Learn how finding your flow in the package design process allows you to deliver the value to your client. Gene Portnoy is a prolific packaging designer with years of experience, much of which never requiring a portfolio. 

In this episode we discuss how he built an award winning portfolio in less than 2 years by pushing himself beyond his comfort zone.

3 things you’ll get from this episode:

1) How sharing the work you design for fun can create unexpected new opportunities. Pick up new clients, and even sell those designs. Gene tells the story of how he sold an entire brand and packaging design he did for fun to a brand and how that’s grown into more opportunities to do the same again.

2) how to be the designer you want to be. There’s many types of designers, many styles, and just as many niches. You don’t have to fit into anyone of them. You can choose to work on your own terms and build the portfolio you want to represent you.

3) Allow yourself to get lost in the work.

Take that extra time to explore and play, you never know what gold you’ll find when you push the design further and beyond your own comfort zones.

Links from the show:

Gene Portnoy on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

IDP Direct - Factory Direct Packaging

Diecut Templates - Packaging Dielines

Specright - Packaging Specifications Management

Support the Show:

Pick up some PDU gear

Ever wonder what it takes to design packaging for Monopoly, Barbie, GI Joe, and the world of games and toys? Matt Nuccio shares his experiences in the toy industry and his approach to packaging. Games and toys die on the shelf every year due to bad packaging, learn how this team have stood the test of time to be industry leaders in packaging and game development.

Here's three nuggets you're going to walk away with:

1) The importance of design for manufacture

2) Size and the sustainable package

3) How color competes for attention on shelf

We'll hit this and a bunch more with Matt Nuccio of Design Edge.

Do me a favor and subscribe and rate the podcast where ever you listen to podcasts.

Links:

Matt's Company: Design Edge

Matt's Linkedin: Follow Here

Evelio on LinkedIn: Follow Him Here

Buy a Sustainabull Unboxing Club and support the pod here

Intl. Direct Packaging

Specright

Whether you're just starting out using Adobe Dimensions or a seasoned packaging designer with Quark Express in your rearview, this episode dives into the future of packaging design education with Aaron Brashear. You're walking away with a ton of stuff including:

How to further your career before it even starts.

How packaging design programs at FIT NY & Parsons differ

New curriculum to prepare students for the future of packaging

Innovations, ideation process in education, and embracing failure early

Major changes to packaging, trends for 2022 - 2025

Show links:

Aaron Brashear on LinkedIn

AaronBrashearDesign.com

FIT NYC

Parsons New School

Loftware Project Management

Adobe

X-Rite

Esko

Package Design Unboxd

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on Twitter

Package Design Unboxd Q&A on Clubhouse

Intl. Direct Packaging

Specright

There are so many myths out there in terms of what is recyclable, what's not recyclable, what kind of material you should use, what material you shouldn’t use, where you should use them, and how to use them. Today, we’re sharing with you a presentation that Evelio gave at the Lithuanian Baltic NAPA Design Conference that focuses on the myths around the sustainability and recycling of packaging. Tuning in you’ll discover a list of things that you can do when you're designing sustainable packaging to ensure that it is, in fact, sustainable. You’ll hear the story about the launch of a new product for a luxury brand and what Evelio learned from their refusal to use packaging that was as recyclable as it claimed to be. Evelio then breaks down a list of myths and commonly held misperceptions about sustainable packaging as well as practical steps to take in the future. To find out where you can get the right information, what questions you should ask of whom, and what actionable steps you can take to create truly sustainable packaging, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on Twitter

NAPA Baltic

Tom Szaky

TerraCycle

Loop

Intl. Direct Packaging

Specright

Package Design Unboxd

We are taking this opportunity to do something a little different today! This episode's focus is on sustainable packaging and we recap some of the amazing ideas and advice we have received since starting this podcast. We feature snippets and segments from our conversations with Katie Kubrak, Tom Szaky, and Beau Peck, all episodes that are worth going back to listen to in their entirety if you have not already! Our three featured guests are all experts in the world of sustainable practices and packaging, and the thoughts they share are easy to apply and understand. This means that by simply listening to this episode you can level up your design process today! We touch on the difference between sustainability and recycling, getting to grips with different recycling systems according to specific locations, and how this information can impact and inform your design goals. Ultimately the aim is to make the most of your efforts; there is no use in designing a product to be sustainable in some way that does not fit with the systems it enters into! So to hear some inspiring ideas, and a few reflections about them along the way, join us on the show.

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

IDP

Specright

Die Cut Templates

Epiosde 5 with Tom Szaky

Tom Szaky on LinkedIn

Tom Szaky on Twitter

TerraCycle

Loop

Episode 13 with Katie Kubrak

Katie Kubrak on LinkedIn

Abel & Cole

Episode 3 with Beau Peck

Interwest Paper

Package Design Unboxd

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Long-form and ‘doom and gloom’ content on sustainability arguably lack efficacy because readers either lose focus or end up feeling completely disempowered. Today’s guest is Ariel Maldonado and she is switching things up by using the format of memes on her Instagram page, @gogreensavegreen. You might be wondering why we are talking about memes today but, to practice sustainable packaging, you need to be well-informed. This is where Ariel fits in, so make sure to follow her! We chat with our guest about how she got obsessed with the environment and began to search for a way that she could join the sustainability movement. She talks about why she chose to start an Instagram account and how the type of content she posted evolved over time. We hear why memes are so effective due to the fact that they are to the point, humorous, and don’t make people feel like they are being attacked. We speak about various themes in the sustainability conversation, such as informed consumption, alternatives to plastic, and mono cropping, and Ariel shares her ideas based on the research she has done for her account. Our conversation also covers Ariel’s thoughts on where she wants to go next, and she shares her hope to not just educate her audience, but to help drive action. Great ideas and projects are so much more powerful when they reach large audiences, so tune in to hear how Ariel is working to achieve this goal today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ariel Maldonado on LinkedIn

