting paper is an artform. Selecting paper for its printability, scuff reduction, and texture that can communicate emotion is critical. In Episode #40 of Package Design Unboxd, we speak to Sabine Lenz o...
Jan 21, 2021•39 min•Season 4Ep. 40
When it comes to packaging design education there are many paths to take and many times we're unclear with where those paths can take you. In this episode we discuss packaging education and the program Gerardo Herrera has built at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena California. Art Center focuses on establishing a solid foundation of design, process, and critical thinking in it's to packaging design. Staffed by professional designers the packaging program walks students through the basics i...
Jan 18, 2021•50 min•Season 4Ep. 39
When you hear the term circular packaging design or circular economy, many people confuse it to mean recycling. Even though the recycling logo is a möbius loop, the process is generally linear, not circular. In this episode we talk with Paul Foulkes-Arellano founder of Circuthon, founder of the Sustainable Design Alliance, and an advisor at A Plastic Planet. A Plastic Planet as of this recording just helped Unilever's Dove launch their first refillable deodorant packaging. Also check out Paul's ...
Jan 07, 2021•46 min•Season 4Ep. 38
How does packaging impact transportation, warehousing, inventory, finance, IT, Automation, even systems management? Learn how fill-rate, box size, and distribution can make or break your business. We talk to Joe Fernandez, Senior Packaging Engineer @ Vera Bradley about how his team focuses on the business of packaging before making critical decisions. Check out IDPdirect.com for factory direct packaging manufacturing. Connect with Joe Fernandez on LinkedIn Learn more about Vera Bradley Connect w...
Dec 21, 2020•30 min•Season 4Ep. 37
Struggling to generate leads, not sure where to go, LinkedIn not doing you any favors? Maybe it's time you gave Tiktok a chance. Today we talk to Cory Connors or CoryGated, as he's known on TikTok. We discuss what the platform actually is, how to set up an account, what type of content performs well, and how to build an audience. By focusing on delivering useful information and educational TikTok posts, Cory has been able to generate a consistent stream of leads for his team at Landsberg Orora. ...
Dec 18, 2020•29 min•Season 4Ep. 36
We've all heard E. Adam Peek host his packaging podcast The People of Packaging, so intros episode we turn the tables and ask him a few questions. Gain a new perspective on the future of packaging, insight into labels and the world of Fortis Solutions, and how Adam is writing the first children's book about packaging. Adam has based his career and life on making one good decision at a time. Thanks to Diecut Templates for sponsoring today's episode: DiecutTemplates.com/UNBOXD Listen to The People...
Dec 09, 2020•33 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Not sure where to look for a third party reviewed sustainable packaging supplier? Package Design Unboxd speaks to Guacamole Airplane to find out more about their recently launched Sustainable Packaging Suppliers Guide and what they look for when introducing new suppliers. Guacamole Airplane is a sustainable packaging and structural design agency based in the Bay Area. Ian Montgomery is GA's Creative Director who shares his approach to sustainability, design, and collaboration. Marisa Sanchez-Dun...
Nov 30, 2020•35 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Kelly Cramer is the Lead @ How2Recycle.com, a team that helps packaging designers, brands, and consumers learn how to recycle packaging and share the responsibility of recycling packaging today. This goes counter to what we as consumers have experienced historically, where consumers have had 100% of the responsibility to understand how to separate and recycle packaging. Today, How2Recycle.com communicates how to separate packaging components for increased recyclability and guides brands and pack...
Nov 23, 2020•45 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Dr. Andrew Hurley offers the answer to "Will your packaging design changes deliver a measurable ROI?" His platform Package Insight offers an eye into consumer thoughts, emotions, and how they actually interact with your packaging in a real world environment before you go to market. Do design trends really drive consumer purchasing patterns or are packaging designers allowing their own preferences and biases dictate the results? Thanks to International Direct Packaging for their sponsorship: IDPd...
Nov 16, 2020•30 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Today’s Guests are Chris Cook & Audra Nebolini, ACDs at CBX. Here's what we discuss and what you can learn more about: Packaging design strategy, what it's like in a major brand strategy session Setting benchmarks for success How brands can communicate purpose using design cues on shelf We discuss how you can take a brand like Clorox who previously was seen as an under the sink product with skull and crossbones for its ability to kill everything and creating a 180 degree turn in the consumer...
Nov 09, 2020•29 min•Season 4Ep. 31
What do professional designers do when they want to learn something new? They can’t always run off to the fanciest packaging design schools. They look for what fits into their busy lives. Online design education, from YouTube to skill share we search for anything to fill those gaps. But what do you do when it’s something as technical as packaging science? You seek out PackagingSchool.com, an online packaging science educational platform that is licensed through Clemson University. Today’s guest ...
Nov 05, 2020•22 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Michael Keplinger joins us to discuss the packaging design and brand building strategies it takes to launch a Smashbrand. We'll talk about testing, substrates, print processes, and how to view packaging as a start-up or an established brand. Michael has also launched several of his pwn products bringing that experience to the table when we talk about start-up packaging design and the research you should do before anyone launches a product. Connect with: Michael Keplinger on LinkedIn Smashbrand o...
Nov 02, 2020•43 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Markus Joutsela is a Visual Communications lecturer at Finland's famous Aalto University. Markus also founded the Pack-Age program which takes students from every discipline and combines them to create packaging innovation machines that work with some of the world's biggest brands. Markus and Evelio discuss the types of projects the students collaborate on and how they interact with the brands they work with. We also discuss why there is so much innovation coming from the Nordic region of the wo...
Oct 26, 2020•31 min•Season 3Ep. 28
With over 35 years of experience in design and print, we only scratch the surface of Lisa’s experience. But lucky for all of us, Lisa has also launched a print production class online to teach you how to design to print and how to successfully translate package design for printing. We discuss the production process, questions every designer should ask, and how to short cut experience by learning production as part of your design education. Lisa's Print Production class at https://mastermind.com ...
Oct 12, 2020•37 min•Season 3Ep. 27
In episode 26, we discuss everything you need to know in order to begin designing cannabis packaging. Our guest Jared Mirsky is one of the most well-known cannabis brand agents in the game today. He's shared his story about growing cannabis brands with his team all over the world and has worked with some of the most notable names in the game. Whether you're a seasoned packaging designer or just cutting your first box, cannabis if a whole new ballgame. You need to understand the industry and stra...
Sep 02, 2020•28 min•Season 3Ep. 26
