Packaging Kills
I was in Spain for the past couple weeks and some of the most striking packaging elements I noticed were cigarette warning labels. Shown here are a few of the less gruesome samples.
Just a month ago it was announced by the FDA that similar warning labels will grace every cigarette package in the U.S. (If you want to see the really, really disgusting versions just click through to a link within that article.) While I think that the graphic images will be effective, they are quite an eyesore. Even non-smokers will have to look at those on the shelf behind the gas station register. A couple of thoughts came to mind:
1. The tobacco industry seems strangely singled out. Should there also be similarly gruesome warnings on other popular killers like alcohol and sugary, fatty foods?
2. Perhaps there is a different solution. Instead of shock value, maybe strip away the "glamor" that branding creates by utilizing plain packaging. GOOD looked into this recently and design firm Build also explored the idea.
2 Comments
"If they really want to reduce the appeal, they should have an entry level graphic design student come up with something. These still look half-way decent."
- Branden Lower
"It also proves that packaging doesn't alone make something cool or desired. The product itself offers something, be it in a feeling or in what it will define about that person, that is much more powerful than packaging."
- Craig Johnson