MY DESIGN PROCESS…
WITH PASTA!
Creating something from nothing is hard…believe me. A little guidance is key when it comes to creating a design. My design process can look different, depending on which problem I am trying to solve.
I’ll use digital applications and templates for one project while the next one I am only using sticky notes and whiteboards. Narrowing down to the type of design, that tends to impact my process the most. Packaging design is one of my favorite processes when it comes to developing.
So, let me explain my design process with my pasta packaging.
First…
RESEARCH!
I always start with research no matter what problem I am solving. I need to know what I am talking about or what I am looking at even. I need to understand point of views and overall appearances. Gathering as much research that I can is important. I either store it in a notebook or a Figma Jam file to be more flexible in group projects.
RESEARCH AGAIN…
The first type of research I look for is primary. In my pasta packaging I headed straight to the stores I was aiming to have displayed in. I gathered pictures from Meijer and Aldi near me at the time while also noting the differences in the two stores. Each containing an entirely different vibe.
RESEARCH AGAIN…
The next type of research I dive into secondary. I scroll through articles and blogs to understand a more emotional side of things while looking at graphs and statistics (if possible) for a factual side of things. I gathered images from Pinterest and Unsplash to grasp an idea of what I wanted my design direction to head in.
RESEARCH ONE MORE TIME
My most exciting research step is inspirational. I love to create giant collages of different things that inspire my thinking. Gathering images and feelings I want to go for. This step is important to keep somewhere visible to remind going forward what I wanted the design to feel like. This helps when starting to get off track or astray from the concept.
LET’S GET DRAWING
Growing up drawing and painting all my life, thumbnails is my most creative time during the design process. I love to incorporate drawings into my design if I can, and with this pasta packaging project, I wanted everything to be drawn. I explored the different ingredients that I would be adding to show the combinations and type of pasta it would be.
Adding something hand drawn feels personal and then creates a deeper connection with myself and the design. I get complete control over this part and I love the possibilities with pen and paper vs the computer.
GETTING DIGITAL NOW
Once I feel complete with my drawings I head to the computer to start developing the details to the design. I always test different colors while printing to ensure the color matches the screen. I go through many rounds of iterations with even the smallest of changes…but they’re big to me of course. I ask my peers and friends for feedback up until the day I present.
I tend to use Indesign, Illustrator, and Figma the most during this time.
I also like to save the different iterations as I move along with the feedback I get. It is a fun way to see how far your design changes. It also helps to remember the concept along the way so you don’t get to off track.
TIME TO TEST
Print…Test…Print…Test…Print…Print again…Boom!
This step can be very repetitive, especially if it takes 10 different tries to get the right print size like me (haha)! With packaging, it almost seemed mandatory to test multiple times. Varied between three different sizes, the pasta packaging needed to harmonize together while being at different heights at the same time. It took many different materials and rounds, but it is always worth all the hassle in the end.
You learn how design will function during this stage.
THE GLAM SHOT!
PHOTOSHOOT TIME
My favorite part of the process is taking the final designs and making them look fantastic! I have always loved photography and believe I have a good eye for angles. The more I learn about lighting and effects used to create these displays of work, the more I am intrigued to try it out myself.
With OH SO Pasta, arranging the packaging next to each other was key. I wanted the little drawings to match level with each other no matter the size. Side by side on a store shelf will have a wave of noodles and seafood to ultimately intrigue customers.
MAYBE A MOCKUP TOO?
To add more visuals and final looks, mockups are my go to. I either try to photograph the area myself where I plan on displaying the design or finding a clear image online. My current website for mockups are FreePiks and MockupWorld.
Websites don’t always work out all the time, let’s be honest. If I am struggling to find a something similar to what I want, I head over to dimensions to create a better representation of what I do want.
There is never truly a final design.
Things change everyday so expect to create living designs. A living design in the sense that find it is never truly done and there is always something to be improved. Design can change as fast as the world can. And remember creating something from nothing was never suppose to be easy.