Little Boxes
Package design has come a long way in the last 50 years. In the past the usual difference between one product packaging and another was simply the graphics and color schemes of the design.
Today’s walk down the many aisles of a modern supermarket or department store literally offers thousands of uniquely designed packages with amazing looking graphics or container shapes.
If you are currently attending a graphic design school or are already a graphic designer you may have been intrigued with this particular subset of graphic design work. In this article we’ll explore what this interesting field is all about and what you can do to prepare for a career as a package designer.
School First
As it is in any career area you want to pursue the usual route for obtaining proper career training is through proper education. For any field in graphic design there are many qualified graphic design colleges that can help you to earn your degree.
Generally speaking a bachelor’s degree is necessary to qualify for most entry-level positions.
If you are targeting package design as your specialty, you will need to take courses that are focused for this design field. In addition you should have a good grasp of spacial relations as it relates to designing packaging.
You can qualify for some entry-level jobs with an associate’s degree or certificate of completion earned at community colleges or two-year junior colleges. Various online education centers also offer these degrees in addition to bachelor’s degrees in graphic design.
Be sure to thoroughly investigate the graphic design schools you are considering as each one differs in its approach and curriculum. Choose the one that best matches your career and education goals.
What a Package Designer Does
A package designerhas the responsibility of creating designs for various forms of packaging such as bottles, containers, cartons, boxes, and other packaging needs. The packaging design can be as simple as a logo on a beverage container or as complex as a multi-DVD case for a movie series. In each case the design must meet the specifications of the client.
Package design must be eye-catching and have the ability to entice consumers to pick up and buy the product.
A package designer should not only be well acquainted with the use of traditional design tools such as pens, paints, and pencils but must be well versed with the various graphic design/image editing software and CAD (computer assisted design) software that are commonly used in the industry.
The design process usually starts with meetings with the client and design team in order to understand and agree upon a concept. After the design is approved a number of sketches, computer generated images and a formal mock-up of the packaging is created. During the period of time between concept and final production, there are usually many changes and alterations during the design process.
These frequent changes in design concepts require an individual who is flexible and has good communication skills.
The Job Situation
Package designers usually work for manufacturing companies in the graphics departments, independent graphic design studios or companies that specialize in packaging.
While a typical workweek of 40 hours can be expected, overtime and weekend work is usually required during “crunch time” or when deadlines are shortened.
The job outlook for graphic design positions is expected to grow approximately 13% during the decade 2008-2018. Competition for available job positions will be extremely high.
The mean annual wage for professionals in the graphic design fields (including package designers) is $46,750, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2008).
Tate Art Galleries, with four locations in the United Kingdom, and cultureLabel.com–an unique culture store that offer items from over 70 museum shops, artists, galleries and institutions are announcing an open call to all graphic artists and designers to enter the 2010 Release Contest.
Contest Details
The sponsors of this contest are seeking, “…two outstanding product designs that will be produced and sold in Tate shops, through Tate Online and at CultureLabel.com.”
According to the contest guidelines, the winning product design could:
* Capture the experience of Tate visitors, be they young or old, from the UK or from across the …globe * Capture the impact that Tate has had on the public’s experience of galleries and its influence on …the arts * Be inspired by the architecture of the buildings, such as the iconic Tate Modern, which is 10 years …old in 2010 * Be inspired by any of Tate galleries, which include Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate St Ives, Tate …Liverpool and also Tate Online
There are two product design categories - products that fall into a retail price range of up to £10 (15 USD) and the second with a retail price of up to £100 (150 USD).
Product Design Guidelines
For a product that will be sold for up to £10 (15 USD) the sponsors state:
“This product will become a much-loved and widely recognized souvenir of any visit to a Tate gallery - the object that anyone visitor will want to take home.
“You might want to focus on London and Tate Modern or Tate Britain and seek to create an iconic tourist souvenir that rivals the ‘Mind the Gap T-shirt’. Or, perhaps you are more inspired by the idyllic coastal setting of Tate St Ives or the post-industrial gallery spaces of Tate Liverpool?
“We want to capture the experience of someone visiting Tate - whether the magic of the first visit or the allure that keeps people coming back. Alternatively, you might seek to capture the impact that Tate has had on the public’s experience of art - transforming galleries into experiential, interactive and lifestyle spaces attracting incredibly diverse audiences.”
For example, some ideas for the sub £10 class of products could be things such as key fobs, cups, posters, t-shirts, folios, pens or other small items.
For product designs that will be sold for up to £100 (150 USD) the guidelines state:
“This more premium product might be the collector’s item that captures the human experience held in Tate.
“We still want to capture the spirit of Tate described above but this product could be a much sought after limited edition, object or accessory and would have the creative flair, artistic and design values reflecting Tate brand and the higher price point.”
Ideas for products in this pricing tier could be, but not limited to, items such as special edition posters or prints, ceramic pieces, jewelry or lithography prints.
Prizes
The winner will receive a cash award of £500 (750 USD) plus royalty payments for the first 6 months of the sales of the design.
