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Good Enough to Eat: The Best Easter Packaging of 2013

Here at Bloom, we all enjoyed last weekend’s excuse to consume our body-weights in egg-shaped confectionary and I suspect we weren’t the only ones. According to a recent study reported in Confectionary News, Easter is primarily associated with chocolate for 62% of Brits (compared with just 12% who primarily associate it with Jesus).  

In the midst of our enthusiastic guzzling, however, we did come across a few Easter treats that were literally too good to eat. Here’s our round-up of 2013’s best Easter packaging: 

Best for Children: Smarties Hen House

The hen house’s window reveals a golden egg and a chocolate hen with an egg inside, adding a playful element of discovery to this innovative alternative to the traditional Easter Egg.   

Best for Grown-ups: Hotel Chocolat All Milk Collection

Hotel Chocolat’s All Milk Easter Collection added a rare touch of sophistication to this Easter’s offerings. The delicate, black, white and gold carousel box features a traditional Easter design dating back to the 1930s. The extra-thick egg it contains comes with a chocolate tablet embossed with the same scene. 

 Best of the Countline Treats: Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chick With Easter Buttons.

Only the most cynical Easter shopper could resist this smiling chick. Better yet, unlike most countline Easter treats, this chick isn't hollow, but filled with Cadbury’s iconic Milky Buttons.

 Best for Traditional Fun and Games: Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trail Pack

Cadbury’s colourful, basket shaped trail pack provides you with all you need to construct your own Easter Egg hunt, for some nostalgic family fun. 

 

Best for Gourmands: Rococo’s Praline Quail Eggs and Salted Caramel Seagull Eggs

Rococo’s Praline Quail Eggs and Salted Caramel Seagull Eggs are ideal for those seeking up-market alternatives to the traditional hen’s egg. Nestled in tastefully rustic crates, the delicately speckled eggs could easily masquerade for the real thing.

 

Most Eco-Friendly: Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth Shaw’s Easter packaging was designed for minimal wastage. The egg did not even require any extra fixtures to position it, as the box was cleverly constructed to grip it in place.

 

Best Offering from a Non-Chocolate Brand: Rowntree’s Randoms

Colourful, exuberant and delightfully random, Rowntree’s packaging for its sweetie-filled egg was perfectly on-brand and, with no plastic window, it was eco-friendly too.

 

 

 

The Olympic logo in light of the triumph

The London 2012 Olympic Games have been hailed universally as a resounding success, from the wonderfully eccentric opening ceremony to the phenomenal achievements of our athletes and the resounding expression of British unity. But where does the once volatile subject of the Olympic logo fit within this story and in our minds?

 

Brands and logos are specifically designed to make an impact and drive an emotional response, and the London 2012 logo certainly provoked a powerful reaction in the lead up to the Games, albeit mostly negative. However, when Bradley Wiggins rang that enormous bell to announce the commencement of Danny Boyle’s colourful and quirky take on British culture, the logo did not appear so awkward and alien. In fact the London 2012 symbol with its vibrant colours and jagged edges seemed to fit well with this celebration of British peculiarities.

Throughout the Games the logo proved to be incredibly versatile in the way that it was applied in the various sporting contexts, which demonstrated its ability to become an actual brand.

 

 

Given that the motto for the Olympic Games was “Inspire a generation” it would appear that this logo was particularly apt. The design is easily identifiable as the number 2012 and bold in its originality, it is not just an artist’s abstract interpretation of Big Ben or Tower Bridge or a London bus.

 

 

Of course the logo could have been designed to be less obtrusive and more delicate. But as the London 2012 Olympic Games will undoubtedly be remembered as the time when the world took a peek at British eccentricities, it is perhaps befitting that the logo was just as peculiar and individual.

Looking back on those 17 days it is clear that the logo was dominant and effective, it did its job, and in the words of Lord Coe in the Olympics closing speech, '...we did it right'.

 

Consumer's verdict on patriotic packs

As a follow up to our blog article in May - A Title wave of Patriotism - here's an interesting video of consumers discussing their reaction to a selection of the many patriotic packs launched earlier this year to celebrate the Jubillee, the Olympics and the United Kingdom. Commisioned by Packaging News this is an interesting insight around how these packs have or have not improved their perception of these brands.

