Project Overview Conceptual fragrance packaging exploring cost-effective specialty printing techniques for emerging perfume brand. Design combines direct screen printing on glass with coordinated folding carton featuring embossing, creating premium presentation within accessible production budget.

Project Details

• Timeline: August 2016
• Role: Package Designer / Production Artist
• Type: Design exercise exploring specialty printing methods
• Deliverables: Direct-printed fragrance bottle and coordinated secondary packaging carton

Design Brief Develop packaging for SKN·DL (Scandal), a bold new unisex fragrance brand requiring distinctive visual identity that stands out in competitive beauty market. Design needed to balance premium aesthetic with production efficiency through strategic use of specialty printing techniques and limited color palette.

Brand Concept: SKN·DL

Brand Positioning:

• Name: SKN·DL (pronounced “Scandal”) – provocative, memorable, modern
• Target audience: Contemporary consumers seeking bold, artistic fragrance expression
• Aesthetic: Urban sophistication meets traditional art – graffiti/street art merged with Eastern symbolism
• Price point: Accessible luxury (mid-market positioning)
• Brand personality: Rebellious elegance, cultural fusion, confident individuality

Visual Identity:

• Core motif: Koi fish rendered in continuous line drawing style
• Artistic approach: Graffiti-inspired linework suggesting movement and fluidity
• Symbolism: Koi represents transformation, perseverance, individuality – aligning with fragrance as personal expression
• Typography: Stacked vertical wordmark with condensed serif or modern display type creating strong vertical presence
• Color strategy: High-contrast black and turquoise against neutral backgrounds

Packaging Components

Primary Package: Direct Screen-Printed Glass Bottle

• Format: Square glass perfume bottle (approximate 0.5 oz / 15 mL)
• Closure: Metallic silver spray pump with clear overcap
• Printing method: Direct screen printing on glass surface
• Color specification: 2 spot colors (PMS)
  • Color 1: Rich black (100% K or PMS Black)
  • Color 2: Vibrant turquoise/cyan (custom PMS specification)

Secondary Package: Folding Carton

• Material: 18pt SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) uncoated folding board
• Finish: Natural uncoated surface maintaining paper texture
• Printing method: Offset printing with 2 spot colors matching bottle
• Special finishing: Blind emboss (unprinted dimensional impression)
• Structure: Tuck-end folding carton with snug bottle fit

Design Elements & Composition

Koi Fish Illustration:

• Style: Single continuous line drawing suggesting graffiti/street art aesthetic
• Technique: Fluid, gestural linework creating sense of movement
• Interpretation: Abstract yet recognizable koi form
• Positioning on bottle: Centered on front panel, turquoise line on black background label
• Positioning on carton: Larger scale on white surface, allowing more visual prominence
• Artistic influence: Combines Eastern traditional koi symbolism with Western urban art styles

Typography Treatment:

• Brand name: SKN·DL with centered dot separator
• Layout: Vertical stacking creating tall, narrow lockup
• Style: Clean, modern serif or high-contrast sans-serif
• Hierarchy: Equal letter sizing with distinctive dot punctuation
• Bottle application: Black text on label background
• Carton application: Black text on white uncoated surface

Label Design – Bottle:

• Background: Solid black panel creating high contrast against clear glass
• Illustration: Turquoise koi linework on black background
• Typography: White or reversed text for brand name
• Product information: “0.5 oz” in small scale, clean sans-serif
• Coverage: Front panel only, allowing glass transparency on sides

Carton Design:

• Front panel: Vertical SKN·DL typography with turquoise koi illustration
• Product designation: “EAU DE PARFUM” in refined serif or caps
• Size information: “0.5 oz” specification
• Color balance: Black typography and turquoise illustration on pure white uncoated board
• Emboss treatment: Dimensional detail highlighting koi illustration

Production Method Exploration

Direct Screen Printing on Glass:

Advantages:

• Permanent, durable application that won’t peel or fade
• Excellent color vibrancy and opacity on glass surface
• Cost-effective for medium to large production runs
• Premium integrated appearance (not a label)
• Maintains tactile glass surface except in printed areas
• Can achieve precise registration on cylindrical or flat surfaces

Technical Considerations:

• Requires specialized glass screen printing equipment
• Limited to simpler graphics (spot colors, not full process)
• Registration challenges on curved surfaces
• Glass must be printed before filling
• Curing process required (thermal or UV)
• Design must account for bottle curvature and distortion

