OUGD505 - SB2 Initial Ideas

During the first stages of the investigation, the idea was to recreate a socially accepted drug being equal to cannabis. For example, as coffee is a stimulant that is legally sold in coffee shops, there is little to no stigma attached to the effects. If the idea was to sell cannabis legally in a similar manner, it may be possible that public opinions may change. By placing the drug in a socially accepted environment, the stigma attached to it may be reconsidered by others. By looking at the types of packaging and design strategies involved in selling coffee, it is possible to apply the knowledge to cannabis products.

As cannabis can be used in different forms, there is potential to design packaging for different products. This includes, drinks, infused skin products, baked goods and herbal form.

 The design began by looking at honey products and how cannabis could be interpreted through this product. As many honey jars inform the buyer of the flavour, ingredients or process, the same thing could be applied in this case.

These designs would be used as examples in the presentation to show how cannabis can be seen as a regular product, with considered approaches to type, layout and colour schemes.

 As honey products often reflect the colours or features of the process, these designs would reflect this in the same way. By experimenting with different fonts and weights of the letters, it would be easier for people to see how these products could exist in today's market.

By placing the designs within a mock up, it was easier to interpret how the product may look if it were sold. Doing this will also allow for reference further into the project about how to apply the designs to physical objects or packaging.

This idea was to create packaging for herbal cannabis, similar to the product that is current sold in legal coffee shops. This design style had taken inspiration from existing packaging found in Amsterdam coffee shops, with information on the effects of the product, as well as the origin and potency included within it. 

This informative approach works well for the sale of recreational (herbal) cannabis because it provides consumers with information, regarding the strength of each strain and how it may effect them. Packaging like this can be useful, as it provides inexperienced buyers the opportunity to understand exactly what the product will do and whether it is suited to them.

This design was also applied to packaging that was likely to be found in a legal market. The packaging here was similar to packaging for coffee, likely found in popular coffee shops or supermarkets.

By trying the designs within these mock ups, it is possible to gather analysis of how the communication works within a graphic design context.

Similar to the coffee packets, the designs were also added to coffee tin style mock ups. This way the designs could be varied in their packaging and the layout could be altered in order to fit the shape of the tins.

 

In terms of the colour scheme, the descriptions of the products were used as inspiration. As the Afghan Kush strain was described as an earthy strain, the tin used brown colours that were reminiscent of the smells and flavours.

The White Widow strain was described as having white physical appearance and therefore the white text would contrast well against a light blue background.