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Case Studies

Here’s your chance to learn from the experience of others.

Title: SAW Trilogy

Challenge: Lionsgate asked us to develop ideas for a collected edition of the first three SAW films. Luckily, we had plenty of time before the product released and we knew Lionsgate would be open to our wildest ideas as long as they are realistically manufacturable.

Solution: We presented several ideas and collaboratively decided on a thermoformed face of the puppet Jigsaw inside a PVC box. Deciding that the face would be attached to a paperboard “O” sleeve that would hold a multi-disk amaray style package was the easy part, determining the “look” of the PVC box was a little tougher and required multiple mock-ups to be created and reviewed. No problem for our press-quality proofing equipment, we had samples made and approvals back in no time. The end result is a beautifully creepy package perfect for its Halloween season release.

Title: NOOMA Soundtrack Volume 001

Challenge: Flannel challenged us with the task of producing the packaging for the NOOMA Soundtrack Volume 001; including finding a source to color match the art on the disks to the art on the packaging.

Solution: Thanks to our depth of resources we were able to recommend a replicator who could perfectly match the printing on the disks with the art on the package. The package itself is two pieces, an audio size wyn-pak and a slipcase. They wyn-pak holds one crystal clear tray and fits perfectly in the slipcase which is the real star of the package. The stock used for the slipcase is 111 lb. Curious Soft Touch Milk, a soft sued feeling material that makes you want to have other people feel it so they can say “wow” just like you did.

www.nooma.com

Title: Hack//Roots, Vol. 1 Limited Edition Boxed Set

Challenge: We were challenged by Bandai Entertainment to design a package that could offer the first volume of this fun series while leaving room to include future volumes and a T-shirt, soundtrack and videogame demo.

Solution: We ended up collaboratively developing a two piece rigid box with a cap for a top and a bottom that features cut-out windows and a carefully designed collar that allows interchangeable printed foil “cards” to slide into and out of the windows. This first volume comes with 2 foil cards and each additional volume will include 2 more, allowing the consumer to swap out their favorite images as they get them. This package is interactive, looks great and because it relies on future volumes, it has a long life.

This package has won an Award of Excellence in Packaging at the 2007 PEAK awards!

Title: Leigh’s Fall 2006 Catalog

Challenge: Leigh’s, a high-end clothing boutique, wanted a catalog for their fall line of apparel. The catalog needed to look as great as their clothes and still be cost effective for mailing. Being a fall catalog, timing was critical.

Solution: The first thing to do was to determine the optimal size to maximize the imagery while staying within a format that would allow the book to be printed on one sheet of paper and also hold to the lowest postage rate. 6” x 9” was the finished size. The next step was to re-touch the photographs, some of the items required restoring information that was lost in darkness due to underexposure (no fault to the photographer, more exposure would have caused other areas equally important to be overexposed and require touching-up). Once the task of touching-up the photos was complete the catalog’s layout and design were next and included a subtle swirling wave that flowed from page to page and required careful attention to page cross over. A fifth color was added, a brilliant eggshell blue, and then off to press! We were happy to have the client and the designer on press, and they signed off on the first sheet presented to them by our team. The printing, folding and binding and even the page cross over of the swirling wave were perfect. The result was a great, high-end 32 page catalog. Leigh’s has since designed their website to reflect the catalog’s appearance.

www.Leighsfashions.com

Title: Monster House Interactive Animation Wheel DVD Package

Challenge: Sony Pictures was interested in incorporating a spinning wheel into their Monster House DVD package. Most spinning wheels found in Gift cards or children’s books are held together with a hub or grommet of some kind and assembled by hand, often overseas. For several reasons, including a swift timeframe, handwork and a trip overseas was not going to be a good option; we needed to develop a new way to incorporate a spinning wheel into the package.

Solution: An comprehensive understanding of our folding, inserting and gluing capabilities allowed our design and production teams to develop a technique never before seen in the marketplace, an “O” sleeve with a door that had a brilliant “Interactive Animation Wheel”, as Sony has dubbed it, incorporated in to it. The technique built-in an ingenious “trap” for the wheel formed from creatively folding paper flaps from the cover into a “cradle” that secures the wheel, which is simultaneously inserted into place. The result is a smooth functioning spinning wheel that was created on a swift, completely automated, production schedule without the need for handwork or overseas outsourcing.

This package has won an Award of Excellence in Innovation at the 2007 PEAK awards!

Title: Reservoir Dogs 15^th Anniversary Edition DVD Package

Challenge: Lionsgate asked us to work with them to develop a unique specialty package for their 15th anniversary edition of Reservoir Dogs.

Solution: Through collaboration with Lionsgate we developed a package that combines two separate pieces, an outer tin that is shaped like a “gas can” and a two DVD holding “matchbook” that fits perfectly in the tin. The gas can is a custom designed tin that fits in the basic footprint of an ordinary DVD package. Vibrant colors and quality printing highlight this two piece tin that features a removable “cap” which opens to reveal the matchbook inside. The matchbook is a creative two DVD holder that has been printed on both sides, incorporates two clear plastic trays for maximum graphic visibility and features an original matchbook style closure. This is a very eye-catching package that fans of the movie will love for its prop-like attributes.

This package has won the most prized, “Grand Award” in Packaging at the 2007 PEAK awards!

Title: Lord of War – 2 Disc Special Edition

Challenge: Lionsgate Home Entertainment wanted a non-traditional package that would draw the attention of potential buyers for their 2-Disc Special Edition, Lord of War DVD. Time was a factor as was staying within a realistic budget.

Solution: We immediately recognized that the artwork would lend itself perfectly to a foil stock but due to the availability, price and short time frame foil stocks were ruled out, but a speedy and less expensive alternative to a metal looking stock was a metal looking ink. Silver Metal FX ink was chosen to be printed on our patented Wyn-Case: Thin, which allows maximum graphic coverage to show off the brilliance of the Metal FX. The Project was delivered on-time, on-budget and has continued to be a strong selling Special Edition long after its initial release.

Title: Tarzan II

Challenge: Walt Disney Home Entertainment was looking for the best way to show the sun shining down onto the young Tarzan thru the trees and foliage of the jungle on the cover of the new Tarzan II DVD.

Solution: We quickly came to the conclusion that standard inks were not going to provide the desired luminescence and any metallic inks would negatively affect the jungle feel of the artwork. The only real option remaining would be to custom design a holofoil stock that would create a realistic sunshine feel and still allow us to control the rich colors of the characters and jungle background by adjusting the opacity of the printing. The result was a very dynamic sunshine effect that really catches the eye.