East Pack

UD will be on the scene next week at East Pack 2008 to see the latest innovations and trends in the packaging industry. This is the biggest packaging expo in the east coast. New this year is the  Green Packaging product pavilion and looking forward to see what they have on display.

Big Belly Solar Trash Cans

I was in Queens (Long Island City) the other day and I was excited to see one of the Big Belly trash cans. Queens is the only location in New York at the moment to get the cans as part of the "Queens Clean Air Project". These solar powered trash compacter help with the issue of overflowing trash receptacles on street corners. They hold up to 150 gallons of trash and are great for busy city areas. The solar powered grid at the top of the can provides all the energy needed for compacting through out the entire day. 

Story Telling

In a 2007 issue of I.D. Magazine an article was written with packaging trends to watch for. The number two item listed was "Story Telling". This is a way to connect consumers with stories to help remember the product and give the item credibility. Text copy designed to makes us pause, read and engage with the packaging.

While waiting at the checkout line at the grocery store I find myself reading labels and packaging looking for these snippets. I really enjoy finding these little surprises while purchasing items.

Healthy and Environmentally-Minded Eats at /Eks/

When you walk into /Eks/ (pronounced "X") Frozen Yogurt you feel like you're stepping into a pop art Tokyo cartoon basement. The walls are covered in a cherry red stencil of large fruit scenes. This design is continued through the entire fro-yo shop right down to their packaging. Neo Kim is the owner and designer of /Eks/ and has made recycling a priority in his store. At the back of the shop you will find three large receptacles with corresponding recycling symbols above. There are no other trash cans in the entire vicinity so recycling at /Eks/ is second nature -- the way it should be. 

/Eks/ is located in Williamsburg on Driggs Ave between N 9th & N10th St. The frozen yogurt and fresh fruit are an exquisite combination. I always get plain yogurt with blackberries and honey. 

It's All in the Cards

In the spirit of UnwrappedDesign, do it yourself and second life the card stock of the UD business cards will be from discarded packaging boxes. A photo recap of the design and production process at the studio.

2008 Pratt Show

  In the Spring 2008 issue of Pratt's magazine Prattfolio, Debera Johnson the academic director of sustainability writes, "In September 2007, Pratt was awarded a 3-year, $475,000 grant from the U.S. government's Fund to Improve Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE). [They] were the only institution to receive a grant to "green" its academic programs and only three percent of the applicants received funding." This Green Grant is helping Pratt to teach its students about understanding environmental sustainability in relation to the student's chosen profession. 

At this year's 2008 Pratt show in Manhattan, it was clear that the "green" sustainable teaching was underway. Biodegradable, organic and recyclable materials were the main trends I saw in the student's Packaging Design work. It is great to know that these future designers will have the skills needed to work in our chaotic ever-changing world. Check out some of the Packaging Design I saw at this year's Pratt Show.

 

 

  

A Tree for Me

On Saturday I visited the Million Trees NYC information booth at the Drums Along the Hudson festival. They are a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization with a goal to plant one million trees in the NYC five boroughs in the next ten years. Quoted from the website the funds will go to " tree planting, stewardship and educational goals."

Pictured on the right a tagged tree from the program.

Living in an urban city like Manhattan and as a package designer its good to see a cause that brings back more trees to the environment.

sustainable nyc

Exploring the East Village on the weekend I came upon sustainable nyc, A shop full of eco friendly products and packaging. Additionally the store offers EcoWorkshops, creative classes breathing second life into packaging.

Sustainable NYC
147 Ave A (9th St)
(212)254.5400

Allow Tea to Elevate Your Spirit

T Salon located in the Chelsea Market serves up a wide variety of loose teas, organic foods and an inspiring green global campaign. T Salon is committed to helping the planet in any way they can. All of their packaging is made from recycled paper and uses non-toxic soy ink. When ordering food to-go or an iced tea at T Salon, it comes in a 100% biodegradable corn made plastics cup. They say on there website, "Corn plastics are better then traditional petroleum-based plastics because when they are formed, they do not release toxic chemicals into our vulnerable atmosphere." Miriam Novalle is the founder and CEO of T Salon. She is a New York native and has been dubbed the "Tea Guru". T Salon brings you the best of all worlds, the healing power of tea, it's delicious tastes and fragrances, earth friendly packaging, and a company dedicated to helping our ever changing global environment. Check out there morning yoga classes and their afternoon tea parties. 

Compostable Corn Cups @ Ella Cafe

Ella Cafe serves delicious organic foods and fresh squeezed juices. I went to brunch at Ella this past weekend and before I left, I ordered a water to-go. It arrived at my table in a cup that read, "This cup is made from corn and is 100% Compostable." Ella Cafe is an environmentally conscious hipster hangout located on Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg. 

skinnyskinny at Earth Day NY 2008

Over the weekend I discovered skinnyskinny, a NY based company that makes organic soaps and body products.

They had a booth at Earth Day NY and was very impressed with their organic product line, use of recycled and reclaimed materials, biodegradable packaging, business ethics and the eye catching graphics. Their gift sets packaging is a great idea!

Earth Day NY

Earth Day this Saturday at Grand Central. UnwrappedDesign will be there checking out green and sustainable design.

Earth Day NY
April 18-19
Vanderbilt Avenue at 42nd St.

Second Life Planters Found in Williamsburg

Dave Herman, founder of The City Reliquary organized small community gardens in large tires and claw-foot bathtubs on the Williamsburg sidewalks. He helped to bring his neighborhood together by making it more colorful, reusing unsuspecting everyday items and turned them into beautiful street gardens. Check out The City Reliquary's store/museum on Metropolitan, and find out about their bicycle fetish @ http://www.cityreliquary.org 

Look at what I found in the Subway. The MTA is showing all New Yorkers how to reuse and recycle packaging. Their approach may be subtle but it got my attention. This MTA vace is located between the G and the E/V @ Court Sq. and 23rd St.-Ely Ave.

This barbecue has been transformed into a unique front porch planter. It always catches my eye and makes me stop to look at the reflector covered Jesus statute standing next to it. 

I passed this street sign planter and needed to read it's caption. "Not Too Much Water Please," says the little cartoon man. This can, once filled with coffee or fruit cocktail, has been recycle and turned into a creative urban planter.