The Criterion Collection | DVD Packaging

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Back in early 2015, I was assigned a project in which I had to choose three films from the Criterion Collection, and focus on redesigning the DVD packaging of the corresponding films themselves, in a way that would make them more appealing to a more younger audience. All of which are presented here in a mockup form.

I decided to go with La Peau Douce 'The Soft Skin' (1964), A Hard Day's Night (1964), and Le Ballon Rouge 'The Red Balloon' (1956).

To help make the films seem more appealing to the set target audience, in terms of the packaging, I had decided to use a more colourful and illustration-based style that would make the films themselves seem very eye-catching, but also something that would make the viewers feel that the films had been unappreciated, in terms of its story or overall direction, at the time of their original release.

Starting with La Peau Douce, I decided that the front and back cover of the packaging should of been based on the clothing that was worn by the love interest (Nicole) of the main character (Pierre), with the title of the film in a light pink (in order to represent her 'soft and gentle skin'). The inside covers were based on the pattern of the wrapping paper that was carried by Nicole, in the scene where Pierre tracks her room number at the hotel that they are both staying at. Finally, the disc itself was based on the matchbook that Nicole uses in order to discreetly pass her phone number over to Pierre.

With A Hard Day's Night, I felt that the front and back cover would benefit from a minimalistic approach, by using a fake facial hair kit on the front, and the storage box to the kit itself on the back. The colour red was chosen for the overall packaging, due to the fact that red itself was used in the original poster, in order to bring emphasis to the title of the film. The inside covers were that of the facial hair kit seen on the front, that would then turn into flaps that held the booklet / essay (not included here) into place, while the other side had the light-up backdrop used during their final performance in the film. The disc would be stored behind the 'light-up backdrop' side in a small pouch, while the design of the disc itself would have Paul McCartney's fake moustache placed on top.

Finally, Le Ballon Rouge would also take a full minimalistic approach, with the front cover using nothing but the balloon carrying the text inside, while the back cover used the red balloon floating in-between a bunch of clouds. One more feature on the outside of the packaging was a grey cover that wrapped around the back and the front, with a cut-out where the balloon is placed, giving the impression that the balloon was floating within the clouds, before removing it to see a more colourful and lighter theme of the packaging itself. For the left side of the inside cover, I decided to include a pattern of many red balloons that, originally, was meant to be where the disc would be housed, but was however moved to the right side, where the disc would sit whilst being surrounding by clouds, and an individual balloon that would become the one featured within the film. Finally, the disc itself would be designed to look like the balloon, with the text being centre-aligned.

Overall, this project is one that I have deemed more illustrative than graphic-design based over time, but one that I feel is unique in terms of its set visual style. So please be sure to tell me what you think down below, and what part of the project you like the most down below.

This is a non-commercial project.

Credits:
Fonts - Arial, Jenna Sue (By jennasuedesignco), Pharmacy, Engebrechtre, Century Schoolbook

IMDb & Wikipedia - Film Credits & Information

Flaticons - Icons & Vectors

La Peau Douce (The Soft Skin)