Ciera Design Studio

Brand identity and design solutions for creative businesses and passionate entrepreneurs

Packaging: Tying It All Together

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Just a few notes and some of my favorite images from the PaperSpecs “Packaging: Tying It All Together” webinar with Steve Sikora of Design Guys.

– Innovation doesn’t always need to be expensive.

– Simple is usually the best.

– Consider nature as a primary model while designing packaging.
The egg alone was proper packaging until it had to be shipped, then it needed a package. The egg carton was invented and evolved from a recycled molded pulp to a wasteful plastic package.

– A package becomes familiar. The way you find an item.

What makes good packaging “good”?

1- Protection – How the package protects it’s contents

2- Organization – ipod/iphone

3- Theft Deterrence – a small item may have to be packaged in a cumbersome way

4- Display

5- Branding

6- Marketing – Example: Red Brick Pale Ale

7- Prestige

8- Shelf Presentation – Example: Michael Graves Design

9- Experience – should not only be visual

10- Authenticity

Items are getting smaller and smaller but we are creating more waste. Good packaging should consider this problem. Designers are in the position to help.

Reduce. Evolv eliminates pvc clamshell.

Reuse. Puma Bag.

Recycle. Package Lamp by David Gardener.

LHC Group Brand Refresh

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Updated the existing brand of LHC Group including a brand standards guide,
corporate identity package and collaterals for all service lines.


One Book, One New Orleans – 2010 Poster Design

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One Book, One New Orleans is a community wide reading program of the Young Leadership Council and the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans.

During a reading period every year, One Book encourages residents of the Greater New Orleans Area aged 16 years and older to engage in the common endeavor of reading the same book at the same time. Their aim is that through this shared experience, residents from the different communities of Greater New Orleans come together and embrace their similarities by reading, discussing, and attending events relating to the same book. The 2010 book is Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans by Louis Armstrong.

I was asked to design the poster for this years campaign and have really enjoyed working on this project!

One Book Poster

One Book Card

One Book Signage

2 photos from One Book at Satchmo Summer Fest. Learn more at the One Book, One New Orleans website!

Tulane University – Lavin-Bernick Center Guide

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Promotional brochure for Tulane University’s Center for University Life. The brochure features the modern and dramatic architecture of the building and the expansive glass exterior walls that create light-filled spaces and contribute to the building’s feeling of open, spacious accessibility.

Ochsner Health System

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Brochures, ads and direct mailers for Ochsner Health System including eight
hospitals and over 35 health centers located throughout Southeast Louisiana.

Poster Design – Project Pride

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I was approached a few weeks ago about designing some posters for a Lusher Charter School fundraiser. Since I am a Lusher Lion (class of ’97) – I could not refuse! Here are the posters that I designed inspired by John W. Golden. The posters are a fun way to encourage the students to have pride in themselves and to do their best! They will be for sale at the Lusher Crawfish Boil, Saturday March 13 at the Willow Street Campus. Proceeds will go to the Lusher PTSA.

My Mardi Gras Day 2010

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Our Mardi Gras day journey began at Oak Street. Me, Megan and Jasmine. We walk down Oak Street to Carrollton, down to St. Charles and grab a Daquiri for our journey. We continue down St. Charles toward the parades. All the way down, hopping on a street car for about 6 blocks until we are forced off at Napoleon…. continuing the walk to Lee Circle, Canal Street, many random streets and finally to Frenchmen, Royal, and Decatur!

Theses are some of my favorite photos from the day and a pretty accurate map of our route, around 8 miles… and now I am ready for Mardi Gras 2011!

Photos by Jasmine and Chris.

Poster Designs – Foburg Fest 2010

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Posters that I designed for two Simple Play Productions shows during Foburg Music Fest. Foburg is a brand new 3-day alternative music festival held in 8 or more venues on and around Frenchmen Street on March 12-14, 2010. Foburg will feature rock, indie rock, and alternative artists from the greater Gulf South and national touring artists on their way to SXSW in Austin, TX, which is the following week.

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Ciera Design Studio established 2010
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