I am addicted to alcohol packaging. Wines, beers, spirits and all manner of alcohol consumption and creation related products and their packaging make my world go round. Please let me know in the comments if I'm not alone. Here are some of my favourite alcohol packaging designs!

This beer packaging design is genius! The outer box is designed to look like an old fashioned tape player and radio, the detail of all the buttons, switches and even the screws is fantastic. The window that would usually reveal the cassette instead shows the iconic beer label and the slogan 'it's Miller time' fits in with the idea that drinking Miller is something to be done when relaxing and enjoying time with friends. 

This Pinot Noir packaging has an element of spookiness about it. The font used that appears to be printed directly on to that glass is highly decorative and is reminiscent of something that could be found in very old books. The grey decoration on the dark glass also has a smokey effect and doesn't really jump out at the consumer making it harder to read. The label has the classic Alice in Wonderland 'drink me' idea on it and the product is made to seem of higher quality with a real wax seal.

You'd think after all the celebrating done over the Christmas holidays we'd be sick of the sight of alcohol and spirits, but this packaging is just too good to resist. This beautiful Kirk and Sweeney bottle is based on the rum smuggling ship it was named after. The neck of the bottle has imagery of the ship itself along with some exclusive information about the alcohol within. Having packaging that is obviously different for each product makes it special and more desirable. The cork in the top of the bottle adds to an authentic feel and makes it look almost as if it could have been smuggled on a ship, the seal on top of the cork makes it feel like a luxury product and the gold colour makes it even more so. The imagery on the bottle of compasses and maps adds to the character of the packaging. The gold and white colour of all the decoration adds to the amber liquid background and the basic shape of the bottle looks beautiful.

Yet another incredible design studio, originally founded in Tokyo, Japan but now based in Denmark, Studio ARHOJ focus of illustration, branding, packaging and interior design. 

All images sourced from Studio ARHOJ

Studio ARHOJ have created this fantastic packaging for honey brand Helt. Using the basis of the multicoloured hexagons to create the entire brands packaging identity including boxes, labels and stickers. Each individual hexagon has a different image, all related to bee keeping, the production of honey or the outside world in general. They have used a fantastic range of bright colours along side their simple images for a really cute and personalised feel.

Helt have created 15 different flavours of their product and each flavour has been given a different colour scheme. The stickers that seal the lid to the jar form the basis of it and the hexagons are all colours within that little scheme. Because all of the labels have similar images with the same hexagonal layout, all of the products look like they belong in the same range. The typography used shows a strong impression of the brand, with each flavour written in hand written looking font for a more personal feel.

Traditionally Christmas cards have been placed on the mantle of a fireplace and on the window-ledge but as craft has become more popular and less people have traditional fires in their homes, the displaying of Christmas cards has changed dramatically.
It could be as simple as hanging some string, twine or ribbon across a wall or room and hanging your cards across it. This does however mean that a lot of the cards are not the correct orientation. It does however look rustic and similar to bunting.

Another idea is to do something like the holder above. Find a pretty Christmas sign, they're very popular right now so you're bound to find one in a home-ware or craft store, attach ribbon to it and use pegs to clip on your cards. This allows you to put your cards on however you wish. You can use thick or thin ribbon to create it however you desire. A similar technique using ribbon and pegs is to tie some thick fabric ribbon around the upper cupboard doors in your kitchen, finish it off with a nice bow and peg your Christmas cards to the outside, meaning you get to look at your cards every day in the kitchen. This doesn't have to be done in the kitchen but it is a great way to decorate a space in your house that would have much decoration otherwise.

Those people who are well conversant with what it entails to go through the bumpy process of sending or delivering items, they will most definitely agree with the fact that bubble wrap rolls are an exceptional material which can be a great addition to your box of packaging supplies.

For the benefit of those who do not have the slightest clue on what this material is, it is a flexible see-through material that is by and large used in the packing of delicate items.  This material is regularly spaced and has air filled hemispheres sticking out of it that provide cushioning for the delicate items. When this packaging material is added to your box of packaging supplies, its bubbles are the ones that bring about the cushioning for sensitive items.

This material is often available in a number of different sizes and can actually be tailored to conform to the exact size and shape of the items that are being packaged. In addition to this, it can also be designed in such a way that it will be able to satisfy the degree of cushioning or protection that is required for your items. In some certain instances, multiple layers of this packaging material are put in the box of packaging supplies to give the box shock and vibration isolation.

The good thing about this material is just one sheet of it can be adequate to act as a surface protective layer. What’s more, the air filled hemispheres can be easily shaped in any shape and design that suits you.

