Packaging Design Episodes

This episode unveils the transformative power of AI in packaging design through the eyes of Adey Efrem, a trailblazer who has dared to venture where few designers have. Starting with her initial foray into the world of design to her current role as a spearhead at Impossible Foods, Adey's story is a testament to the evolution of design ethos in the age of artificial intelligence.

Evelio talks to Dirty Dough founder Bennett Maxwell about how their cookie box got them sued by Crumbl cookies and they turned it into content that more than doubled their franchises from 90 to over 200 in 2 months. Plus learn how finding the right coating allowed them to reduce their packaging spend and increase user experience for non-customers! Did you know that Uber Eats make up 25% of most take-out orders and are considered non-customers? Links: * Dirty Dough Cookies * Bennett Maxwell * ...

Black Ink Projects Co-founders Matt and Hayden answer how they are consistently innovative and pushing the bounds of packaging design. After designing the latest shoebox for the Adidas x Mr. Bailey release. Their Mycelium box and amniotic sac-like shoe bag has been featured everywhere from Hypebeast to Trendhunter as a groundbreaking shoe box. So how do they manage to stay so far ahead of trends and pushing manufacturing beyond the norms? Haden and Matt give a masterclass in never settling for...

Matt Hanzly 3D artist, packaging designer, and engineer shares what he's learned working with consumer electronics packaging in visual, structural, and CAD development. He shares his process of sketching, the tools he uses to render, and a few ways to structure your freelance packaging design fees. Connect with Matt here If you want to support the podcast you can subscribe or leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. --- Pick up a death metal PDU hoodie 🤘🏽here Connect with Evelio on Link...

Have you ever hired a type designer to design type for your packaging? Sometimes it feels like that's something saved for the big brands or major agencies, but it's not. Type Designer Scott Biersack and Evelio discuss the finer points of type and Scott shares how even the big agencies buy font sets to use for packaging without hiring someone for custom typography. Learn how to pair type, talk about type, and even ways to challenge on shelf competitors with type. If you want to support the podc...

Whoo! We hit nearly 100 episodes on the podcast, thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking to Michael Napoli of Terracycle and wrapping up our 4 part series on designing sustainable packaging. ** Want to appear on the show and hit our 5k + audience? Just go to the website and let me know: packagedesignunboxd.com Michael Napoli, VP of Material Sales at Terracycle, is a designer turned sustainability expert. He shares how design has to evolve to support sustainability and how it's cr...

Michael Napoli, VP of Material Sales at Terracycle, is a designer turned sustainability expert. He shares how design has to evolve to support sustainability and how it's critical to stay informed and not fall behind. Now if you don't know Terracycle, they recycle the unrecyclable and work with some of the world's largest brands to put in place recycling schemes that reduce global waste. Here's why you have to listen: 1) The differences between practically recyclable and technically recyclable,...

En el episodio de hoy hablamos con Hernan Braberman Director de Diseño de Tridimage de Argentina. Trabajan con marcas de todo el mundo y tratan con productos de todos los sectores. En este episodio, aprenderá sobre empaques inteligentes, marca global y sostenibilidad. Pero, sobre todo, aprenderá qué se necesita para ganar en el concurso Pentawards. Diseño que sorprende y deleita y nos hace sentir un poco de envidia por no haberlo inventado nosotros. Antes de comenzar, hazme un favor y suscríb...

Jennie Potts Design Director of B&B Studio shares how their work infuses emotion into packaging and why your brand needs a personality. In today’s episode we discuss some of the work she’s done with B&B studio, one of my favorite chocolate packs for Raw Halo and the positive impact that design has had on the Raw Halo business. You’ll also why including more content into your Pentawards submission is key to putting you in the running for an award. If you want to support the podcast you can sub...

Evelio (@eveliomattos) and Neha Tulsian (@NehaTulsian) discuss designing packaging for FMCG in India at NH1 Design, and how balancing culture and society can impact packaging design decisions. Here are three massive things you’ll take away from this episode: 1) Sometimes you gotta just chase your passion. Neha discusses how her agency was growing based on word of mouth from one industry, when she realized it wasn’t an industry she wanted to be known for. This led her to take a chance with a ne...

Evelio Mattos (@eveliomattos) sits down with Jamie Ellul (@jamie ellul) to discuss how Supple Studio created the iconic Frahm Jacket packaging that won several awards at Pentawards (@pentawards) last year. How he built his agency, how this project literally walked into his office, and the value of winning design awards for agencies. --- *Are you a fan of PDU and want to connect and learn from Evelio’s smiling face? Connect with him on LinkedIn to attend his weekly Packaging Class Live on Linke...

Pentawards, the most prestigious global packaging design competition is back in 2022! Adam Ryan and I discuss the changing landscape of packaging competitions and why diversity matters in building a global design community. This year's jury is made up of designers, materials experts, and an NGO (WWF) spanning Russia, the Americas, Asia, and pretty much every continent on the map. If you want to win a prize, there are lots of packaging competitions out there, but if you want to build community P...

