It's January: it's winter, it's dark and there is no color, right? Wrong! Here is what I found yesterday at my local farm/garden market. Moral of this story: always carry your camera!
These below were my absolute favorites: from Italy. The colors, the graphics and even the SIZE of the package is fabulous. As designers, we are always told to remember the color on the shelf: that is a large part of what sells a product. And here it couldn't be truer. Now, also, take a look at the contemporary graphics: the veggie icons are, quite literally, outside the box. In each case, they extend outside an inner box, and also bleed off an edge or two. Scroll down to see some seed packets from the 1930's: we've come a long way, baby!
I had bought a huge collection of these at Brimfield
And they became a set of dessert plates! (combined with crate labels)
How about these gourds? I had never seen anything like this! Great idea for some craft projects....
Moving right along down the aisles: even the accoutrements of gardening are colorful!
And finally, for a totally different take on color: some neutral cachepots.
I never realized how interesting graphics on seed packets could be until I worked on a TV show and had to hunt down the type of packaging that would go with the host's garden segment. Indeed, you hit the nail on the head through this formal analysis!
Posted by: Lydia, Clueless Crafter | 01/26/2010 at 03:41 PM
What a great place to find color … and the timing is good too - winter time can be so bland I seek out color anywhere I can find it - great post, thanks!
Posted by: Donna Frasca | 01/27/2010 at 02:40 PM
Yes, I was so surprised to see such great color and graphics! I think those Italian packets are a first..
Posted by: aneyefordetail | 01/28/2010 at 10:12 AM
Your post really gets one thinking about spring even in the dead of winter! My seed packets are not nearly as colorful, but perhaps that's so the gardener doesn't feel inept if seeds don't produce what's on packet ; )!
Posted by: Julie | 04/03/2010 at 10:25 AM