How do you build a career steeped in innovation and sustainability, where do you get the experience to begin, and what does it mean to manage that process? This episode we speak to Jenny (Cairns) Greenwood, Innovations and Sustainability Manager at ButterflyCannon in London about her 0 - 1 path to building a career. Listen and learn how to inject your design process with innovation and sustainability, what questions to ask, and where to start. If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe...
Mar 16, 2022•28 min•Season 9Ep. 86
Today’s episode is a 2 parter, we’re speaking with Jenny Cairns, ButterflyCannon’s Innovation & Sustainability Manager. We spoke for so long about a few different things that it actually made more sense to break it up then to release just one long podcast. In part 1, Jenny and I discuss ButterflyCannon’s Climatic Table document, which is a checklist for 28 sustainable design elements. Essentially a menu of sustainability priorities each brand should work through. Making sustainability a litt...
Mar 14, 2022•44 min•Season 9Ep. 85
Evelio ( @eveliomattos ) and Neha Tulsian ( @NehaTulsian ) discuss designing packaging for FMCG in India at NH1 Design , and how balancing culture and society can impact packaging design decisions. Here are three massive things you’ll take away from this episode: 1) Sometimes you gotta just chase your passion. Neha discusses how her agency was growing based on word of mouth from one industry, when she realized it wasn’t an industry she wanted to be known for. This led her to take a chance with a...
Mar 09, 2022•30 min•Season 9Ep. 84
Evelio Mattos ( @eveliomattos ) sits down with Jamie Ellul ( @jamie ellul ) to discuss how Supple Studio created the iconic Frahm Jacket packaging that won several awards at Pentawards ( @pentawards ) last year. How he built his agency, how this project literally walked into his office, and the value of winning design awards for agencies. --- *Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on L...
Mar 04, 2022•48 min•Season 9Ep. 83
How do you design packaging that is infused with sensuality, time, and a place, while delivering it in an aesthetically relevant pack? Asa Cook Creative Director of Intertype Studio explains how his 2 year old studio won the New-Comer award from Pentawards. He also shares his process for collecting and fermenting data as well as delivering deeply moving designs. By codifying data Intertype studio establishes a solid foundation destined to lead them to victory and their clients to financial succe...
Feb 25, 2022•38 min•Season 9Ep. 82
Pentawards, the most prestigious global packaging design competition is back in 2022! Adam Ryan and I discuss the changing landscape of packaging competitions and why diversity matters in building a global design community. This year's jury is made up of designers, materials experts, and an NGO (WWF) spanning Russia, the Americas, Asia, and pretty much every continent on the map. If you want to win a prize, there are lots of packaging competitions out there, but if you want to build community Pe...
Feb 16, 2022•58 min•Season 9Ep. 81
Have you ever tried to write a Package Design Proposal and didn't know where to start? We discuss the discovery phase of your packaging proposal in this episode, everything that is required and everything you need to consider before sharing with a potential packaging design client. Evelio shares how to consider timelines, budgets, quantities, and create a visual language for your client to communicate with you regarding their design desires. Packaging design requires many considerations and the ...
Feb 14, 2022•12 min•Season 8Ep. 80
I just bought an NFT solely for the packaging design. Insane? Probably. I bought the Chinese New Year release of Gelnfiddich's 21 year old single malt scotch that comes in a beautifully illustrated box by Chineses Artist Rlon Wang. The idea of limited edition packaging isn't new and neither are presages, but this is entirely different, yet so much the same. I own 1 of the presale 200 limited edition bottles and boxes. The difference is that I don't get the bottle unless I burn the NFT, and each ...
Feb 07, 2022•7 min•Season 8Ep. 79
Learn how to avoid the packaging design mistakes every brand makes. What are the biggest mistakes every start-up, unicorn, heritage brand makes? This quick chat breaks down 3 of the most impactful mistakes you can make to devalue your consumer experience and your brand's equity. We'll tackle everything from Timing, size, and unboxing what the issues are, how they happen and how to avoid making the same mistakes every brand is bound to make. This is part one in a series of packaging mistakes and ...
Feb 03, 2022•31 min•Season 8Ep. 78
Learn how finding your flow in the package design process allows you to deliver the value to your client. Gene Portnoy is a prolific packaging designer with years of experience, much of which never requiring a portfolio. In this episode we discuss how he built an award winning portfolio in less than 2 years by pushing himself beyond his comfort zone. 3 things you’ll get from this episode: 1) How sharing the work you design for fun can create unexpected new opportunities. Pick up new clients, and...
