Role: Graphic Designer
Tool used: Adobe Illustrator
Whether when browsing the shelves at a brick and mortar store or opening the shipping box of an online order, the packaging plays an important role in the customer's interaction with the product. Is the product and brand high quality? Trustworthy? Does it align with their values? Packaging can affect their answers to such questions, so having good and intentional packaging design is so, so essential. Beyond protection and information, it's a branding opportunity.
This is what I strived to achieve with my designs for Nightingale's packaging. A children's product brand of YNUX Limited, Nightingale's branding is minimalist, muted and calm, but not drab. Collaborating closely with the owners, I created boxes, envelopes, and labels that were both visually appealing and functional, while staying within project-specific constraints.
Initial Iterations
The packaging designs underwent several iterations over the 4.5 years I worked with YNUX Limited. I worked to refine the design with each iteration, bringing the new versions closer to Nightingale's branding as it evolved in parallel.
The initial designs featured an asymmetrical peephole, an idea by Duy, and a white base with accent colors that varied by product. Teal was the primary color for the washcloth boxes.
The second versions featured a lighter blue color and a larger peephole for better visibility. I incorporated elements from the prints, like the Daisy design, to add visual interest and provide essential product information, such as prints and size, on the top of the packaging.
Updated Version
The most recent design features a rectangular peephole and a horizontally shaped box, showcasing all six washcloths in a single layer. This is a departure from the second version, which had a custom-sized peephole and stacked the washcloths in two layers.
Deciding to update the colorways too, I picked warm beige as the main color since this was one of the primary colors of Nightingale's branding at the time. To add more playfulness and interest to the design, I included the official nightingale illustration logo in the bottom left and right for the top side, and perched atop the barcode on the back side.
To refresh the color palette, I chose a warm beige, a key element of Nightingale's branding. For added visual interest and whimsicality, I incorporated the official nightingale illustration logo in the bottom left and right of the top side, and perched atop the barcode on the back side.
First Designs
Like the designs for the cloth products' packaging, the silicone straws boxes also underwent several revisions over the years. Though the rectangular peephole remained, the first version used a predominantly white colorway with dark text, and the second version used a warm beige with light borders echoing the look of the cloth product packaging.
Updated Design
Used as the packaging for a newer product, the jumbo straws, the latest version featured sage as the base and a warm gray for the borders.
Box dieline frames - from the manufacturer
An alternate packaging that consisted of drawstring bags made from the same fabric as the cloth products and a paper band that wrapped around the package was also developed. Wanting to stick to Nightingale's branding, I designed bands that used brand colors, imagery and fonts.
The QR and barcode needed to be easily scannable, so I made sure they stood out against the background. It was also important to keep the information positioned carefully to avoid being covered when the band is sealed, but also having enough room to breathe in the center.
Another alternate packaging, this version used sticker labels that communicated the product information and mailer bags from YNUX Limited's packing supplies brand, Impack.
Working with YNUX Limited, I gained valuable experience in packaging design across different types. I learned that creating exceptional packaging is an iterative process of experimentation and refinement. As Nightingale's brand evolved, so did its packaging. Staying open to new ideas was key to developing high-quality designs!
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