Other information
There is an entry fee of £5 (7.50 USD). For the complete rules and guidelines for this contest, click here. To submit your product design idea, click here. All questions regarding this contest should be sent to release [at] culturelabel.com. The deadline for this contest is March 22, 2010.
This contest is open to individuals worldwide. There is no age limit but the contest is strictly for amateurs only. If you are a professional photographer, you may not enter.
Contest Details
The contest is open-themed and there are no specific categories for subject matter. Photographs that are submitted must indicate if they are being entered as a color or black and white entry.
Winning photos will be published in the November 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine. All contest finalists will be published in the hardcover edition of Best Photography 2010.
This is an entry fee of $3.95 USD per photo. There is no limit to the number of photos you may enter as long as each submission is covered by an entry fee. If you submit your photos by April 19, 2010 the entry fee is $3.95 USD. If you submit your photos after April 19, 2010 the entry fee is $4.95 USD per photo.
To submit your photos online, click here to register and upload your submissions. Online entries must have a long dimension of at least 1000 pixels and no larger than 3000 pixels. Save all work in JPG format at the highest quality setting. Requirements for color space are Adobe1998, sRGB or untagged color space. File size should not exceed 4MB.
To submit your photos or slides via standard mail, the sponsor states:
* Enter black & white or color prints or slides. Do not send disks.
* Prints must be unmounted 9×12 or smaller.
* Label every photo with your name and address, and indicate which edge is the top.
* Make checks payable to Photographer’s Forum.
* All entries MUST include payment, entry form, and photographs.
Prizes
According to the official details for this contest the awards are:
First Place Grand Prize
$2,000 cash award from Photographer’s Forum PLUS Sigma
24-70 mm lens
Second Place
$1,000 cash award from Photographer’s Forum PLUS Sigma
12-24 mm lens
Third Place
$500 cash award from Photographer’s Forum
Fourth Place
Five $100 awards
100 Honorable Mentions
All Honorable Mentions will be listed in the November 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine and will receive a gold embossed certificate of outstanding merit from Photographer’s Forum.
Other Information
For contest rules click here to download the PDF document. For the contest FAQs and additional guidelines click here. The contest deadline is May 17, 2010. Finalists will be notified by August 2, 2010. Winners will be notified by August 16, 2010.
It’s a Jungle Out There
In today’s economy it can be difficult to land a job but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get the job. The “trick” is to be persistent and have a positive attitude while going on your job hunts.
Patience and You
There’s a story of a man who had very little patience with others and inconvenient situations. He realized his predicament and decided to ask God for some help. He prayed, “God, help me to be more patient.”
During the next several days he found himself in traffic jams, delayed airplane schedules, and long lines at the supermarket. He complained to God and said, “I asked for patience and there has been nothing but problems since I asked you for help.” God chuckled and said, “Well, you learned how to deal with traffic jams, late airplane schedules, and long lines. You’ve become a better person and I think your prayer have been answered….”
Job hunting can be frustrating and somewhat discouraging at times but just like the man in the story, a good deal of patience is necessary to deal with adversity and delays.
If you are flustered and negative about how your job search is going you’ll reflect this attitude and mood during your job interviews. Your interviewer will pick up on this and wonder why you are so bothered and will take note of this in the final analysis of you.
Things may get frustrating during your job search, but try to let off some steam before you go job hunting.
Social Networking and You
Never underestimate the power of networking with others. If you are attending graphic design school this is a very crucial time for you to develop contacts in the graphic design industry. Your teachers, the people from the internship you are working at and friends that are already in the industry may be the link for inside information about job opportunities.
If you are already a graphic designer and are seeking new career opportunities, the clients you work with and your fellow co-workers are a good source for job leads. In some cases those company “meet and greet” events are not just about showing your loyalty to the company–they can also be very crucial occasions for you to make important contacts for future use.
Persistence and You
When Thomas Edison was in the process of inventing the light bulb his main obstacle was finding a suitable filament that would burn brightly and not burn out quickly. He tried 1,500 different materials–all of them failures until he happened upon the element tungsten. This metal was exactly what he was looking for in order to make his invention work.
When Edison was asked about all the failures that he experienced while doing research on his inventions he replied, “I haven’t failed, I’ve found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
Now that’s persistence…and wisdom.
Job hunting can be a very stressful situation. You are faced with uncertainty, doubt, and frustration. But if we may rephrase Thomas Edison’s quote, “I haven’t failed at getting a graphic design job, I’ve found several jobs where I don’t want to work.”
Job Hunting: The Journey and the Process
The job interview is the device that employers use to sift through various applicants in order to select the right person for the job.
You may have been to dozens of job interviews and the whole process may have worn you down around the edges, but it is imperative to always show up to your interviews fresh and expectant.
When you don’t land the job you want, try to turn this into a positive and see it as a momentary delay in finding the right job. Job hunting is a process and if you understand this, you’ll be better adapted to take on the pressures that go along with looking for a job.
Calling All Aspiring Graphic Artists and Illustrators There are always graphic design contests and competitions for adults, but this one, to borrow a phrase, is just for kids.