 

 

A tidal wave of patriotism

We all love a good reason to celebrate. And this summer, London is not only gearing up for the Olympics but also for H.R.H. The Queen's Jubilee Celebrations and not forgetting the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championship. So with that combination, it does not come as a surprise that every week we see established brands emerging with limited editions to play a role in national optimism. 

Whilst the Olympic brand (such as the Olympic rings, the torch and the flame) is protected, in order to ensure that sponsors get the exclusivity they have paid for, the national flag and the Queen’s equities are rather more permissive. As a consequence the iconic Union Jack is fast becoming omniprescent throughout the high street. A poignant symbol of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it tackles both the recognition of our Queen's 60 year reign and a message of support for 'Team Great Britain' as well as an opportunity to align brands to a culture of British pride.  So how are brands doing it?

 

Patriotic Pride

An unadulturated celebration of all things British is the brief here. Aligning the brand with the Union Jack in a way that is both relevant and appropriate. British flavoured / themed limited edition products are fast emerging every where. Here are just a few. 

1950’s Revival

Brands will always seize on the opportunity to remind us of their enduring appeal through landmark milestones. Several brands have dug into their archives to bring back some classic designs from yesteryear to remind us how long they've been gracing our cupboards. The Jubilee and its retrospective celebration of Britain over the years provides the perfect stage.

 

Diamonds, crowns and jewels

This category embraces brands that have earnt their right to celebrate the Jubilee through receipt of the Royal Warrant. Some are more overt whereas others a little more understated and elegant.

It would be a shame not to mention some of the great brands that Bloom has been working with to celebrate these occasions. A couple of months ago we couldn't move in the studio for the cultural british images and the red, white and blue flags filling our screens. Here's a few of the brands we've aligned with this wonderful occasion.

                              

    

 

Finally the Museum of Brands are curating an exhibition ‘Jubilee, Jubilee’ which is showcasing souvenirs and commemorative products made to mark the royal jubilees of the past, as well as the newly released keepsakes launched to commemorate this year’s Diamond Jubilee.

And with all the excitement this summer and the wave of patriotism sweeping the country, we wish The Queen a happy anniversary, Team GB all the best at the Olympics, England every success at Euro 2012 and hope that this might be Andy Murray's year to win Wimbledon!

Here's to all things British.

For futher examples of celebration packs click on our Flickr stream on the right of this post.

First class fashion

Royal Mail are releasing a special issue of first class stamps on May 15th - the ‘Great British Fashion’ stamps collection. 

Britain is world famous for the creative vision of its fashion designers, its refined Savile Row tailoring, its shoemakers and milliners, and its fine wool fabrics and yarn.

Since 1945, fashion has grown to become a major national industry. Today it employs about a million people and contributes some £21 billion to the UK economy.

This colourful collection highlights some of the iconic Britsh styles of recent years from the 1940s elegance of Hardy Amies, through to the genius of the late Alexander McQueen. Other designers and boutiques represented include Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Zandra Rhodes. 

The stamps were designed by Johnson Banks.

Row 1 - Hardy Amies, Norman Hartnell, Granny Takes A Trip, Ossie Clarke by Celia Birtwell, Tommy Nutter.
Row 2 - Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen

Bloom's hiring new talent

We're looking for a Senior Designer and a Mid-weight Designer.

Both will get to work on some of the world's biggest brands. Our client list includes Diageo, Nestlé, General Mills and PepsiCo. We also work with non-FMCG challenger brands and start-ups like Mr & Mrs Smith and Cowshed.

As a top 20 design agency experience, passion and professionalism are givens. What we're really looking for is wow factor. We want to see people and portfolios with creative flair. We want to see proof that you think differently, challenging and pushing briefs into provocative and unexpected areas. And we expect you to intuitively work in 360° terms, sharing our belief that brand design isn't just a pack or a logo, it's everything.

 

Senior Designer

Presenting skills and drinks experience a must. 

