I recently came across the Austin based creative firm Helms Workshop. They've an eclectic portfolio that clearly harks back to bygone era's. Despite this, their work is far from dated and their collaborative projects create some distinctive brand identities, websites and packaging. Their use of vintage typography is refreshingly bold and their reference to iconic visuals in their illustrations are bang on.
Promo poster for The Hold Steady’s 2006-7 tour supporting their new release, Boys and Girls in America.
Lovely little animation for Wolf & Wolf Optometrist's
Creative Review's recent article on Sainsbury's packaging of the 60's and 70's is fascinating. I knew very little about Sainsbury's brand's history and am guilty of discounting its creative potential both now and in the past.
It's interesting to compare their design outcomes midst the strict and somewhat bland branding used by supermarkets these days. The "predominance" of the illustrations and the fact that the "typeface choice was left to the designer" are indications of how much these large corporations have altered their approach.
I can't think of any UK supermarket that produce enticing designs (perhaps bar Waitrose with some of their designs).
It's now largely left to independent to think outside the corporate box. If I was to play devils advocate I might argue that Sainsburys own-brand packaging of 2011 communicates simplicity using a contemporary vernacular; design has progressed and it wouldn't work to reproduce modernist designs. We all can recall the white and orange Sainsbury's basics range and for that reason it achieves it's function of communicating value. But I think it would go along way for Supermarkets to try something a little more stimulating for the consumer.
As branding gets tighter and tighter I hope that the independent brands won't go the same way. Look what's at stake...
Designs produced by a recent packaging redesign from the French Supermarket Monoprix
These designs from RAW Health are as"alive and active" as the nutrients in their bars
There is a blog post relating to the magazine article, check it out http://creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2011/august/sainsburys-own-label-book
