Project 5 - Final

Well after all the stress the project turned out really well! This is my completed template:


I decided to include a "surprise" inside the box, which I created in Illustrator:


The box included the sharpener as well, of course, as you can see in these lovely photos that Paige generously took for us! :D

A Few Findings During This Project

Apparently Crayola released an anniversary box on the 100th anniversary of the Crayola brand, in 2003. The box was the same shape as the regular ones, but this was a 100-count box with a metallic gold color replacing the regular yellow-gold, and a festive picture of a cake and confetti on the front:


My box is commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Binney & Smith company, while Crayola crayons weren't actually around until 1903. But, since next year is 2010 I wanted to make some sort of anniversary box, and luckily the company was founded in 1885 so it kind of worked out.

I also found this very old tin of Crayolas, though I am unsure of the actual date:


And here is a cool photo of Crayons in the factory XD

Whew!

So my first draft of the illustrator box template had to be altered. Quite a bit, actually. I am finally satisfied with the 3D version of the box. NOW I will finish up the outside layout. Oh, and I was so happy I took a pic!



More later!

Packaging Template

After a bit of deliberation, I decided to go with the "box with a handle." I was initially going to alter the template I posted earlier, which I found in Paige's packaging book, but a trip to Sam Flax a few nights ago proved to be very fortuitous, as I came across the perfect box to use as a template. It was already die-cut and ready for assembly. I flattened it out completely and made a composite sketch based on the box from Sam Flax as well as the Crayola 64 count box (in order to make the space for the sharpener). I then worked from the sketch I made and created a template in Illustrator. Luckily enough, the crayons in the larger boxes come in these "trays" that you can pull out of the box, so I think that I will be able to just use those trays and place them in the new box without much hassle of them moving around since the box is going to be pretty small, but just big enough to accommodate them.

Here is the initial sketch:




This is the Illustrator template. I'm sure I will have to tweak it once I actually print it out and attempt to assemble it, but this is basically finished:



Now I need to put the finishing touches on the outer design, which is the most important part! XD I want to do something special with it, as I'm thinking of packaging it as the "125th Anniversary Box." The Binney & Smith company (who founded the Crayola brand) was established in 1885. That's a long time! Maybe I could include a special "gift" or something inside, but I'm not sure what. I am also thinking of having a pattern of some sort on the inside of the box so that it's not just plain white. Maybe even re-design the crayon wrappers? That would take a long time though, which I'm running low on right now, so we'll see.

Some ideas for special "gift" inside:
Mini coloring book (include facts & history of Crayola)
Color-able sticker book
Coloring book of paper dolls
New color(s)
Fold-out coloring poster

Project 5 Progress

Anyone can recognize a Crayola package from a mile away. The signature colors, for as long as the Crayola brand has been around, are yellow (gold?) and green. That is the first thing I'm doing away with for my package re-designing. Here are some examples of Crayola through the years:


     





I came up with many different sketches as far as the visual design of the outer packaging. My favorite idea so far is to create a white package with literal splashes of color all over. I love the yellow "swoosh" beneath the logo, as it is reminiscent of a smile, which Crayola has previously alluded to in their crayon packaging. (You can see this in my previous blog post for this project.) Here is my concept:






As far as the physical 3D design of the package, I am still somewhat undecided. My initial sketches were of a box in the shape of a sort of lunchbox with a handle. I'm still leaning towards the box-with-a-handle idea, as traditional Crayola crayon packages tend to stay along the lines of simple, rectangular boxes. Another idea I had was to create a cylindrical package with a string or handle on top. Whichever design I decide to use, I also want to incorporate the "built-in sharpener" that Crayola often includes in its crayon packaging. I found a template for a box with a handle that I could alter to fit my needs:



Here is an example of what I'm thinking of doing if I were to go with the cylinder box: