Although I'm sure you don't want a laundry list of poorly designed packaging I can't resist complaining about the way butter is packaged. Can't they just fold it another way!

>Although I'm sure you don't want a laundry list of poorly designed packaging.

Of course I do!

What about that damn plastic sleeve for CD's? I can never get them to open. And once I do, there is that extra-super-sticky label at the top that keeps the jewel case shut. Now that's the reason why people download MP3's.

People still buy CD's? :)

Ha ha ha ha! So true, so true.

On the flip side, the footpaths across the green on the Dartmouth campus were only covered over with pavement after students had worn down the grass along the most useful routes. Result: the paved paths are right where people walk anyway. Very smart.

> People still buy CD's? :)

They better or I'll be doing annual reports and tuna packaging! :)

Most packaging is bad simply due to to the fact that it's not needed.

A banana. Now THAT is good package design.

>>> "A banana. Now THAT is good package design."

Well, that's what you get from the ultimate designer. ;-)

> Most packaging is bad simply due to to the fact that it's not needed.

Huh?

Anyway... 3D packaging(cans, bottles, boxes, etc.) is my favorite graphic design project!

> Huh?

Meaning most packaging is frivilous. Just a waste of resources.

> the paved paths are right where people walk anyway

There's actually a name for that: cowpaths. It saves time & money.

>Meaning most packaging is frivilous.

The packaging itself is probably not frivolous, the added decorations and award-winning techniques that people (designers) like to add to the packaging is what would make it frivolous. I'm not saying it's frivolous because I do believe that we need a differentiator to know what type of tuna comes straight from an oil spill and what type of tuna has been put through baths of milk to taste like a million bucks. And that differentiator is graphic design. Or price. I'm not saying this is right either, but it's a practice needed to compete.

Do high-end marmalades have to be wrapped in gold cloth and embroidered by hand to sell? sadly, yes. But you can also steal the tiny ones from hotels.

I take it, then, that the term "cowpaths' derives directly from Dartmouth students?

Do parts of the new Macromedia site count as poorly designed packaging?

> I take it, then, that the term "cowpaths' derives directly from Dartmouth students?

I don't want to get hassled up if I'm ever inclined to visit Dartmouth....so, no.

Method has an interesting experiment relating to cowpaths and website navigation: looky here

>Well, that's what you get from the ultimate designer. ;-)

Martha Stewart?

Do parts of the new Macromedia site count as poorly designed packaging?

I'd say the entire site counts as poorly designed packaging. ;o)

Martha Stewart?

She's the ultimate *decorator* (and inside trader) ;o)

Sam, you want the one on the bottom. I've never understood the trouble people have with this.

Re frivolous packaging: Has anybody else had to navigate the iPod box? Totally unnecessary.

you guys are homofagtastic. get some punani-na or something.

ya, i agree. gay

i concur with their previous statements.

Should I just delete these last comments... maybe I'll leave them up to demonstrate how silly (read stupid, immature, whatever) people can behave on the internet.

Bad Packaging is when you go to birthday parties and the token gift to guests is wrapped a million times in paper. You have to sit in anticipation as your neighbor unwraps the last shitty piece.