I just bought an NFT solely for the packaging design. Insane? Probably. I bought the Chinese New Year release of Gelnfiddich's 21 year old single malt scotch that comes in a beautifully illustrated box by Chineses Artist Rlon Wang. The idea of limited edition packaging isn't new and neither are presages, but this is entirely different, yet so much the same. I own 1 of the presale 200 limited edition bottles and boxes. The difference is that I don't get the bottle unless I burn the NFT, and eac...

Learn how to avoid the packaging design mistakes every brand makes. What are the biggest mistakes every start-up, unicorn, heritage brand makes? This quick chat breaks down 3 of the most impactful mistakes you can make to devalue your consumer experience and your brand's equity. We'll tackle everything from Timing, size, and unboxing what the issues are, how they happen and how to avoid making the same mistakes every brand is bound to make. This is part one in a series of packaging mistakes an...

Learn how finding your flow in the package design process allows you to deliver the value to your client. Gene Portnoy is a prolific packaging designer with years of experience, much of which never requiring a portfolio. In this episode we discuss how he built an award winning portfolio in less than 2 years by pushing himself beyond his comfort zone. 3 things you’ll get from this episode: 1) How sharing the work you design for fun can create unexpected new opportunities. Pick up new clients, ...

Ever wonder what it takes to design packaging for Monopoly, Barbie, GI Joe, and the world of games and toys? Matt Nuccio shares his experiences in the toy industry and his approach to packaging. Games and toys die on the shelf every year due to bad packaging, learn how this team have stood the test of time to be industry leaders in packaging and game development. Here's three nuggets you're going to walk away with: 1) The importance of design for manufacture 2) Size and the sustainable packag...

Whether you're just starting out using Adobe Dimensions or a seasoned packaging designer with Quark Express in your rearview, this episode dives into the future of packaging design education with Aaron Brashear. You're walking away with a ton of stuff including: How to further your career before it even starts. How packaging design programs at FIT NY & Parsons differ New curriculum to prepare students for the future of packaging Innovations, ideation process in education, and embracing failu...

There are so many myths out there in terms of what is recyclable, what's not recyclable, what kind of material you should use, what material you shouldn’t use, where you should use them, and how to use them. Today, we’re sharing with you a presentation that Evelio gave at the Lithuanian Baltic NAPA Design Conference that focuses on the myths around the sustainability and recycling of packaging. Tuning in you’ll discover a list of things that you can do when you're designing sustainable packaging...

We have all experienced molded fiber, usually as a replacement for foam or plastic inserts (think egg boxes). However, this largely underrated material offers countless possibilities to those bold enough to use it, and it is environmentally friendly to top it all off! Colourform is at the forefront of design and innovation with molded fiber and today we get to speak to two key members of its team, Richard Dancy and Chris Schofield! Richard and Chris take us through the process behind the complex...

This is the story of how your host, Evelio Mattos, won a packaging design and product launch pitch against VaynerMedia and also lost $900,000 in the process. The lesson in today’s episode is about knowing your value and understanding what you bring to the table when it comes to pricing, packaging design, and opportunities. As with any proposal, Evelio believes that presenting with confidence and clarity is key. It’s about delivering your pitch, focusing on its value to the consumer, their brand,...

Todd Maute explains how CBX’s FORGE process helps redesign multi-SKU packaging for CPG and retail brands faster and sometimes cheaper. CBX is known for its brand experience development for pet, food, and even pet food brands! Learn how design agencies collect data, project-manage, and make production a design challenge to ensure every redesign aspect is measured and considered. Packaging design for one box is complex. Redesigning packaging for hundreds of SKUs all at once, well, that’s an und...

Kirk Visola, Founder and Creative Director of Mind the Fun, Co-host of Clubhouse's Kirk and Kurtts (Andy Kurtts), and Monday's with Marilyn (Kirk's mom) joins PDU to have a discussion about race and design. Kirk shares the experiences he's had as a black designer, learning that design could lead to a career, and his passion for comics. We discuss everything from updating his LinkedIn profile with an image for the first time, interviews, his sketch process, and how design can take a couple day...

Today's guest is Andy Kurtts, the founder of Buttermilk Creative, a food & beverage packaging agency based in North Carolina. After leaving his full-time position over 5 years ago he launched Buttermilk Creative. Andy set out to build a solid business foundation before designing his first package. Andy shares how he set up his LLC, website, and where he goes to find clients. Get practical advice on growing your business, finding clients, and even when to make the jump from full-time to founde...

Rick Fitzgerald is a cannabis packaging designer, founder of cannabis travel site Inndica.com, and print production wizard. He's worked on hundreds of cannabis brands from around the globe and shares everything he's learned so far. So, if you want to start designing packaging for cannabis, you’re going to love this episode. If you’re already designing packaging for Cannabis, you might learn something too! You’re going to learn 3 super major things. 1) State regulations, why you need to work with an experienced cannabis packaging designer 2) How designing Child Resistant cannabis packaging can open up a new career path 3) The requirements for designing graphics on cannbis packaging. Also gain insight into the cannabis industries future, not to mention Rick drop his prediction for countrywide legalization! Do me a favor: Rate, review, and subscribe.