What's in Store

So a power strip isn't a very sexy product, but everyone has one or several in their home. There have been several innovations with the product over the years, but this one is so simple it is genius. How many people can use all of the plugs available on a strip? Try plugging in a camera battery charger next to a large plug with 3 prongs. The issue is they are all in a row. Imagine making the strip flexible. Pivot Power was born. Genius. You can use every plug. For such a simple concept, the packaging is equally innovative and simple. A formed egg crate  with a plastic cover and a simple label that reveals the unique design of the product. The back shows the product in use. We at JDA love simple concepts like this. It sells the product in a simple straight forward way. It helps, of course, that the product is truly innovative.

Dieline.com  recently featured the package redesign of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese  and it caught my attention because it was a successful refresh of an iconic brand in the wake of so many missteps by large companies with their rebrands of late. Remember all the negative stir the Tropicana orange juice box and Gap logo redesigns caused? Why did this rebrand work and the others not? It's very important when dealing with iconic brands with so much built-in recognition not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Keep the elements that are working and still service the brand, and update/refresh the ones that don't. Seems simple, but as we've seen, tough to execute. You can see by the photos above that the old package is looking rather dated, but since it's been around so long consumers are used to seeing this box and a radical redesign would probably confuse and disorient them on the shelves (a la Tropicana). The designers wisely kept the blue gradient background, ke...

We are currently working on a project for a display and our vendor introduced us to the process of 3D printing for the prototype. The prototype process, no matter if we are working on a package with a clam shell or a rigid display, is always long and not always accurate. The old way of doing things required wax molds and a person shaping the prototype based on the cad drawing. With the 3D printing process, the cad drawings are read by the machine that creates the prototype by building up layers of material similar to paper. It really has to be seen to be believed. Check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7h09dTVkdw This is only our first project using this process, and so far it has been great. The only stumbling block is the prototype material is very different from the final manufactured piece. However, once it is painted and photographed, you can't tell the difference. Patty Jensen

Big redesigns can come in all sizes. Who would've thought that something as simple as chewing gum could benefit from an updated look? Gone are the days where we can just pick up a simple 10 or 25 pack, grab the "tear here" tab, and rip our way to foil wrapped gum.  Now you'll find an array of packaging styles, varying gum sizes/flavors, and even different ways that these packages work and fold.  Before, gum used to be fully exposed once opened and prone to falling out of the packages once you're at that last handful of pieces, but gum packages nowadays close and even lock shut to conceal the gum and work as a handier carrying case than in the past. Colors and flavors have come a long way too. You used to find a lot of primarily flat colors when picking up packs of gum. But with the advent of new flavors and flavor combinations, the color and designs of these packages are more eye catching than ever. The one of most interest is the design of 5 Gum.  Never ...

LAMA is a new trend in POP for the US. This type of display has been used in Europe for many years. Made of cardboard, rubber bands and held together by an innovative and patented design by Marins, enables it to fold out, install automatically and fold flat.   Its compact and lightweight design allows the lama to be easily transported and shipped at a low cost. Eco-friendly materials and a small retail footprint can appeal to a variety of costumers.  The Lama can give a product or advertisement a short-term or permanent display with the option to customize the shape, size, and color. JDA recently had the opportunity to create a lama for Canon. The lama was displayed in-store at a size of 11” x 30”, and was easily placed on a counter top where consumers could clearly see the visuals and interact with the lama. The lama was printed on both sides; therefore, it could be flipped to reveal new graphics with a different messaging.

After 41 years of mentoring and inspiring young designers at CSU, Chico, Gregg Berryman is going to retire. He is a professor at California State University, Chico, and has won many national design awards. He is a practicing design consultant and author of several articles and books on design theory and tips on visual communication.   O n October 16th all alumni and friends were invited back to Chico to share their work, their stories, and reconnect with old classmates featuring an alumni show and reception to celebrate forty years of graphic design at Chico State. It brought back all the great memories of Gregg breaking down design into his patented "matrix," his humbling but enlightening critiques and commanding your respect with his insight and witty personality. He was honored with testimonials from students from each decade he has taught at CSU, Chico. All which held Gregg responsible for their successful careers and for an unforgettable academic experience. After ...

I was on just another mundane shopping trip to Target when the new packaging/environment designs for the new Springmaid bedding collection totally bowled me over. The whole aisle was so well-coordinated and appealing that I probably spent a good 15 minutes looking at stuff I didn't need! The packaging's simple and elegant design allows you to see and feel the fabric and really lets the product be the star. The photo of the flower they use on the packaging connotes "freshness" and the "Spring-ness" of the Springmaid brand and serves it well. Even though these are very reasonably-priced products they feel much more high-end. Tasteful environmental photos that give shoppers some helpful inspirational ideas on which pieces look good together are the capper to this very well-thought out display. Kudos to Target and Springmaid on a great collaboration. Stephanie Han Windham