While staying true to their values as a specialist paper merchant, B&F Papers recently decided to focus on gaining a share of the packaging paper stock market. Rather than blindly releasing a large collection of stock options they’ve instead launched a carefully considered collection. In keeping with B&F's reputation for quality papers the decision was made to showcase the promotion as an aspirational packaging piece that utilised a number of finishes and design in unusual ways, encouraging clients to aspire to use B&F's stocks as well crafted packaging for end users.
Many brands have realised that investment in strong design and engineering of their packaging has enhanced the end users experience and added value to their products. It's these cues of discovery and enjoyment of opening packaging that created the idea for this promotional packaging piece. B&F's creative agency Supply, invited me to join the project to engineer the workings and prototype for this.
The initial brief was around the Russian doll concept - a figure that separates, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on... It was my task to interpret this with cardboard and use the four new packaging stocks available. I decided to base the form around a cube. A classic symbol of packaging - the humble box. Not a boring one though, a sexy one with flowing lines, movement, surprise and anticipation, all captured inside.
The most satisfying part to my process was being able to apply some of my older packaging concepts that never made it across the line, or didn't live to tell the tale in earlier projects. Whilst crafting the idea they all seemed to climb into my head at once, forming the perfect package. Combined together they've turned into one of my most favoured and celebrated creations, and in essence - a Frankenstein packaging piece! A living, breathing, beautiful swatch book..
Supply then took back the reins and delivered a beautiful, well polished example of packaging. Strongly typographic, the design of the piece was informed by interpretations of the stocks qualities, names, and backstories. The recipient is encouraged to explore the piece; turn it over their hands; be surprised by opening the packaging in a number of ways (opening tear strips, pull down, pull up etc.); and enjoy the different contrasts found in the combined stocks, spot varnishes, foils, untreated stocks, surprising folds and playful colour and typography.
"The Medium Is The Message"