Jan 20, 2022•54 min•Season 8Ep. 77
Ever wonder what it takes to design packaging for Monopoly, Barbie, GI Joe, and the world of games and toys? Matt Nuccio shares his experiences in the toy industry and his approach to packaging. Games and toys die on the shelf every year due to bad packaging, learn how this team have stood the test of time to be industry leaders in packaging and game development. Here's three nuggets you're going to walk away with: 1) The importance of design for manufacture 2) Size and the sustainable package 3...
Jan 15, 2022•35 min•Season 8Ep. 76
Whether you're just starting out using Adobe Dimensions or a seasoned packaging designer with Quark Express in your rearview, this episode dives into the future of packaging design education with Aaron Brashear. You're walking away with a ton of stuff including: How to further your career before it even starts. How packaging design programs at FIT NY & Parsons differ New curriculum to prepare students for the future of packaging Innovations, ideation process in education, and embracing failu...
Jan 05, 2022•58 min•Season 8Ep. 75
There are so many myths out there in terms of what is recyclable, what's not recyclable, what kind of material you should use, what material you shouldn’t use, where you should use them, and how to use them. Today, we’re sharing with you a presentation that Evelio gave at the Lithuanian Baltic NAPA Design Conference that focuses on the myths around the sustainability and recycling of packaging. Tuning in you’ll discover a list of things that you can do when you're designing sustainable packaging...
Dec 17, 2021•27 min•Season 8Ep. 74
We are taking this opportunity to do something a little different today! This episode's focus is on sustainable packaging and we recap some of the amazing ideas and advice we have received since starting this podcast. We feature snippets and segments from our conversations with Katie Kubrak, Tom Szaky, and Beau Peck, all episodes that are worth going back to listen to in their entirety if you have not already! Our three featured guests are all experts in the world of sustainable practices and pa...
Dec 09, 2021•25 min•Season 8Ep. 73
Long-form and ‘doom and gloom’ content on sustainability arguably lack efficacy because readers either lose focus or end up feeling completely disempowered. Today’s guest is Ariel Maldonado and she is switching things up by using the format of memes on her Instagram page, @gogreensavegreen. You might be wondering why we are talking about memes today but, to practice sustainable packaging, you need to be well-informed. This is where Ariel fits in, so make sure to follow her! We chat with our gues...
Dec 02, 2021•37 min•Season 8Ep. 72
We have all experienced molded fiber, usually as a replacement for foam or plastic inserts (think egg boxes). However, this largely underrated material offers countless possibilities to those bold enough to use it, and it is environmentally friendly to top it all off! Colourform is at the forefront of design and innovation with molded fiber and today we get to speak to two key members of its team, Richard Dancy and Chris Schofield! Richard and Chris take us through the process behind the complex...
Nov 18, 2021•47 min•Season 8Ep. 71
When you focus on manufacturing, you learn about the materials and processes behind a product, and this knowledge only makes you a better designer at the end of the day. Brandi Parker, Head of Sustainability at Pearlfisher, joins us to talk about how her experience on the manufacturing side has influenced the way she thinks about sustainable design. Brandi’s role at Pearlfisher has taught her about the deep connection between sustainability and design and we start our chat by hearing more about ...
Nov 11, 2021•39 min•Season 7Ep. 70
This is the story of how your host, Evelio Mattos, won a packaging design and product launch pitch against VaynerMedia and also lost $900,000 in the process. The lesson in today’s episode is about knowing your value and understanding what you bring to the table when it comes to pricing, packaging design, and opportunities. As with any proposal, Evelio believes that presenting with confidence and clarity is key. It’s about delivering your pitch, focusing on its value to the consumer, their brand,...
Oct 27, 2021•19 min•Season 7Ep. 69
Today, we’re discussing the realities of waste management in Argentina and the lengths that people go to in order to be just a little bit more sustainable with Guillermo Dufranc, author, YouTuber, and consistent LinkedIn poster of great sustainability content. When he isn’t busy being a zero-waste influencer, Guillermo manages a creative team at tridimage, an award-winning packaging design agency headquartered in Buenos Aires. In this episode, you’ll learn how global cities like Buenos Aires col...
Oct 19, 2021•55 min•Season 7Ep. 68
Years ago, the return and reuse of glass bottles was common practice, but when convenience began to dominate the messaging around packaging, this went out the window. Now, 75% of glass bottles end up in landfills. Through her company, Conscious Containers, Caren McNamara is on a mission to change this. Caren Conscious Containers is a benefit corporation selling refillable glass bottles and establishing infrastructure to collect, sanitize and resell them throughout the country. They have also com...