The Doodle 4 Google contest is open to students from the grades of kindergarten to 12th. In order to enter you must do so through an officially registered school. Click here for details and the registration form. The aim of the competition is to select a winning Google homepage logo that reflects the theme of “If I Could Do Anything I Would…”
So what would you do…
Find a cure for cancer?
Become an astronaut?
Invent a supercomputer?
The ideas for your entry are endless.
Submissions should be drawn on 8.5″x11″ paper and tell a visual story of the vision they have of what they would do if anything were possible. The PDF contest template can be found by clicking here.
The Judging
A group of illustrators, cartoonists and animators from Sesame Street Workshop, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Peanuts, and Pixar Animation Studios will help select 40 finalists.
400 State Finalists
40 Regional Finalists from the United States
4 National Finalists
1 National Winner ………. Awards
According to Google the prizes for each category are:
National Winner - College Scholarship
“The National Winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of his/her choice, a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with his/her doodle on it. We’ll also award the winner’s school a $25,000 technology grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab.”
Three National Finalists - Laptop Computers
“Each of the other three National Finalists will win a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it.”
40 Regional Finalists - Smithsonian Exhibit and Trip to New York
“Each of the other 40 Regional Finalists will win a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 26, 2010 and a t-shirt printed with their doodles on it. All 40 Regional Finalists will also have their doodle displayed in a public exhibit at the Smithsonian’s, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for 6 weeks after the announcement event.”
State Finalists - Doodles Published on the Web site
“Each of the other 400 State Finalists will receive a “Doodle 4 Google” official winner’s certificate and will be featured on the Doodle 4 Google contest web site.”
Extra Credit - Technology Booster Awards
“This year, we are giving out eight (8) Technology Booster awards for schools who submit their doodles by March 10, 2010. The awards consist of 20 netbook computers for public or private schools or 2 netbook computers for homeschools who submit the maximum amount of doodles for their school by March 10, 2010 (doodles must be received by this date).
“Schools who are eligible to win this award are those who submit either six (6) doodles if they are a public or private school or two (2) doodles if they are a homeschool. These schools must also have a student selected as one of the 400 State Finalists. We will also be looking at the highest cumulative quality scores of the State Finalists doodles as part of the awards criteria. Awards will be announced on May 17, 2010 when we post the 400 State Winners.”
Other Contest Details
The deadline for schools to register their students in this contest is March 17, 2010. For the complete guidelines for this contest, click here. For an explanation of why this contest is being run, click here.
See the video below for an overview of the Doodle 4 Google Contest:
The Contest
The Center for Fine Art Photography is announcing an open call for all photographers to enter its photo contest. The theme of the competition is “Consumption.” According to the sponsor:
“Consumptionis a multifaceted term. While it can signify the influence of advertising and marketing on our pervasive consumer culture, the word also speaks to profound human instincts. To be consumed by something-be it illness, emotions, or beliefs-is to oftentimes confront one’s realities.
“What, why, when, and how we consume determines the ramifications of the choices we make. Additionally, consumption can simply suggest a transformation. The Center is looking for images that visually depict Consumption and what it means to you.”"
Entrants who have their works selected for this contest may have the opportunity to have their photographs displayed at the ClampArt art gallery located in Chelsea, New York. These works will be seen by an international group of art consultants, collectors, and curators interested in fine art photography.
Submission Information * An entry fee of $35 is required for submissions of up to three images. Members of the Center for Fine Art Photography will have an entry fee of $20 for up to three images. Additional images will be accepted at $10 per extra submission above three. Contestants may submit as many entries as they like.
* Entries are to be submitted online at the Center’s website at www.c4fap.org. You will need to create a free account in order to upload your entries. Entry fees are charged via credit card.
* Resolution of uploaded images should be 72 dpi and 1280 pixels on the longest side of the image. Images must be in RGB or grayscale. File format should be in JPG saved with a quality of 8 or medium. The image title is restricted to 40 characters or less. The file name cannot be more than 25 characters long and must not include special characters such as %, #, @ etc. All images must be “flattened” or in other words, multi-layers must be collapsed to one master layer.
Awards
* liveBooks Website Award: Valued at $399 each, two artists will receive a 1 year subscription for ..a.website from www.livebooks.com
* Juror’s Selection Award: $300 and a Blurb book award from www.Blurb.com
* Director’s Selection Award: $200 and a Blurb book award from www.Blurb.com
* Honorable Mention Award: $100
* All exhibitors are included in the Center’s online gallery
Other Details
Important Milestones: Entries due: April 13, 2010 Notice of acceptance: April 23, 2010 Exhibition dates: July 2 - July 24, 2010 Artists’ and Public Reception: July 2, 2010
Entries that are submitted for exhibition must be framed or mounted professionally. For a complete list of guidelines for this contest, download the PDF document here. For any questions about this contest send your emails to exhibitions [at] c4fap.org.
Little Boxes
Generally speaking a bachelor’s degree is necessary to qualify for most entry-level positions.
A package designer should not only be well acquainted with the use of traditional design tools such as pens, paints, and pencils but must be well versed with the various graphic design/image editing software and CAD (computer assisted design) software that are commonly used in the industry.
The Job Situation