Production Specifications:

• Ink type: Specialized glass inks (ceramic or UV-curable)
• Color application: Each color requires separate screen
• Curing: Thermal curing in oven or UV curing tunnel
• Durability: Scratch-resistant, dishwasher-safe (for reusable bottles)
• Registration: ±0.5mm tolerance on glass surface

Two-Color Strategy on Glass:

• Color 1 (Black): Creates solid background panel/label area
• Color 2 (Turquoise): Overprints or sits adjacent to black, creating koi illustration
• Design efficiency: Minimal colors reduce setup and printing costs
• Visual impact: High contrast ensures shelf presence despite limited palette

Folding Carton Production:

Offset Printing with Spot Colors:

• Printing method: Traditional offset lithography
• Substrate: 18pt SBS uncoated board (substantial feel, premium weight)
• Color specification: 2 PMS spot colors matching bottle precisely
  • PMS Black for typography and brand elements
  • Custom PMS turquoise matching bottle ink
• Benefits: Excellent color accuracy, consistent reproduction, cost-effective at volume

Uncoated Stock Selection:

• Aesthetic rationale: Natural paper texture provides tactile, sophisticated feel
• Brand alignment: Uncoated surface suggests authenticity, craft, accessibility
• Color behavior: Inks absorb into paper creating softer, more muted appearance than coated stocks
• Finishing consideration: Uncoated surface ideal for embossing (shows dimensional detail beautifully)

Blind Emboss Application:

• Technique: Dimensional impression without ink or foil
• Effect: Creates subtle, sophisticated texture visible through light and shadow
• Potential applications:
  • Embossed koi outline enhancing illustration depth
  • Embossed brand name adding tactile dimension
  • Embossed decorative element (scales, water ripples)
• Design advantage: Adds premium detail without additional color cost
• Production: Male/female die set creating raised impression
• Visibility: Most effective on uncoated stock where dimensional detail shows clearly

Color Palette & Brand Psychology

Primary Colors:

• Black: Sophistication, mystery, urban edge, modernity
• Turquoise/Cyan: Energy, creativity, fluidity, freshness, contemporary cool
• White (uncoated board): Purity, simplicity, clean canvas for bold graphics

Color Strategy Rationale:

• High contrast ensures shelf visibility and brand recognition
• Turquoise differentiates from typical perfume color palettes (golds, pinks, purples)
• Limited palette creates cohesive, confident brand identity
• Colors work across both glass and paper substrates
• Timeless combination avoiding trend-dependent styling

Technical Design Execution

Bottle Design File Preparation:

• Template development: Cylindrical unwrap showing printable surface area
• Color separations: Individual files for black and turquoise screens
• Artwork specifications: Vector-based illustration for clean screen reproduction
• Registration marks: Critical for multi-color alignment on glass
• Trap/choke considerations: Where colors meet to prevent gaps
• Curvature compensation: Slight distortion accounting for bottle shape

Carton Die Line Development:

• Structure: Standard rectangular tuck-end carton with glue flap
• Dimensions: Sized to bottle with minimal excess space (premium fit)
• Fold lines: Scored for clean, precise folding
• Glue flap: Positioned for efficient manufacturing
• Emboss registration: Die strike marks ensuring precise emboss placement
• Bleed specifications: 0.125″ beyond trim for offset printing

Color Management:

• PMS specification: Custom Pantone colors ensuring consistency across substrates
• Drawdown samples: Physical ink samples on actual glass and board for approval
• Press proofs: Test prints verifying color accuracy before production runs
• Substrate variation: Accounting for how colors appear on glass vs. uncoated paper

Design Challenges & Solutions

Challenge 1: Achieving Color Consistency Across Substrates Glass and uncoated paper absorb and reflect ink differently, potentially creating color mismatch.

Solution:

• Specified identical PMS colors for both applications
• Created physical mockups testing ink on actual substrates
• Worked with printer to adjust ink density accounting for substrate differences
• Accepted slight variation as inherent to materials while maintaining color family

Challenge 2: Designing for Glass Curvature Square bottle has rounded corners causing visual distortion of printed graphics.

Solution:

• Created flat mockup template accounting for bottle dimensions
• Limited detailed linework to front flat panel avoiding extreme curvature
• Tested printed samples on actual bottles verifying registration
• Adjusted illustration placement based on sightlines and typical viewing angles

Challenge 3: Balancing Boldness with Refinement Brand name “Scandal” and graffiti aesthetic could appear juvenile without sophisticated execution.