Mid-Weight Designer

At least 4 years experience in FMCG packaging

 

For the chance to join our growing team, and work with some of the best in the business, please contact Ally Watson - ally@bloom-design.com.

 

 

 

Olympic Torch gets gold

Fittingly the 2012 Olympic torch,has been awarded Design Museum’s ‘Design of the year’. Our congratulations go out to the London based pair of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby who were given the challenging brief to design the torch. Simple, functional and elegant each torch is perforated with 8,000 holes representing everyone of the torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame around the UK.

Design Museum director Deyan Sudjic said the torch was "a triumph of symbolism and beauty". He added that it "demonstrates how design can celebrate traditional qualities in a modern manner".

And so it came to pass … the origins of 3 brand icons

Many of the world's loved and respected brand icons are born through happenstance. This week we’ve picked 3 famous food brands and investigated the unusual stories behind their conception.

Heinz ‘57 Varieties’

You’d be right in thinking that Heinz must have more than 57 varieties today. In fact they sell more than 5,700 different products in 200 countries. So how did the claim come about and why did it stick?

Back in 1896, Henry John Heinz was riding a train in New York City when he noticed an ad for ’21 styles of shoes’. He thought it was a clever way to advertise the plethora of canned and bottled foods his companies sold under one banner. At that time the company already sold more than 60 items. The number 57 was literally born from 5 (his lucky number) and 7 (his wife’s lucky number). He owned the company, it was his prerogative ... and Heinz ketchup still carries this claim today though less prominently.

La Vache qui Rit

The Laughing Cow was born soon after World War 1. French cheesemaker Léon Bel had a lot of comté, gruyere and emmental cheeses left over and decided to melt them down to create a new type of cheese.

In 1921 he noticed a meat truck go passed nicked name ‘Wachyrie’ after ‘Valkyries’ the creatures from Norse mythology that determine victors in battle. Considering it a relevant association Bel created the pun ‘La Vache qui Rit’ (‘The Laughing Cow’.  He then commissioned Benjamin Rabier, a cartoon artist,  to draw up the cow which has evolved into what it is today.

Green Giant

In 1925, Minnesota Valley Canning Company wanted to market its range of can peas. Unusually it came up with a grumpy grey gnome wearing a bearskin, stooping and scowling.

Realising that this was not the most relevant or consumer friendly face of the brand they soon hired an ad agency to revamp the mascot. It was none other than a young Leo Burnett who evolved the mascot into a friendly giant, painted him green, with a leaf strewn tunic, wreath and boots and called him ‘Jolly’ all in an attempted to make him more friendly.

The Jolly Green Giant was such a successful marketing campaign that the company actually changed its trading name to Green Giant.

Life's little improvements - better design

Most of us take everyday items for granted - key rings, stools, coat hangers. We accept them for what they are and continue to use them without consideration. It's not until curious designers take the time to understand how to better them or adapt them to meet today's needs that beauty and intelligence is often bestowed on the everyday.

Modern Pill Boxes

The over 50's account for 67% of America’s consumption. These Boomers aren’t aging like the generation before them. Their values are more progressive. They’re into organic products. They’re more worldly and adapt to change more readily than the generation before. This generation cares about aethetics, function and form.

Entrepreneur Assaf Wand, realised that few brands truly understood the over 50's and so he recently launched Sabi a line of wellbeing and lifestyle products designed to transform life's small tasks into moments of joy.

The first product line to materialise under the Sabi brand is Vitality, a range of accessories that combine storage and portable solutions for pills in a contemporary and practical form.

           



Handy Pocket 

We live in a society where iPhones, tablets and apps like Evernote all help us to be on top of things However many people still rely on the trusty notebook which is often misplaced, juggling them amongst all the other gadgets we carry around.  Now, carrying a notepad has never been so suave‭ - thanks to Hanki Pocketbook designed to effortless slip into the breast pocket of your jacket (if you happen to wear one).

 

Suitcase Symphony

Me-lo-di, created by Jereil Bobbe, from the Netherlands, transforms the monotony of airports and travel into an opportunity for music and play. Bobbe designed a musical floor formed of ribbed wood that plays a musical tune as the wheels of your suitcase role over it. It encourages people to walk rather than take the travelator and brings some sunshine to the cold and sterile airport environment.