Oct 11, 2021•44 min•Season 7Ep. 67
Todd Maute explains how CBX’s FORGE process helps redesign multi-SKU packaging for CPG and retail brands faster and sometimes cheaper. CBX is known for its brand experience development for pet, food, and even pet food brands! Learn how design agencies collect data, project-manage, and make production a design challenge to ensure every redesign aspect is measured and considered. Packaging design for one box is complex. Redesigning packaging for hundreds of SKUs all at once, well, that’s an undert...
Sep 23, 2021•51 min•Season 7Ep. 65
In this episode Evelio (@eveliomattos) speaks to Vincent Colard of Citeo.com a company working hand in hand with packaging designers, manufacturers, and recycling systems to get France to 100% recycling rates by 2025. Learn what materials to use in your packaging design to increase the chances of it being recycled at end of life. They discuss chemical recycling, what it is, how it helps, and where it fits in the grand scheme. Also the different types of plastics, benefits, drawbacks, and differe...
Sep 16, 2021•45 min•Season 7Ep. 64
Ever wondered what the future of packaging looks like? You’re not alone. In fact, it’s a question that has been on the minds of many designers and brand-owners alike. We all know how important sustainability is to our world today, but we also want to make sure that we are doing everything in our power to make products as effective and safe for consumers. That being said, antimicrobial coatings are trending due to covid, the current pandemic, but also looking to everyday hygiene of products we co...
Sep 08, 2021•59 min•Season 7Ep. 63
Kirk Visola, Founder and Creative Director of Mind the Fun, Co-host of Clubhouse's Kirk and Kurtts (Andy Kurtts), and Monday's with Marilyn (Kirk's mom) joins PDU to have a discussion about race and design. Kirk shares the experiences he's had as a black designer, learning that design could lead to a career, and his passion for comics. We discuss everything from updating his LinkedIn profile with an image for the first time, interviews, his sketch process, and how design can take a couple days t...
Sep 02, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 7Ep. 62
Supply chains are breaking down, freight rates are blowing up, and today there are even brands that are paying off dock workers to move their products to the front of the line. Don't stoop low enough to break the law, just listen to this episode where Thaxton Lipscomb explains how to engineer your logistics to move your goods faster and cheaper. He lays out everything from materials to incoterms and how to save money by shifting responsibilities to sellers making them want to move the goods fast...
Aug 25, 2021•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 61
Is plastic packaging evil? Is it killing sea-life, reducing sperm counts of men globally, decimating bird populations, or is it a misunderstood miracle material? In the Package Design Unboxd Q&A Clubhouse room, Chris DeArmitt Plastic Scientist and author of A Plastic Paradox joined Pierre Paslier CEO and co-founder of NOTPla to debate plastic packaging. Regardless of which side of the aisle you sit on, you need to listen to this episode. The goal of this episode is to share points on both si...
Aug 20, 2021•43 min•Season 6Ep. 60
Today's guest is Andy Kurtts, the founder of Buttermilk Creative, a food & beverage packaging agency based in North Carolina. After leaving his full-time position over 5 years ago he launched Buttermilk Creative. Andy set out to build a solid business foundation before designing his first package. Andy shares how he set up his LLC, website, and where he goes to find clients. Get practical advice on growing your business, finding clients, and even when to make the jump from full-time to found...
Aug 18, 2021•53 min•Season 6Ep. 59
How do you design packaging for a product and an industry that's not fully legal, and changes regulations daily? Rick Fitzgerald joins us to share his insights into cannabis packaging and how to get started designing for cannabis packaging. If you want to begin designing packaging for cannabis, you’re going to love this episode. If you’re already designing packaging for Cannabis, you might learn something too! You’re going to learn 3 super major things. 1) State regulations, why you need to work...
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 6Ep. 58
What the hell is sustainable packaging anyway? Evelio continues the conversation over drinks to help you identify ways to make your packaging more sustainable and building your brand. It's another late night and Evelio's drinking again letting loose on what it means to be sustainable. He breaks down the old adage of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle and what that means to a brand and to a designer. You'll get something out of this episode, even if it's just a laugh. Evelio takes sustainability seriousl...
Aug 05, 2021•30 min•Season 6Ep. 57
50 years ago Fabrice was picking up trash in his village, 20 years later he launched one of France's most famous packaging design agencies. Today Fabrice Peltier, world renowned author, shares with us what he's learned about sustainability and why we're in the middle of a revolution. Get ready to fight for your planet because this revolution isn't jut limited to packaging, it's about product, logistics, consumerism, and everything in between. He explains the confusing nature of sustainability, h...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 6Ep. 56