Solution:

• Altered spelling to “SKN·DL” creating visual intrigue and modern typography
• Paired urban graffiti style with refined koi symbolism
• Used high-quality uncoated stock suggesting premium positioning
• Applied emboss adding luxury detail
• Maintained clean, uncluttered composition suggesting confidence

Challenge 4: Maximizing Impact with Minimal Colors Two-color restriction required strategic design to create visual interest.

Solution:

• Chose high-contrast color combination (black/turquoise/white) maximizing visibility
• Used negative space effectively on carton design
• Applied emboss creating dimension without additional color
• Focused on strong illustration and typography rather than color complexity
• Ensured each color served clear functional and aesthetic purpose

Challenge 5: Production Efficiency vs. Premium Appearance Brief required accessible production methods while maintaining luxury fragrance expectations.

Solution:

• Direct glass printing more cost-effective than labels, achieving integrated premium look
• Two-color printing significantly cheaper than full process while maintaining impact
• Uncoated stock less expensive than coated with specialty finishes, yet feels sophisticated
• Blind emboss adds luxury detail at reasonable cost
• Strategic specialty finishing creates premium perception within mid-market budget

Brand Storytelling & Consumer Experience

Unboxing Experience:

1. Consumer encounters clean white carton with bold graphic presence
2. Tactile uncoated surface and embossed detail engage touch
3. Tuck-end opens revealing glass bottle nestled securely
4. Direct-printed bottle feels permanent and substantial (not cheap label)
5. Design continuity from carton to bottle reinforces brand cohesion

Visual Narrative:

• Koi symbolism: Transformation, perseverance, swimming against current
• Graffiti aesthetic: Urban rebellion, contemporary art, street culture
• Cultural fusion: East meets West, tradition meets modernity
• Line quality: Continuous, fluid, suggesting movement and metamorphosis
• Brand message: Fragrance as personal expression of individuality and bold confidence

Shelf Presence:

• Vertical typography creates distinctive silhouette among horizontal competitors
• High-contrast black and turquoise stands out in typically feminine-coded fragrance section
• Clean, graphic approach differentiates from ornate traditional perfume packaging
• Square bottle format feels modern and substantial
• White carton provides breathing room in cluttered retail environment

Skills Demonstrated

• Multi-substrate packaging design (glass and folding carton)
• Specialty printing technique knowledge (direct screen printing, offset, embossing)
• Color management across different materials
• Material specification and selection
• Cost-conscious design decision-making
• Brand identity development and positioning
• Illustration integration and graphic composition
• Technical file preparation for specialized printing
• Understanding of production constraints and opportunities
• Strategic use of limited color palette

Production Specifications Summary

Glass Bottle:

• Direct screen printing, 2 PMS spot colors
• Specialized glass inks with thermal or UV curing
• Registration tolerance: ±0.5mm
• Print area: Front panel only

Folding Carton:

• Offset printing, 2 PMS spot colors (matching bottle)
• 18pt SBS uncoated folding board
• Blind emboss on selected area
• Standard tuck-end die with glue flap
• Bleed: 0.125″ all sides

Portfolio Significance

This conceptual project demonstrates:

• Understanding of specialty packaging printing methods
• Ability to design across multiple substrates cohesively
• Knowledge of cost-effective production techniques
• Strategic use of finishing techniques for premium appearance
• Brand development for beauty/fragrance category
• Technical expertise in glass decoration and folding carton construction
• Design thinking balancing aesthetics with manufacturing reality

Professional Value

SKN·DL packaging showcases ability to:

• Specify appropriate printing methods for different substrates
• Design cohesive systems across primary and secondary packaging
• Balance premium appearance with production efficiency
• Understand material properties and finishing options
• Create distinctive brand identities in competitive categories
• Make strategic decisions about color usage and specialty finishing
• Prepare production-ready files for specialized printing processes

Application to Production Roles

Relevant to senior production positions through demonstration of:

• Deep knowledge of specialty printing (direct glass printing, embossing)
• Multi-substrate design coordination
• Color management across materials
• Cost-benefit analysis of production methods
• Technical file preparation for specialty applications
• Understanding of how design choices impact manufacturing
• Strategic thinking about production efficiency vs. premium appearance

---