Wednesday 21 September 2016

Rebrand: Packaging Update!


YAY I HAVE FINALLY REBRANDED EVERYTHING!! My shop and I had a little makeover this summer and I am super happy about it. Relieved too. I managed to go 3 years of thinking I was a graphic designer without taking my own branding seriously enough. I had the same compliment slips and a logo for aaages and really didn't feel they represented my style any more. Finally, during my extended uni summer break, I had the time and the motivation.

There's a lot to go into on this topic, but for the past year or so I've felt very odd about my shop. I really did want it to become a collaborative place, but after experimentation I've found that I'm just not comfortable with that. I wanted to bring it all back to how it started, little ol me in my bedroom, drawing things that make people smile, for a jobby. I wanted to reconnect with everyone who has supported Sighh for years now, as during my first year at uni I definitely let things slide. So the rebrand aims to connect me with the customer, in a fun, pretty way.


Step 1) Packaging! I want people to get excited the moment they see the parcel at their door. I want them to know instantly where it came from. This is also important for Christmas time, if your family/housemates have a habit of opening your post and you don't want surprises ruined!

Stickers are great because you can have more detail in them, but stamps can have just as much of an impact, and really add the personal touch. Especially the ones which don't work. That is also a risk. I designed these with an idea of where each would go, so worked out the measurements according to my packaging. For example, the "Open me, I'm fabulous" and "thank you!" stamps go on the seal of envelopes, so they had to be short. I wanted the "Hello, I am your new stuff" to be larger as it would decorate the front of the parcel. 

I made these simply by inking them with a paint brush, scanning them into photoshop and tidying up the edges a bit/moving elements to improve their composition and sizing them according to the measurements on the manufacturer's website. Links at the bottom of this post! The artwork you supply stamp companies with needs to be solid black and white. The black will be what's stamped, and the white will be cut out. If the detail is too fine, it may not print well, especially on uneven surfaces like jiffy bags. I think ink work was ideal! 


The logo stickers come in 3 different colours, which make up my shop's new colour palette! I they'll be alternated on packaging/branding products. I kept teal, the colour of my previous branding, for consistency (plus I love it), but added coral and pops of mustard which I feel are more me. 




Different packaging require different stamps. It's all about what fits, and the composition. I wanted the packaging to be personal, but not messy. 


Stickers will go inside cases like this, so you never forget where you bought them! Apparently people do. Humph. 




And now onto the part I love the most - the thank you slips!! Oh man. I found my A6 compliment slips weren't doing the job after launching enamel pins, which use small jiffy bags. I had to fold them, and it looked crap. Branding material should fit in seamlessly. So, these babies are A7 which only makes them 10x sweeter! I got them from Printed - if you decide to order, do a girl a favour and use my link (https://t.co/JlubOALKpq) which will save me money on future orders! :')



After seeing photos of people pinning up my old thank you slips on their walls, I wanted to make the reverse side a piece of lettering, or illustration, to fit that purpose. I think when these run out, I'll order a range of designs for people to collect! :) The "yay/pretty" have a stamp effect, linking with the packaging. I was going to hand stamp them but I didn't think I could cope with the ordeal it would be. These have been printed on 270gsm gesso paper, which links with the textured background of my website. Them details tho. 


I also ordered a smaller amount of thank you slips with a blank reverse side, so that I can write little notes to customers. This is SUCH an important thing to have considered if you're developing your own packaging. You don't want customers to be confused when they receive the parcel, before checking their inbox, and a note is a lot more personal than an email. It's also nice to write little messages to friends who order, without using scrap paper - which looks messy!

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And there you have it. My new branding! I'm going to actually talk about the reasons behind it in detail in another post for the graphics-y folk who might be interested. This was more a visual overview :)

The branding will be rolling out from now on. Phone cases might take a bit longer, but I'm sending off the materials to my supplier tomorrow.




So what are your thoughts? Do you prefer it to my old stuff? Do you feel it links up with my new website? Do let me know your thoughts below, or on twitter. Isn't it ironic how I spent my summer doing graphics stuff, just after I decided to change my degree to Illustration! Lol, life.


IN THIS POST:
Stickers and thank you cards: printed.com
Wooden stamp: https://www.englishstamp.com
Stamps with plastic handles: https://therubberstampcompany.com/traditional-rubber-stamps
Packaging: http://www.ukpackaging.com/
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13 comments

  1. Love it all so much Polly, you always do such an amazing job and no matter how much you grow you always keep is so personal. absolutely lush, well done gal x

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    1. Thank you!! :') It's so important to keep things personal. I love having a connection with the customer, and it's important the branding reflects that. xx

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  2. I love your new branding Polly!! It's brilliant and so cohesive, I think the little "thank you slips" are my favourite. xxx

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    1. Thanks so much, Amy! It means a lot as your work never fails to amaze me and your style is SOo defined! They've got to be my favourite too :') xox

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  3. I love it so much! The thank you cards are my favourite - I actually have your old design pinned on my board at home! But the "yay for all the pretty" is such a cute add. The stamps are a lovely touch as I love knowing straight away when my parcel from Sighh has arrived! It'll be the first thing I open now!! It's so pretty and lovely, well done Polly! I could only dream to create a business as successful as yours! X

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  4. Love the colour palette Polly & stamps, so cute <3

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  5. I LOVE this new branding and packaging, as always everything looks gorgeous Polly <3 I love your style x

    http://monochromeroses.blogspot.co.uk

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  6. They look amazing! And cohesive - every order you post will be recognisable no doubt. It also shows that you care.

    Katrina Sophia

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    1. Thank you! I used to write little messages with orders when I first started, but when that's unfeasible down the line, it's so important to make your branding personal & fun!!

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  7. So good! I love all the hand lettering and inky touches, plus your brand colors :) Everything goes so well together!

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  8. Everything looks so beautiful and personal Polly. It really does make all the difference than just receiving plain ol' packaging. love it!

    Leanne xx

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  9. Love it, it looks absolutely gorgeous! And you can tell SO MUCH work has gone into it xx

    Cityscape Bliss // Notes on The White Company

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