Bubble wrap can be as small as 6 millimetres in diameter to as big as 26 millimetres but in some circumstances, this material is known to even go beyond 26 millimetres.  You should however note that the larger the air filled hemispheres on this material, the more it offers additional levels of shock absorption when your items are being transported. Besides, adding up to the level of protection for your items as a result of the varying sizes of the air bubbles on this material, this plastic material itself has the ability to provide some kind of cushioning for the objects in transit. A perfect example of this characteristic is seen when transporting very delicate electronic components. When these electronic components are on transit, there’s a type of bubble wrap that is utilised as an anti static plastic that drives away static charge thus safeguarding the extremely delicate electronic chips from static which can destroy them.

Well, yes. This New Zealand based packaging company has their finger on the pulse in terms of packaging. They have produced some wonderful designs that make their clients products super competitive in their respective fields. 

This vodka packaging brings a humorous side a the luxury brand. They have used the idea of the ideal gentlemen to create decoration for each different sized bottle. This is not only amusing as items such as mustaches and bowler hats have become popular culture but also gives the idea that vodka is a gentleman's drink.

Another fantastic example of packaging design that communicates branding is Karma Cola. All of the ingredients are sourced from fair-trade cooperating farms and companies, meaning that some of the profit is given to their sources to help the surrounding area prosper. The imagery on the packaging is simple, an earthy simple drawing of an angel and devil, linking to the brand philosophy. All of the packaging is simple and easily translates the brands purpose to the consumer.  The bottle its self is simple and functional and is well designed to do its job without seeming flashy.

We are all so used to certain products being packaged in certain ways that when something is packaged alternatively people notice immediately. Being ahead of the packaging trends (or setting them in effect) is the only way to get a consumers attention in the ongoing war of brands and products.

Johnny Cupcakes is, weirdly, a t-shirt brand. It's t-shirt packaging is not t-shirt packaging, it is 'frosting tins' and 'ice cream tubs'. Everything from the style and shape to the label and materials used to put this packaging together is exactly the same as those found on frosting tins and ice cream tubs. The originality when it comes to the packaging is one of the reasons these t-shirts are so sought after.
The weirdest element of this packaging is the fact that it was packaging originally designed for a different product. Usually packaging is created to hold a product in the most efficient way but now things are so competitive, the brief for producing new packaging designs has changed entirely.

Both the product and the packaging work together to make something unique and interesting here. The product its self absorbs scented oils to make a room smell more attractive, shaped like some of the most iconic landmarks across the globe the product is already intriguing. It is the packaging however that really brings the product to life. The exterior of the packaging is plain but well finished, with only a hint of excitement as a single picture is shown. The rest of the exterior appears quite dull. The interior however is the opposite.

The insides of each products packaging shows a scene from the area surround the landmark contained inside and one side of the packaging folds down to complete the scene. It creates a 3D element out of the image show on the exterior of the packaging - folding it up gives the entire thing a new level of depth. Each separate package has a clear theme and everything from the background colours and scene, to the individual images keep to it, making this a great example of a product that's packaging is just as important to it as the product itself.

Trends in the world of packaging happen just as much as those in fashion and other sectors and one of my favourite trends is packaging that is very visual. Mostly full of images, textures and patterns.

The clear end of the packet shows the pebble looking fruit candy (the packaging world has seen weirder products believe me) with a clear image of what it looks like inside. Despite this packaging showing the actual product rather than images, the way the packaging is laid out makes it appear very visual.

This packaging is very visual. The images of the fruits, some left untouched, some cut and photographed in an artistic fashion.

Despite only being a single colour image, it still makes up the majority of the packaging and inserts an element of humour.

Have you ever thought about how you can write romantic messages on the envelope for your loved ones? If you have never given the above statement a thought, it’s about time you spiced up the life of those people closest to your heart by simply writing them a heartfelt message on the mailing supply. Such notes usually provide a one-of-a-kind gift idea for any person no matter what occasion they’re celebrating. It is usually a very caring massage to your wife, husband, pal, parent or girl friend.

Everyone relishes the prospect of at least receiving a romantic card that is fittingly wrapped up in an envelope that bears a romantic message. This can be done on a special occasion or if you want to surprise your loved one when they least expect.

When going about this undertaking, care should be your guiding factor as far as the message you are trying to put across is concerned. This is simply because the kind of message you will send to your wife is not the same kind of message that you will send to your siblings or your parents. This means that you have to carefully choose the most appropriate pre-printed message from categories such as love, friendship, sympathy and so forth in order to brighten up the day of your loved one.

By just putting down this message on the envelope you can rest assured that you have send one of the greatest gifts to your loved ones that will leave an indelible mark in their hearts. It is an exceptional present that they will never ever think of throwing away and is very suitable as a birthday present, anniversary present or a get well gift.

With these messages, you can in no time effortlessly send or put a smile on the face of your loved one every day and let them relish the feeling of opening an old fashioned letter in the middle of cutting edge technology such as facebook, twitter and emails. Even though the new advancements in technology have made communication much easier, cheaper and faster as compared to the old fashioned method of letter writing, nothing can still beat the sentiments that someone gets when he or she opens a letter on which its cover is written romantic messages. Besides, no advancement in the communication technology can still match this feeling.