Brand Management - Design

For the first time in three years, the bears are back. Coca-Cola's famous polar bear mascots will return to packaging for the first time since 2013.

In the age of craft beer and small-batch brewing, one of the largest and most recognizable beer brands in the United States is having itself quite a year — and is doing so via its packaging.

The Paperboard Packaging council announced the winners of its annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition during its recent Fall Meeting. Awards were presented for folding cartons, rigid boxes, sustainable initiatives and packaging innovation.

The Digital Packaging Summit opened last night, featuring Kevin Chop of Diageo, who provided an overview of the benefits digital printing can provide. In particular, Chop highlighted how the technology allows Diageo's brands to be more creative with their packaging.

VanMoof, a Netherlands-based bicycle company, came up with an unusual way to prevent damage to its packaging during delivery: print flatscreen TVs on the side of the box. Damages are now down 70-80% in the U.S.

Ireland has become the latest country to pass a bill mandating that cigarette and tobacco packages adopt plain packaging. Minister for Health Simon Harris confirmed that the new packaging would feature graphic images and written health warnings.

The folding carton industry is poised for continued growth as technologies that once would have been considered a pipe dream are taking cartons to the next level.

You’ve seen all of the winning entries — now here’s what the judges had to say about the 30th annual packagePRINTING Excellence Awards.

Thorough communication between the design agency, brand owner and printer is crucial in facilitating a seamless workflow. We spoke with experts in packaging design about how to foster strong communication along the supply chain, including a video interview with Kory Grushka of Works Design Group.

Brands and products come and go, but there are the lucky few that have withstood the sands of time, causing nostalgia seekers to yearn for the familiarity of packaging of yore. The success of recent packaging throwbacks indicates that brands are aware of how a vintage look resonates with consumers, even if they aren't directly demanding the change.