Ariel Maldonado on Twitter

Ariel Maldonado Email

Go Green Save Green on Instagram

Package Design Unboxd

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on Twitter

Intl. Direct Packaging

Specright

We have all experienced molded fiber, usually as a replacement for foam or plastic inserts (think egg boxes). However, this largely underrated material offers countless possibilities to those bold enough to use it, and it is environmentally friendly to top it all off! Colourform is at the forefront of design and innovation with molded fiber and today we get to speak to two key members of its team, Richard Dancy and Chris Schofield! Richard and Chris take us through the process behind the complex designs they have made using this material while giving listeners an insight into what is truly possible with Colourform. We learn about the value proposition of Colourform’s molded fiber from a branding perspective and hear examples of how their product has helped to elevate the story behind the many clients they have worked with. Our conversation also covers the sustainability aspect of Colourform. We talk about how they are helping their clients push the boundaries of easy-to-use recycled packaging as well as find their place in the circular economy. So, tune in today to give your molded fiber preconceptions an extreme makeover!

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Richard Dancy on LinkedIn

Chris Schofield on LinkedIn

Colourform

James Cropper

Package Design Unboxd

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on Twitter

Package Design Unboxd Q&A on Clubhouse

Intl. Direct Packaging

Specright

When you focus on manufacturing, you learn about the materials and processes behind a product, and this knowledge only makes you a better designer at the end of the day. Brandi Parker, Head of Sustainability at Pearlfisher, joins us to talk about how her experience on the manufacturing side has influenced the way she thinks about sustainable design. Brandi’s role at Pearlfisher has taught her about the deep connection between sustainability and design and we start our chat by hearing more about what this means to her. From there, we talk about certifications such as Dolphin-Safe and FSC, unpacking ideas around corruption, consumer awareness, and brand superficiality. Our conversation moves into some of the most exciting trends Brandi is seeing in sustainable design right now, where she highlights fungus and the amazing ways it is being put to use as a material. Toward the end of our exchange, we explore what true design is really about. Brandi drills down on the importance of reading the most current literature, getting involved in real projects and, of course, getting more clued up about manufacturing! We wrap up on the role of problem-solving in great design, and Brandi shares a few golden nuggets that you definitely do not want to miss!

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brandi Parker on LinkedIn

Pearlfisher

Cradle to Cradle

Package Design Unboxd

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on Twitter

Package Design Unboxd Q&A on Clubhouse

Intl. Direct Packaging

People of Packaging Podcast

Sustainable Packaging Podcast

This is the story of how your host, Evelio Mattos, won a packaging design and product launch pitch against VaynerMedia and also lost $900,000 in the process. The lesson in today’s episode is about knowing your value and understanding what you bring to the table when it comes to pricing, packaging design, and opportunities. As with any proposal, Evelio believes that presenting with confidence and clarity is key. It’s about delivering your pitch, focusing on its value to the consumer, their brand, and the longevity of the project but, most importantly, when you’re done, your audience should understand exactly what they are getting (as well as what they are not). Tuning in, you’ll learn the importance of engaging with your customers’ needs, determining what success will look like, and charging clients for the full value of what you will deliver, even if you’re just starting out. To find out more about how Evelio went up against the legendary Gary Vaynerchuk and won (but also lost), make sure not to miss today’s episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

VaynerMedia

Package Design Unboxd

Evelio Mattos on LinkedIn

Evelio Mattos on Twitter

Package Design Unboxd Q&A on Clubhouse

Intl. Direct Packaging

People of Packaging Podcast

Sustainable Packaging Podcast

Today, we’re discussing the realities of waste management in Argentina and the lengths that people go to in order to be just a little bit more sustainable with Guillermo Dufranc, author, YouTuber, and consistent LinkedIn poster of great sustainability content. When he isn’t busy being a zero-waste influencer, Guillermo manages a creative team at tridimage, an award-winning packaging design agency headquartered in Buenos Aires. In this episode, you’ll learn how global cities like Buenos Aires collect and dispose of waste in open dumpsites and how that impacts the realities of recycling in the city, how it’s going to be people who save the planet based on the decisions that they make, not the packaging materials we choose, and the ways in which systems need to close the loop without disrupting infrastructure. We also touch on how streamlining packaging to suit your immediate needs and location is going to be the next evolution of package design, with each type of packaging requiring a specific material for different use cases, and Guillermo shares his insights into how this future can achieve our zero waste dreams. Tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Guillermo Dufranc

Guillermo Dufranc on LinkedIn

Guillermo Dufranc on Instagram

Guillermo Dufranc on YouTube

La comunicación del packaging

Packaging Storytelling

Packaged Brands

Packaging para salvar el planeta

tridimage