Apron

I found this really good apron, the design of it is really useful keeps everything neat and tidy so you dont loose anything with the added pockets for the utensils. However the design and layout of everything is a bit random and mishmash but the idea works well.

Rules

As the kitchen can be a dangerous place for children I found these kitchen rules recommended to parents for their children cooking. These are really useful and I may include a few inside or on the packaging for the children to read.

Cooking Set

I have found this children's bake set whilst looking for different ways I can individualise my set and make it a little unique from those next to it. Just a small addition of the personalised name makes it much more fun and personal for the children. The packaging is a really good idea, I have struggled with my packaging and originally wanted to create something that was reusable and protective to the items inside and a draw string bag made with matching fabric is a really good idea for children.

Packaging

Inside my packaging there will be some form of recipes to follow, I have decided at this stage I want them to have as much fun an interest as the rest of the product and not just be a list of words and amounts. The layout of all these different works and shapes and sizes similar to the image I have posted above, can transform a boring set of instructions to be really interesting. I do need to bare in mind with the layout and style I choose it needs to be legible and they are a set of instructions.

Packaging

I really like this and my aims for my work and increasingly being influenced by a limited colour pallet I feel it makes the product look more expensive and interesting than full colour with lots of detail. Minimal and simple are two words I want my work to follow for this brief. I also really like the flowing background with the bright colours shining through the spacing, I have designed and illustrated lots of cupcakes for this brief and want to make some sort of pattern with them, this could be a really nice way of presenting them without adding too much detail and attention to them.

Packaging

There is nothing wow about this packaging, but its clean style stands out to me, it give it an expensive look and you would never guess its ice cream which I think adds a nice quality. I don't want to over power my packaging with illustrations and information, I want to add interest to it, in a similar way to the packaging above. I do however need to make sure the packaging represtents the product and it is still fun as its for children.

ECO packaging

I saw this and instantly thought, thats me! This packaging has be made by all recycled products, I love how hand made and natural it looks its giving such a simple and generally boring piece of packaging a really unique looks. I have commented on my practise blog that I want my packaging to look almost handmade and child influenced and I think this type of style and material would really strengthen my designs and concept. The only issue I have is the fact this type of material isn't sturdy enough to hold the weight of my product.

ECO Packaging

This is more in line with the type of packaging i can create that has an aspect of recycling to it. This product has been designed in mind that most yogurts come with a plastic spoon, which takes 100s of year to disintegrate, hear however they have costumed the lid to be the spoon. This type of design could be put forward with my work, perhaps the outer packaging opens out to be the apron? or the inside of the packaging has the cooking recipes printed on.

ECO packaging

I was browsing around and found this, its amazing a plastic bag that dissolves, can u imagine if all plastic bags were made from this how much it would benefit the environment. I would love to be able to include some type of environmental quality to my product. This always adds buying points to products with all the environmental issues floating around. Obviously the plastic isn't suitable for my project however this has spurred me on to look at other recycling techniques I could be using.

The bag going into water ......

Dissolving in the water.....

Disolved!

Packaging

This image is from a book called Graphics Packaging. I have decided I want my packaging to be different, but it cant be so experimental that the production for it would be really expensive, but at the same time I want it to differ slightly from the more obvious square box. When I saw this image, I straight away saw so many opportunities for this shape. Its possible to have a window to see in whilst still leaving enough space to include all the necessary information. Using the right stock it could be reusable with a safe fastening similar to the how it is shown above. The only thing to put this down so far would be the size of the packaging to fit everything in, it cant be too large to stock or too large to be kept in a house, where the simple box shapes offers flat packaging and a smaller space.

Experimental Packaging.

Im not exactly sure what type of style or shape I want my packaging to be, so I thought it would be best to have a look around at different current types that I like and see what ideas I come up with from that. These examples are all from a book called Experimental Packaging by Daniel Mason.

I really like this first example, I have seen this shape and similar style used for other products such as cigarettes and cigars as well. Its a really unique but simple shape and the smooth curves give it an expensive look. I wont be producing to this scale and the the opening and closing int practical for my product as you can get all the way in, however it has inspired me to look at other shapes that those with straight edges and pointy corners. A second areas is, because the outside of the packaging is so unique and expensive looking they haven't over powered it with information , the clean look with expensive stock really works n its favour.

