Research - Product, Packaging and Promotion

Ryan's Work

Understanding Ryan's personal 'brand' and style is very important in order to ensure the product is packaged and promoted in an appropriate way.

Ryan refers to his work as 'practical art' and it encourages a lot of interaction with the user, many of his products capitalise on the use of recycled and scrap materials which he uses to make creative and useful objects.

Using found materials has contributed a lot to Ryan's work and results in these simple and very creative pieces that are unlike any mass produced goods. This could be something to consider when looking into packaging as simply packaging the furniture in the style of Ikea would be irrelevant to the product and also irrelevant to Ryan's work ethic.

The Product

This is the product that I am working with Ryan to package. He is currently calling it the 'Skube', as it is in the form of a cube and utilises the users skateboard as a backrest.

Like a lot of his work this product is incredibly simple but very effective and useful.

It is self assembled by the customer using a pair of pliers and a pack of cable ties that are supplied with the product, depending on how many ties are put on, the box can also be used as a storage unit with a lid. All of these variations on how the user can personalise the product should be included in the printed instructional material that will come with the box.

Packaging

As Ryan's work is based on recycling materials and creating practical solutions out of simple material I think it would be a shame not to do something creative with the packaging the stool comes in. I will research into existing applications of cardboard to see if there is a relevant application to the otherwise waste cardboard packaging.

The secondary use of the packaging could stem from the design that is printed on the packaging, similar to the application here were the cardboard is used as fun ornamentation.

It would be ideal to be able to produce the packaging using recycled material, making the product as eco friendly as possible

Could we print on the inside of the packaging as well as the out to add more of an experience for the user? Could assembly instructions be printed on the inside of the box rather than printing on paper that is ultimately going to be disposed of?

How will the boxes work together when they are stacked or side by side? Maybe this is something that could add an extra element of fun and interaction to the product?

Could we have a window in the packaging that reveals some of the design of the furniture inside?

How will the product be transported from shelf to home? The product is quite heavy, what will be the safest way of the customer carrying the product without causing damage to themselves?

Ultimately the packaging must protect the product, further research into the materials that Ikea use will ensure that the product isn't damaged and the structural integrity of  the packaging isn't lost trying to add too much to it.

A simple but practical application to the waste packaging would be ideal as this is a common theme in Ryan's work.

An application that is relevant to the product would fit well, such as storage facilities, tables or a footstool to accompany the chair.
Could some of the cardboard be used inside the chair as dividers for when it is being used as a storage unit as well as a chair?

A skateboard would be an ideal additional product, if the waste cardboard could be utilised as this then I think it would be something that the target audience would appreciate

This is a similar product to the one Ryan has produced. This product has been taken from Concrete Sketchbook which is a small company that produces furniture and releases a series of the same product featuring different artwork from guest artists.

This is an outlet that Ryan thinks would suit his product so I will pay attention to how they promote and present their furniture

Outlets

There are a lot of similar products and makers currently available that we could potentially contact as an outlet to sell the product and also look at to see how they present their work.

This company called Skate-Home make quite polished skateboard furniture that retails at £100 and up

They photograph their products on location at a skatepark but keep it bright and well lit

This product, which is called Deck Stool is slightly similar to Ryan's it utilises recycled material to make furniture which creates quite a 'messy' product which they juxtapose by photographing it in a clean, white environment.