The art of packaging for molecular gastronomy

Papadeas – Messino, one of Greece’s largest producers of vinegar, has been in business for over 40 years. In early 2017, they approached us with a request: they wanted to launch an innovative food product and needed a packaging design to help it stand out. More specifically, the product known as ‘balsamic pearls’ is made using a molecular gastronomy technique, which transforms vinegar into small solid jelly balls with a soft juicy core.

Balsamic Pearls’ packaging design process has been quite exciting, no matter the limitations involved; the restricted design space due to jar’s small size and ready-made Messino logo. Our first design decision was to create a custom box in order to offer a different product experience. After conducting a thorough research, we decided to use a  modern, bright, white paper to create a premium look and feel. The white and black colored paper indicate the corresponding product type (black for black pearls and white for white pearls accordingly). 

Later on, Pomegranate and Lemon Pearls were added to the product line. The intense and fruity flavors were highlighted with the use of bright colors for the packaging.

The packaging follows a minimalistic design with the exception of Messino logo and the four dots that shimmer with the embellishment of hot foil to communicate the product’s high quality. Lastly, the geometric cutaways allow consumers to see the product inside the package.