The Creative Course Podcast

The Ego. Defined as a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance. Your ego is a part of who you are and, when it's balanced, it can be a good thing too. For this Pitstop, Nick and Jordan welcome Jay Master (aka @live_design_co ) to talk about balancing our egos as creatives. When can it get in the way, and when it can be your secret weapon! 

Show Notes:

Our very first Pitstop episode! These Pitstops allow us to tackle smaller topics, welcome unique special guests and just catch up with you, and each other, more often!

Each year new graphic design trends explode onto the scene. We wanted to break down the whole idea of "Trends" and how we should react as visual communicators. We discuss:

1. Are they important?

2. How do they start?

3. Why they can be problematic?

4 How best to approach or use a trend.

Show Note:

Designer and recent CSUN graduate, Rubaie Jaffer joins us for a recap of our Packaging Course. We talk about how you can take the next step bringing Packaging Design into your scope of services.

Episode 6 brings Nick and Jordan to the backroads of Print Production and how we take our packaging dreams into the vibrant world of reality. The hosts pick up their second guest of the trip, a true pro of the press, a master of mechanics, and all-around print guru, David Mayes - the Print Production specialist at Type Craft in Pasadena, California.

David lends his expertise throughout this JAM-PACKED episode, digging into everything a designer needs to know when it comes to printing your designs. How to properly set up your files, getting print estimates, how to build relationships with local printers, the future of printing and so much more.

Nick and Jordan navigate the twists and turns of one of the most important stretches of the packaging design journey - Consumer Behavior. And to help guide their way, they pick up their first guest, a leader in consumer behavior, advertising, and marketing, Michael Solomon!

Michael is a renowned author and international speaker that works with leading industries and brands like BMW, Johnson + Johnson, Intel, and Forbes. We tap into his wealth of knowledge to learn more about the way consumers think, what they care about, and how to design packaging that grabs their attention.

You can learn more about Michael and his expertise through his website, where you can find his award-winning publications (Jordan bought “Marketers, Tear Down These Walls” and strongly recommends), as well as listen/watch speaking seminars and marketing programs.

Nick and Jordan look to bring their designs to life through the art of prototyping and mockups. They take the scenic route discussing the importance of prototyping and why it’s so much more than a smart layer mockup for photoshop.

We discuss what exactly prototyping is and why we do it, breaking down the different types of mock-ups, when and how we should be implementing these into our project timeline, and how best to utilize them for any design. We also deliver a helpful list of resources we use, including “found” mockups, dieline templates, the programs we use, and where to find great packaging inspiration.

Nick and Jordan find themselves in the belly of the beast - The Design Process. Armed with the knowledge of what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and where we’re going, we lift the hood on how we tackle the pen to paper and mouse to screen of designing for packaging.

We discuss our step-by-step approach to designing. Exploring the market, finding inspiration, how to tackle a single product vs. multiple SKU system, when and how to begin working with packaging materials, and what to think about when you are trying to stand out on the shelf.

Nick and Jordan discuss how they each tackle planning and strategizing their packaging project - what to look out for and how best to prepare. It’s an open tundra that can feel overwhelming at times, so having a solid plan of preparation is key to get things started on the right path.

We discover: What are the initial questions we need to ask when starting a project? The importance of establishing goals and how to approach that with the client. A breakdown product information needed and why - and a TON of critical ways to make sure this not only succeeds but keeps you from any future headaches or missed opportunities.

Nick and Jordan are back on the proverbial road of podcasting to explore the dense highways of Packaging Design! What is it exactly? What makes “good” packaging design? How do you stand out on the competitive shelf? All these questions and more will be explored throughout this journey in effort unpack the packed and figure out how to make it all work.

In this first episode, Nick and Jordan breakdown the fundamentals of packaging design, touching on everything from the three levels of packaging to the 4 major things you must have to succeed on the shelf.

So thumb out and hitch along with us as we cruise our way through the heartland of packaging design!

We're back, with big news! Our Packaging Course starts here, with a brief introduction to the course highlighting what's new. Enjoy!