jonwan

Designed by Rice Creative | Country: Vietnam

“Chocolate makers working directly at the source of the cacao farms are still very few and far between. Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat, based in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is one such company who have created the first single origin gourmet bean-to-bar chocolate to come out of Vietnam. 

Marou was founded less than a year ago by two adventurous Frenchmen. They decided, to use the small amounts of cacao beans harvested, fermented and dried on small family farms throughout the Mekong Delta and southern highlands of Vietnam, to make an extraordinary chocolate.

Marou approached Rice Creative at the beginning of their adventure, with the mission to build the brand’s visual identity and packaging.”

“Inspired by Marou’s unique story, we sought to develop an identity and packaging system with the right mixture of modernity and tradition. The most exciting aspect of the product for us, was that each variant of Marou Chocolate could be based on the province from where the cacao beans grow. The geographical location of the farm and its soil determines the characteristics of the cacao beans and therefore the flavour of the chocolate.”

“After much deliberation, we found the simplest way to create a system for the bars was to name each bar after the province where it’s beans originated, and ascribe a natural colour-shift. Seeing the Trinitario cacao pods first hand, we found a greatly inspirational spectrum of hues. Deep vermillion to ochre yellow, grass green, midnight blue, and flushes of peacock aqua all appear.”

“We wanted the packaging to be strongly linked to Vietnam. We began collecting beautiful ceremonial papers that are still produced by artisanal printers in Cho Lon, the old Chinese quarter of Saigon. These papers are hand printed with intricate traditional lattice patterns. Typically, the patterns are adorned with illustrated fruits, flowers and auspicious animals. Inspired by this illustration style we hand drew our own original chocolate oriented ornaments of cacao pods, flowers and leaves, throwing in some heavenly looking clouds for the tropical monsoon. Our custom lattice pattern keeps a traditional look and creates a framework to incorporate some modernist typography, inspired by the old signage still found around the country.”

“To highlight the hand-made, artisanal quality of the chocolate itself, we commissioned a local printing shop to use the traditional silk-screen printing techniques to hand print the design in antique gold ink on each wrapper. The finished packaging is then given to Marou who then hand wrap the chocolate bars.”

Designed by Cartils | Country: United Kingdom

“This new introduction is specifically for the highly dynamic market in India, where there was a gap for this more premium variant of the existing Royal Stag which already sells over 10 million cases annually.”

About Joseph:

After building a solid foundation at the Ringling School of Art and Design, Joseph Crone graduated from the Herron School of Art and Design in the summer of 2010, focusing on the artistic delivery of the human figure and mind. While his attention to visual detail is in a constant state of evolution, the growth of conceptual intensity is his central concern. Recent accomplishments during 2011 include the Robert Beckmann Emerging Artist Fellowship as well as the Stutz Artist Association’s Residency Program. Crone had also received placement within the top 30 finalists amongst 2100 entrants in the Saatchi Online Drawing Showdown. Recent publications include a cover/feature in the March issue of Colored Pencil Magazine, Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Light and Shadow drawing book, BLUECANVAS Magazine issue #8, Studio Visit Magazine volume 15, as well as a figurative spot in January’s Southwest Art Magazine. He continues to show locally while seeking representation and future opportunities that will further his artistic vision as an emerging artist.

SO, I've been summoned for jury duty, which I have been able to postpone for nearly a year until now. While I die of boredom, how about you enter a giveaway that I'm hosting?

PrintRunner.com is based in California and provides printing services such as business cards, postcards, posters, and yes, sticker printing. For one lucky Brown Paper Bag reader (US only, sorry!), they will be giving away 250 stickers!

I love stickers, and what's better than your image on them?

Enter to win by leaving a comment below. Deadline is Tuesday, May 29. Winner will be selected by random.org!

Thank you to PrintRunner for providing us this giveaway! I will receive a set of stickers for hosting this.

Designed by Fammilia | Country: Spain

“Our story comes from Sicily (Italy), home of the meat cur, our great-grandparents came to the coast of the Basque Country on the trail of a top quality product and docked in Mutriku, where after being dazzled by the quality of fish from its shores settled and put into practice all his knowledge at the service of craftsmanship with the ultimate goal of achieving a conserved high quality fish. Conservas Billante was born.”

“Over 140 years of history have taught us to value and defend the traditional manufacturing methods, therefore, Conservas Billante firmly believe that this is the way to get a high quality standard at a time that is respectful of the environment. Furthermore, this allows us to boost the local fishing and the traditional culture of our coast.”

Designed by Boyoun Jung | Country: United States

“Under the creative direction of Neil Kraft, I designed the glass bottle. The bottle design elevated Smartwater’s positioning as a stylish and aspirational brand with prominent placement and distribution at trendy restaurants and hotels in the Atlanta and Los Angeles vicinities.

I maintained a simplistic and clean design while maintaining key Smartwater brand cues including the signature water drop. The design was received so well that distribution now extends to the New York City metropolitan area.”

About Lisabeth:

Lisabeth Sterling studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, University of Minnesota and Pilchuck Glass School.

Her work is in permanent collections including the Wheaton Museum of American Glass and American Interfaith Institute and numerous private collections.

Her intricate technique involves using a diamond tipped engraving tool. Lisabeth says about her work “The images in my engravings are much like lucid dreams on glass.”

About Susan:

Susan Madsen is a Vancouver based figurative artist. She has an MFA in painting, having worked passionately with oils for the last 20 years. Her meticulous style is informed by the study of art history and the figure, while her love of travel brings the influence of northern European painting and Indian miniatures to her work.

Susan’s oil paintings of figures in landscape are best described as expanded realism.