This packaging for a watch is really interesting, some of the designs I have developed are more suited towards this type of design and fastening, especially if I want my packaging to be protective and reusable. Its waterproof with a safe fastening for children. The clear plastic also give opportunity for the whole product to be seen, which is one of my main 'wants' when designing the baking set. If I am to follow on and develop this style I need to look at ways of printing on plastic.

I wouldn't necessarily say this is experimental, however this style is most likely to be suitable for my packaging. This style is also typical for children's products and cooking sets. There is the opportunity to have a window to see into the product whilst also leaving a space for me to add detail and information on the front of the product. The only negative I have towards this is that its similar to most packaging and doesn't have anything about it to jump out like the previous 2. This could be outweighed by the fact this commercially would be easier and cheaper to reproduce on a large scale.

This is an interesting concept, it would add organisational skills for children as well as learning how to bake. Each section could have a different item included in the product, keeping things safe tidy. I quiet like this idea, however you wont be able to see inside and it does slightly take away the fun side the product is meant to have.

Susan Farrington

I like these illustrations I think they're quite unique and different to other illustrations I have posted, It has given me the idea to layer up different types of material for the bun patterns, not just textured or patterned paper but also photographs and collage them all together. It it a bit 'samey' looking so when I start to collage I want to make all the buns look different. I think I need to have a bun making session.

Cooking Utensils

I haven't thought much about the utensils I would like to include in the cooking set, however I would like to include something to try and make them quite individual and a little bit different. I am quite limited to what I can produce in this are so I shall need to be creative with this, any suggestions will be most appreciated, this is definitely an area I want to get some feedback on in our first crit. The first image is of some utensils I like, you dont need anything over the top and wow, but they have something a little bit extra to them which is really nice they aren't just plain wood. One way i have thought about adding to the utensils is with silicon moulds for bun tins, they are new in cooking equipment and they are reusable which is always a plus.

The other items I will be including in my cooking set is a apron, gloves and perhaps a hat, these all really depend on my sewing skills! Im going to use the same illustrations from the packaging for the apron, hat and gloves, tying this all together and keeping a unisex look.

Chocolate Muffin recipes

These ingredients will make 12 muffins.

Tip - to make sure the muffins are cooked insert a skewer into one and when removed if it comes out clean they are ready.

• 50g plain chocolate
• 2 eggs
• 250ml milk
• 125ml vegetable oil
• 100g granulated sugar
• 100g brown sugar
• 400g plain flower
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 150g white chocolate

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, using a mixing bowl.

2. Add and whisk in the eggs into the melted chocolate.

3. Mix in the oil sugar and milk.

4. In a separate bowl place the flour, salt and baking powder, mix thoroughly.

5. Chop the chocolate into small pieces, and stir into the flour.

6. Pour the 1st Liquid bowl into the flour and mix together until blended.

7. Fill each muffin case to just below the top.

8. Bake the muffins for 20 - 25 minuets.

Cupcake Recipie

Makes 12 cupcakes.

• 150g softened butter
• 150g sugar
• 3 eggs beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 150g self raising flour (sifted)
• 1 tbsp milk

For the frosting:

• 75g butter
• 150g icing sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• food coloring of your choice.

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160F/Gas mark 4

2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light, fluffy and pale.

3. Gradually mix in the beaten egg alternating with the flour to stop the mix from curdling. Finally stir through the vanilla extract and milk.

4. Place 12 paper cupcake cases into a muffin tin and divide the mixture between them.

5. Bake for 15 - 2o minutes until golden and springy to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Frosting

1. Beat the butter with a spoon or spatula until smooth, then start to sift in the icing sugar, stirring regularly. Add the vanilla extract and milk. The frosting should be light and creamy.

2. Mix your chosen food coloring into the icing to give and even colour.

3. Once the cupcakes are totally cool, spoon or pipe the icing onto your cakes.

Fairy Cake ingredients

Makes 24 mini cakes or 12 larger ones.

Tip - for minis you will need a tartlet tin, for larger cakes you will need a bun tip. You can use little paper cases accordingly to the size or butter the base and sides of the holes before filling with the mixture.

