The Brief 1/17/17: Design News You Might Have Missed

Not sure about you, but we’re still riding that New Year high. The Dieline’s got a lot to look forward to this year—we have some new and amazing people working with us and we welcomed our first The Dieline baby (woo Jess!)—plus, we’re rolling out a revamped blog design, even more events, and loads of new content just for you. At the end of 2016 we listened to your feedback, and now we’re keeping the stuff you know and love and adding in the things you want and need. Basically: more content that will help you grow as a designer plus all the best packaging design projects to inspire you.

So let’s get started, shall we? We’re kicking off some of these posts with our new feature, The Brief, your weekly link roundup for all news packaging and branding. Here’s what you might have missed:

• So...make sure your morning cup of joe is in fact coffee and not, like, opium?
• Expect to see more of this: Mountain Dew debuted a mobile-first campaign along with their new packaging.
• If you want to try and harness some of the success from the “Share a Coke” campaign, here are 3 ways to personalize your packaging.
• “One member of each group was given the onerous task of taking a bite out of the chip after it had been scored based on its level of intactness.” The Pringles Challenge sounds kind of awesome for these 7th grade physics students (and also delicious).
• An excellent question: who’s responsible for making plastic packaging more recyclable?
• One of the biggest concerns with the legalization of marijuana is children accidentally consuming it. No doubt, cannabis is changing child-proof packaging.
• It’s time to rethink condom packaging. “There is a real need to make a next generation condom that is easier to use, stigma-free and more visually appealing, but the product is tightly controlled by government guidelines.”
• Unilever announced that it plans to deliver 100% recyclable packaging by 2020—here’s how.
• Well, this is depressing: by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
• Ikea, your one-stop shop for furniture, meatballs, and now bicycles.
• Something about these pre-peeled, pre-halved avocados just feels wrong.
• Wait, though—is anyone else thinking about the epic forts you could make with these boxes?! (we can dream)
• These harsh reviews of the iPhone, which first came out ten years ago, are proof that changes never come easy.
• Diversity in marketing is more important than ever.
• Growing old doesn’t mean what it used to mean anymore. It’s time for designers to take on the challenges presented by an aging population.
• Since their single landfill that handles its waste will reach capacity by 2045, Singapore is enacting a sustainable packaging mandate.
• Fall 2017 can’t come soon enough. We can’t wait to be in you, Ace Hotel Chicago.