Images

CUSTOMIZATION How well the package blends in with the living environment is important. It must look right and feel right in the home setting. Package of tea bags. The modern-looking box is suitable for those who desire the contemporary life-style. When the package face changes, so does the taste. The classic English tea set may not necessarily fit the living environment of today's Japan. And the diversification of people's values has intensified this trend. The Japanese have always been eclectic. And today, the eating habit of the Japanese is a wild combination of Japanese, Western and Chinese cooking which is also reflected in the tableware. Not only that. The written characters used in Japan is a cacophony of three types of characters used either vertically or horizontally, mixed with alphabet. Added to this is the various levels of traditional-to-modern mixture of life-styles favored by different generations. As such, in the information society the demand for customization is tremendous. Even us designers are sometimes overwhelmed by the diversity of stimulation bombarding our society. INTERPRETATION The meaning embodied in traditional package is transformed through a new medium and opens up new possibilities. Here's a coffee package for individual serving. This stick-type package contains coffee for one serving, including sugar and cream. By pinching the package half way down, you can control or eliminate the sugar and cream according to you taste. Capturing the fancy of the whimsical Japanese, this product became an overnight success. For the generation who was raised on instant food, product of this nature is as natural as day. It seems that people who still believe that instant coffee can hardly beat regular coffee are out of tune with the times. You can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee by simply pouring hot water in this disposable paper cup. By removing the vacuum-pack wrapping, the noisy catch copy disappears. Drinks as refreshment taste when you can enjoy them right when you want them. It's neither yesterday nor tomorrow half an hour from now. People's desire to have their drinks at the right moment will increasingly affect the packaging business. As Shakespeare might say, in Japan you take coffee "as you like it". For instance, look at the picture on the left. Some people fancy drinking instant coffee in the same manner as green tea of a Japanese tea ceremony. This is a mini-pack soysauce. You can enjoy the fresh flavor with each serving. It's also handy for those conscious of salt intake. The convenient package makes it indispensable for outings and travelling. By the way, it's also an antidote for Japanese who begin to get homesick abroad. ADAPTATION Adapting a product to current needs ensure its survival and revival. This is komako, a brand of distilled sake. The innovative package newly created the nonexistent popularity of distilled sake. Because of its low price and new image, distilled sake now enjoys immense popularity among students and youths. Until now, distilled sake had a low-class Skidrow-type image, which was enough to scare anyone off. But the new package succeeded in completely shattering the poor image. The purity of distilled sake compares to the beauty of the pure mountain river water. The frost on the flowing form conveys the coolness of a limpid stream. And the smooth, feminine shape suggests the image of someone lovely to share the drink with. Fresh to the eye and smooth to the touch, like a women. The transparency combined with the flowing brushstroke beckons you seductively. To add a little drama, Komako is the namesake of the beautiful heroine of a famous novel by Yasunori kawabata. Triangle. This is another kind of distilled sake geared for young women. The name suggests a three-way communication between a girl and someone else with the drink as the medium. The shape, masculine image is enhanced with the poster of sophisticated man in tuxedo. Package graphic clearly tells the alcohol content. The most popular among women is the light, 20 proof. It comes with a leaflet which shows how to make smooth, tasty cocktails women tend to prefer. This considerate package incorporates a recipe. Man. Woman. Food. Eternity. Oops. I'm afraid I left one important one out. Man. Woman. Food. And WINE...all to last forever. All living things are in perpetual motion. So is their environment. Packaging must also advance in step with the vicissitudes of changing social trends. Technology and information promise a peaceful, comforting life for people. The ideal living environment can be discovered in the desire to open new grounds by adopting the wisdom of the past in the modern context. Again, it's been a pleasure for me to address you today. Thank you for your attention. Think Visually, Act Graphically!