Pattern Books: Inspiration

As well as looking at websites, I also took inspirations from various books that focused on patterns as their content. I felt this helped me further understand how to put a pattern together.

This book that I looked was useful for text rather than visual inspiration. It went into the background of patterns and prints, which was helpful to look through. It was said in this book: “Pattern is powerful and transformative, adding rhythm and movement to the sensory experience of colour and texture.”

 Floral inspiration, Colourful, fun. Complimentary colours. Large images.

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The below book was very useful for visual inspiration.

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Magazine featuring various patterns. Many were inspired by foliage. 

 

References:
Style, B (2010). Print & Pattern. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.

Style, B (2011). Print & Pattern 2. London: Laurence King Publishing

Kiely, O (2010). Pattern. 2nd ed. London: Conran Octopus Ltd.

The Paper Stack magazine.

Compostable Packaging: Futher Research

Using compostable material for my transport packaging would be very beneficial to the environment and also work well with my idea of reusing the paint container as a flower pot. Perhaps some of the compostable material could be placed in the flower pot to help the soil, for example. However, in my previous blog post I had yet to find a suitable material. Sealed Air's "mushroom" packaging did not look premium, while the bamboo packaging did not appear to be strong enough and I was doubtful that this material would be able to hold two heavy paint containers. I therefore researched the subject further and, after discovering different greener packaging (see references), then discovered paperboard.

Paperboard has similar properties to paper, except that it is thicker and much stronger. It is light, can be easily cut and formed and is used mainly in packaging, making it perfect as a solution for my problem.

100% recycled paperboard is made completely from recovered fiber. It is recyclable as well as compostable. It is said to biodegrade at a faster rate than many food product packaging. It is also reasonably priced. Fold-Pak, a company that deals with corrugated packaging and recycling solutions, use paperboard to promote a greener image.

Paperboardpackaging.org says: "Paperboard packaging comes in several different grades that possess unique characteristics making each grade suitable for different packaging requirements and needs." 

Biodegradable 'packaging peanuts'
Packaging peanuts are a loose-fill packaging and cushioning material, which are often used to protect delicate products during their transportation.

I felt that they would be useful to include in the transportation of my paint containers, a method to ensure that my containers would be more protected and therefore more unlikely to scratch or the paint to spill. However, I wanted to make sure that these packaging peanuts were also environmentally-friendly and so did some research into biodegradable packaging peanuts. 

Before an environmental alternative was offered Compost-bin.org explains that these products were very harmful to the environment. Because they were so light weight they were impossible to collect and were constantly picked up by the wind, while they would last for years and years without composting.

A website called Foam Fabricators show that they have developed  Milex Loose Fill. This is made from grain protein and contains no petrochemicals, meaning that it is 100% biodegradable. Also, no harmful chemicals were produced during its process. On their website it explains that this product, "Is not only safe for our landfills; it can be recycled into fertilizer that nurtures the growth of future plant life. It is so safe in fact, that it’s edible."
That it encourages plant growth was a definite plus for my product, as homeowners could even place some of this packaging in the flower pot my paint container can be reused as.
Also added on their website: "Milex Loose Fill performs so well that, ultimately, less fill is needed. In fact, Milex beats polystyrene and starch fills in several areas of performance testing. This translates to less damage to shipped goods. “These are all compelling factors that add up to over-all savings for businesses”."
This would be very profitable to be in included in my design.

They can be found easily and are not expensive.

References: 
http://www.prlog.org/10750121-organic-tea-company-launches-100-compostable-packaging.html

http://earthcycle.com/blog/tag/compostable-packaging/

http://www.cardiabioplastics.com/our-business/faq

http://www.cardiabioplastics.com/index.php?nodeId=15

http://www.rpa100.com/recycled/learn-about-100-percent-recycled-paperboard/100-recycled-paperboard-and-sustainability/

 http://www.fold-pak.com/sustainability/SustainablePackagingSolutions.htm

http://www.foodbizsupply.com/biodegradable-paper-jar-natural-kraft-eco-pak.html

http://www.paperboardpackaging.org/about.html

http://www.storaenso.com/products/product-stories/2010/Pages/new-100-biodegradable-paperboard.aspx
http://www.foamfabinc.com/milex_loose_fill.shtml
http://www.compost-bin.org/biodegradable-packing-peanuts/

http://www.rdirect.co.uk/ecoflo-biodegradable-loose-fill-15-cubic-ft-bag-1269-p.asp

