Store brand: Triple Berry - Bran- Muffins

Not only I am comparing packages on the outside, this time I decided to bake some Triple Berry Bran Muffins from a box I bought at Trader's Joe. It was really easy to make and the results were very satisfying. Definitely the results reflected what the box design communicated, yummy, good, home style good tasking muffins with a touch of berries. Just the perfect treat for a fall afternoon.

Comparison: Store brand Baking Mixes vs Private Brand

I think buying a cake mix from the store is pretty straight forward. You combine ingredients and then wait for the yummy results. When I go shopping packaging design is paramount to me. The design has to have the communication points I am looking for including trust, efficiency and promise deliverance. The question is: Do you trust more mainstream brands like Betty Crocker or Pillsbury? or would you go and try private brands like "Baker Josef" from Trader's Joe?...

Packaging: Infant Toys "Sassy" going simpler

For some resason I had always think that white background packaging is cleaner and gets your concept understood faster. As I was mentioning before the trend is to go simple, less cluttered, I don't know why many products did not go this route a long time ago, but anyway, here is a sample of "Sassy"s infant toys   with a packaging with that kind of profile.

Iconic New York City Packaging - Duane Reade packs

I am definitely all for a simpler and cleaner package design. That does not mean that it should be plain, white and boring, on the contrary it could be a great challenge to make it even more creative and distinctive.
Look at this Duane Reade packs that used graphic icons inspired in New York City's landscapes and very little colors, yet the impact is big and the results awesome.

Retail Packaging: Chocolate Mexicano Taza

In a recent trip to Manhattan I wanted to take a break from all the crazy walking and why not do it in a very nice and gourmet place like the Plaza Food Hall by Todd English at the Plaza Hotel in midtown?...As I was ordering an iced coffee I noticed this great packaging of a Cafe Mexicano. Don't you agree is so simple yet so good quality looking, homey, nicely designed and most of all I wanted to get a sample of all of them to take home. So appealing!