Graduates

Glenn Ryan

MFA in Graphic Design - 3 Yr Path — Graduate Graphic Design

Course:

GPKG-202 Package Design 1: Design Principles

Faculty:

Daniel Hoy

Spark Chocolate Packaging

The assignment was to choose among a variety of packaging opportunities. I chose to do a lineup of confections—in my case, caffeinated chocolate. I decided to focus on a demographic of younger women aged 16-35 and to focus on the idea of creating a ritual of sorts. Rather than drink coffee or smoke cigarettes, Spark can be an energizing/creative catalyst. I named the flavors after alchemical concepts and designed the outer packaging after matchboxes (spark a flame).

Learning Outcomes:

Despite the pride I feel in all the thinking I did behind the concept, I learned a lot from the failure of this project to create a strong, memorable visual identity or to take all the opportunities afforded in the real estate of the packaging to reinforce the brand. If I were to do it again, I would not only try to improve in that way but take more time to generate many ideas for the logo and any other visuals, rather than settling for the obvious.