Flower Pot Pattern: Wallpaper Inspiration

As mentioned in my previous blog post and seen in my Learning Journal, I have decided to design my paint container so that it can be reused as a flower pot. Shown in my designs, a label would be wrapped about the aluminum paint container, clear and simplistic, showing the brand identity and crucial information for the decorator's (as the target audience are likely to hire one) benefit. This label could then be removed after use, to reveal an attractive pattern, printed onto the metal container, so that it could be used as an aesthetically-pleasing flower pot. I mentioned in the linked blog post that the pattern seen on the metal would have to be sophisticated and premium in appearance to attract my target audience. I therefore looked at patterns seen on high-end wallpapers for design inspiration.

Sophisticated, repetitive patterns. One strong, bold colour against a plainer cream backdrop.

Shown above is wallpaper by Edward Bulmer's main competitor, Farrow & Ball. I therefore think that this is the kind of sophisticated patterns that Edward Bulmer would like, as the client expressed his admiration for Farrow & Ball's overall design during the client meeting. I also feel I am therefore on track with this research.

 

Floral inspiration on patterns. This would work well on a flower pot, the pattern linking to nature.

I also looked at Harlequin, a website that I found advertised in the Country Homes & Interiors magazine during my inspiration search, a magazine that my target audience is theorized to read.

The following wallpaper patterns were found on Harlequin's website:

Harlequin

These wallpapers I looked at were premium, ranging from £49 to £116 in price. They are designed for the same target audience who I am looking into.

Their patterns have obviously been influenced from traditional wallpaper designs. They are repetitive, intricate, subtle and made up of no more than three colours. Most colours used are not particularly vivid (with some exceptions) but rather use soft, complimentary tones. I felt like the patterns that were influenced by floral and botanic imagery could be especially fitting for the purpose of my designs.



References:
http://www.tangletree-interiors.co.uk/
http://www.harlequin.uk.com/harlequin-wallpaper.aspx

Compostable Packaging

The company Sealed Air specialize in sustainable packaging. One of the most notable use of materials I found on their website was restore mushroom packaging.

This packaging is grown, rather than manufactured, and is produced out of sustainable materials. Agriculture products that would normally be disposed of, such as stalks and husks, are combined with the mushroom's root-like structure, mycelium. When left in a dark room, it self-assembles into a solid form, not dissimilar to polystyrene. This material is strong, protective, takes a few days to create and can be moulded into any shape. Not only that, but its production is better for the environment, as it is a low energy process. The packaging can also be composted after use, meaning that no material is wasted. It has even been known to improve the surrounding soil with its presence. 

It says in Sealed Air's informational video that, "Packaging should protect more than just products" and this is a strong solution to that case.  

However, I am not sure that this packaging is suitable for my target audience, as it is not overly aesthetically pleasing. Yet, this could make up the packaging of the transportation box, so it may not need to be overly attractive.

The computer company Dell also used packaging that was produced out of sustainable materials. They used bamboo to create packaging that cushioned its laptops during transportation. This was also 100% compostable. Oliver Campbell, Dell's senior manager of global packaging said: "We previously used oil-based products like styrofoam and polyethylene as cushioning, but we heard from our customers that they were interested in smaller packaging and recycled or organic materials."

I definitely think that compostable material is becoming more and more popular - and this is a extremely good thing. Paper and cardboard can only be recycled up to five times before it can no longer be reused. Compostable packaging works like paper and card yet offers a more eco-friendly image. 

Bamboo can also be used instead of polystyrene for food and drink containers:

References:
http://www.sealedairprotects.com/NA/EN/products/foam_packaging/restore-mushroom.aspx
http://www.fastcompany.com/1643493/dells-bamboo-packaging-now-compostable-too 
http://www.biomasspackaging.com/brands/410176-be-green-packaging