 

This idea is is not a new one. In Japan there is a road that has strategically placed ridges along it that play a tune as you drive over them. Either to relieve boredom or as a speed calming measure. Watch the video here.

Easy Key Ring

FreeKey has improved the standard spiral spring keyring by simply adding a small bump in the metal.  The result is a pressable spot on the ring that will flex it right open avoiding that painful fiddling to get your keys on.  Clever, functional and no more chipped nail varnish.

The Corkscrew Stool

The SCRW’s striking design is brilliant. No matter how tall you are or what table you’re sitting at the chair adjusts with just a turn to exactly the right height.

The design by Manuel Welsky, takes the corkscrew principle and applies it furniture. It's a big piece of cork with threads that screw into an aluminium frame. Simple, elegant and inspired.

The X Hanger

Made from powder-coated, bent steel, the X Hanger designed by Kfir Schwalb is a  versatile and practical hanger to replace the simple hook. It makes a feature of any hallway or even the bedroom whether you have clothes to hang on it or not.

 

 

 

Cycling to work

Since over a third of our staff here at Bloom cycle to work everyday it would be a shame not to dedicate at least one blog to the noble bicycle.  We've had a look at what's hot in the world of two wheels and selected a top 5 to share with you.

1. Another use for your iPhone 

This white horn is a nifty little iPhone 4/4S accessory that will blast out your favourite tunes or read you  directions whilst you are out and about. Not only this but it also provides an entirely washable, dirt, scratch and splash-proof protective cover for your iPhone 4. Unlike headphones this accessory doesn’t isolate you from other surrounding sounds, although you may get a few strange looks depending on your music taste.

2. A manifesto for living life to the fullest, on bikes

Holstee is a lifestyle goods company with a conscience. The founders, brothers Mike and Dave Radparvar, have created a nice manifesto to live your life by, which ties nicely back into the brand. 

The Holstee Manifesto is a call to action to live a life full of intention, creativity, passion, and community.  "Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating,", its about "making real, creative contributions to the world". This manifesto neatly communicates the idea of personal freedom through a series of people on bikes, transportation's symbol of freedom both in the open countryside and built up cities. 

 

 3. The city bike - Philippe Starck

The latest city cycle project was recently unveiled in France in collaboration with the legendary French designer, Philippe Starck. Starck was asked by the City of Bordeaux to develop a ‘Bike of the Future’ which will eventually become the new model for the city’s bike sharing program.

Starck’s design is a hybrid of a bicycle and scooter. A foot plate is integrated into the frame in front of the pedals providing riders the ability to safely push start the bicycle.

Bordeaux has seen a threefold increase in the number of bike riders in the last 15 years and is now one of the world's leadng bike friendly cities. 

4. Cycling in any weather

If a little rain doesn’t deter you from taking to the road, a rear mudguard is a must for keeping your bum dry as seasoned cyclists will know. Full Windsor’s Quickfix, is a clever little gadget that can be swiftly attached (and removed) with a couple of snaps-no tools required.

 

If you're a night rider, or simply want to have the coolest bike in town why not make your whole bike glow-in-the-dark as illustrated by the Blackberry Bold 9900 advert.

 

We've had a look online and the DIY experts recommend phosphorescent paint for a lasting glow. You won't fail to be noticed. 

 

5. The London bike map

London has been busy building bike-lines in recent years to coincide with the Boris Bikes pay and ride scheme. The city has even built bike "superhighways" to easily zip cyclists from the center of the city out to the peripheries. But the city has lacked a detailed and helpful bike map...until now.

Simon Parker has attempted to codify the various bike routes of London, which he found to be confusing and poorly marked. It's inspired by the iconic London tube map, which is credited with making the tube more accessible and increasing ridership.

Parker has created various routes, which he's color-coded and numbered. There are five possible colours - orange, red, cyan, navy, and green. 

Now all that's required is for the City of London to adopt it. There is a petition to get the City to do just that which could make our journeys both easier to navigate and safer.

Happy Cycling!