• 125g softened butter
• 125g caster sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 125g self raising flour
• 2 tbsp milk

1. Pre heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas mark 5. Either butter the tin or place the paper case in the holes (see tips). In a mixing bowl beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

2. Add the beaten egg, a little at a time, whisking to incorporate, then beat in the vanilla.

3. Sift in half of the flour and fold into the mixture. Add the milk and the rest of the flour and fold until well combined.

4. Spoon into the tin and bake for 12 minutes or until risen and golden on top. Allow to cool for ten minutes on a rack before removing from the tin.

Cooking Sets

Although I mentioned earlier I did not want to follow a specific character or theme outside of the baking/cooking, I do really like this set. It all matches an fits together really well, I think the fact it has a box to keep everything in safe and tidy is a really good idea. I did like the fact on the other product you could see inside the packaging and see what you were buying, however with a special box to keep everything safe like this you could add a tag booklet showing you. I think this product would be worth paying a little extra for, I like the extra efforts they have gone to with the bun cases and the rocket cutter. These are the types of things which will make my product stand out from other similar things in the supermarket.

Alternatively this cooking set is aimed towards girls and I really like it, the packaging is so different to any of the others I have seen, which is what makes it stand out. Its perfect for a little girl, grab her attention and make mummy buy it. Young children love grown up things and a bag is, the marketing and design for this is really clear and playing on that idea. You can also see in to what you are buying, which was a strong point from the previous sets. Secondly this packaging is a clean and tidy way of keeping all the products together or alternatively the little girl can use the bag. This is definitely my favourite so far!

Cooking Sets

Before I even begin I think its really important I look at current baking sets for children. Not only do I need to see what they look like, but I think what they include is important as I need to make mine individual from the current market. This first is aimed at girls, very pink. It looks full of lots of things which will excite children, however one thing I have noticed, i'm not sure why it has cutters when its for a cupcake and muffin set, anyway thats not the point. From what I can see the packaging doesn't really relate to cooking its just stripes, and the patterns they have used on the inside and the chef hat is fairies, this is very girly and adds to the pink, however it doesn't really relate to the product itself of the cupcakes or muffins, I think it would be a much stronger item if it were. A positive however is the layout of the products inside, you can clearly see everything which children love, and as a buyer i would want to be able to see everything I were buying especially if its for children.

The second cooking set I found is aimed at boys, following a pirate theme this item is much cheaper than the product above, however I feel it has all the relevant materials needed for a cooking pack. There are only small differences like a rolling pin and and recipes, I dont think the rolling pin is a necessity in the backing pack, especially for mine as my recipes will just be for buns, however I do think its missing out my not having any cooking instructions provided. Aside from that, the layout of the products work well, its less full than the one above, but its clear what is provided in the product.

This 3rd product provides pretty much everything you need for baking, but it is quite an expensive product and I think its a large price to pay before any ingredients. I like the design used, its cute and doesn't follow a particular trend so it could be in 'fashion' for a while. It could also be determined as a unisex piece, although a better colour could have been chosen. After looking at the first 3 I believe the ideas I currently have for this brief are really strong, i am not taking my design down a specific sex route therefore the buying opportunity is greater. I also feel the relationship between the patterns and the product will have a stronger connection with the child that a random 'character.'

The final cooking set is the most expensive and I cant quite see why, it looks the cheapest. I think the packaging is poorly designed for this product you cant see what your getting and it looks throw away because of this. When designing my packaging I want to be able to see the items inside and relate it to the products inside, at first glance you cant even really tell this is a cooking set for children.

Sarajo Frieden

I have documented Sarajo's work before but I never realised he had done informational material like these advertisements below. These are perfect for the types of design I want for my ingredient pages. I have mentioned in a crit that i want to have fun with these briefs and experiment, I don't particularly like type and this would be a fun way of doing it. I really like the simple light coloured pattern work used for the background instead of white, this could be another way to introduce the pattern work used on the outside of the packaging in tying it all together and making it more interesting.

I really like the hand drawn font, and for a professional product I would assume I should use a 'real' font and typed on the computer, however this hold quite a lot of information and is still legible, i definitely think its something i should try out for my ingredients pages.

Jillian Philips

I have posted this as in my head this is a similar type of design id like for the outside packaging and products, its got lots of little things going on, nothing too fussy, but theres still lots to look at.