Second-year students of Graphic Design at the Art Academy of Latvia have created packaging designs for eight products of the Rimi brand in the sweets category. It is planned that one of the design proposals developed during the studies will appear on store shelves in the future. Out of 34 proposals, Rimi has selected five designs and everyone can vote for their favourite until February 2.
The task of the Art Academy of Latvia Design Department students was to develop a unified design concept for eight Rimi label sweets. According to Rimi, this is a product group where packaging design plays a particularly important role, as sweets are often bought as a gift or as an emotional purchase. That is why the company chose sweets for the cooperation project with the students of the Art Academy of Latvia. The Rimi team is convinced that working with students is a great way for large, established companies to inject new ideas and working methods into their structure.
Working with a real design brief and client is also a valuable experience for students. «During the study process it is important for young designers to experience different scenarios in which they will be able to work in the future. Therefore, alongside creative experiments, theories, and research, contact with a real client is also extremely important. This time it was a collaboration with Rimi, working on a task that is also something very real and necessary for the company itself,» says designer Maija Rozenfelde, the head of the department of graphic design and associate professor at the Art Academy of Latvia.
In solving the task, students had the opportunity to go through the entire design process — starting with researching the company, the brief, the context, and the target audience, continuing with formulating their message and searching for visual ideas. Testing the solution was an equally important part of the process — students tested how their design would look on the shelf among competitors and how their design message would read or disappear in the mix. «It was also important for the students to be present during the client selection process and to understand the criteria. The most emotional or visually appealing designs don’t always «make it», and this experience will also be valuable in the future career of the designer,» Maija points out.
Short-listed designs
Samanta Pavļika
«Inspiration for the design idea came from going to visit my loved ones. When you buy chocolate as a gift, it becomes your travel companion, going on a little adventure with you.»
«The aim of the design concept is to help the product stand out on the shelf. A bold text with a vibrant image on a white background is, in my opinion, a very bold solution that is sure to attract attention.»
Elīza Āķīte
«This concept embodies the classic values of confectionery packaging design. The drawn illustrations give products a personal and romantic touch, making them perfect for gifting and self-indulgence.»
Grieta Ieviņa
«The design concept is inspired by the Paradise Garden. By combining subtle illustration and minimalistic product representation, the design creates an elegant impression and emphasises the customer experience, inviting the user to «experience paradise». The vibrant colour palette not only continues the associations of the tropical Paradise Garden and the coveted forbidden fruit but also evokes positive and uplifting feelings, making the product suitable for both celebratory and casual occasions.»
Luīze Sproģe
«The primary association we all have with chocolate is gifting. It encapsulates the warmest feelings of love, generosity, gratitude, and celebration. I believe that the greatest love is found in gifts that are of one’s own making. This thought led me to the concept of chocolate packaging as gift paper with a handmade pattern. Not perfect, not symmetrical, but personalised and unique. From the heart.»
It is planned that one of the packaging designs developed by students will appear on the shelves of Rimi stores throughout the Baltics. Until February 2, everyone can vote for their favourite design on the Rimi Latvia website, and voting will open in Lithuania and Estonia in the coming days. Alongside the public vote, the winner will be decided by a Rimi jury, which will include the company’s trademark team and graphic designers.
Viedokļi