Handmade Packaging Workshop: Tips, Tools & Techniques for Creating Custom Bags, Boxes and Containers

by Rachel Wiles

Taking packaging design back to basics, Handmade Packaging Workshop is unique in its focus, appealing more strongly to the handmade market, as well as highlighting the potential for customized packaging, sustainability, and recycling.

Organized into three sections, the first provides advice on materials, printing, shipping, sustainability, and more. Each chapter in this section includes detailed information, professional advice, and examples of finished pieces. Section two forms the main focus of the book and is organized by type of labels, boxes, bags, fabrics, and wraps. This section offers tutorials from the author and case studies and inspirational galleries from contemporary practitioners, providing insight into their design choices. The final section offers information about how to take your work to the next level, featuring advice on marketing your work, appropriate trade shows, and reaching out to potential clients.

Genres: Design, Art, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2012

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is sort of deceptive--It's more of a design case study book with some tips mixed in, and very, very limited technique. So, if you were looking for quick ideas for how to make clever packaging for, say, cupcakes for your kid's birthday party, probably not the book for you. In fact, definitely not the book for you. "Workshop" should not be anywhere near this book title. It's not a workshop. If you think you can learn Illustrator by following the quick directions on the "professional" section in the back of this book, think again. Same is true of the silk screen directions, etc. There are entire books on how to do silk screen, Illustrator, etc. This is really not a technique book.

BUT, there are some gorgeous examples of professional, sort of handmade ("sort of", meaning I don't think of anything produced on Illustrator as "handmade", nor do I think of professionally printed fabric as "handmade"). So, the title isn't accurate, but you could use this book to get ideas for packaging. If you have a product you want packaged, you could also use it in conjunction with a professional package designer, and say to that package desiger, "I want something like this or that." So three stars for the ideas.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

So you've played around with making gifts bags and boxes as well as making your own labels, now you're ready for the next step to up the ante. This book will give you the information and suggestions to bring your packaging skills to the next level. However, don't mistake this book for a straight how-to book. There are actually few step by step instructions. Instead, it gives you a quick survey of the different types of methods, materials and products to help you reach the next level and expand your skill set. There are also plenty of samples of independent artists and their work to give you an idea of the possibilities. Truthfully, this is more of a graphic artist ideas book however, for the budding packaging artist, this is a great introduction to the professional level of package design and construction.

[Roksana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book while I was at college.