Christmas at M&S - Current Homeware

I wanted to find some existing Christmas orientated dining wear M&S already sell but at this time of year I found it pretty much impossible. So I decided to look at their kitchen wear now, so I would be able to pick accordingly, the items I feel would be best suited for a christmas dinner. I went for the plain kitchen wear set so if I was to translate a design onto it, It wouldn't clash with an existing design. I intend to buy some kitchen wear from M&S to be able to put my design onto, or photograph to photoshop it onto.

Serving dishes:

Table lines and accessories :

Dining Wear:

Christmas at M&S - Decorations

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/christmas-decorating-essential-checklist-00000000002110/index.html

A list of al of the Christmas decorations as recommended by above website (a few of my own added)

Ornaments (Baubles)
Tinsel
Tree Skirt
Lights
Artifical Garland
Candles
Linens (Napkins, placemats, table runners, tableclothes)
Holiday serving platters or dishware
Calender
Doormat
Crackers
Bows
Card Holder
Ceiling Decoration (hanging down)
Wreath

Things I could possibly design as part of the collection:

Baubles
Candles
Napkins
Placemats
Table runners
Tableclothes
Serving Platter
Dishware _Side plate, dinner plate, Dessert plate, serving plate / dish)
Coasters
Mugs
Calender
Crackers
Paper Ceiling decoration

and a few extra:

Cake stand
Salt and papper pt
Gravy Boat
Napkin Ring
Wine Glasses
Tumblers

Christmas at M&S - Publication Inspiration

So I've now decided I want o create a crafting publication providing students with wacky cheap festive craft ideas to decorate their student homes and celebrate. I couldn't find any other book like it (which is a good thing) but found several aimed at a much older generation:

Web Link:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Crafting-In-No-Time/dp/1907563784

Christmas at M&S - Inspiration

Some of the design work I've come across which I feel could relate back to students, some of the items could potentially re-create and re-craft to be placed within the book.

Christmas at M&S - Series Nemo

I came across Series Nemo's work and instantly fell in love with both its christmas packaging, and a beautiful wine publication. Each possess a style I would like to emulate in my own work, the publication especially, its quality, high finish and watercolour style on the front.

Christmas at M&S - Dashwood christmas playing cards

http://lovelypackage.com/dashwood-playing-cards/#more-22459

I really like the style of the illustration and type within this series of playing cards, I feel it fits my target audience of students and would like to consider both the product and style within my publication / pack.

Christmas at M&S - A student Christmas

Just a few student related festive antics. I would love to be able to publish these ideas into some form of pack or book for students to try out over the festive season.

Tigerprint Giftbag - Cake packaging

I wanted to look at existing packaging designed specifically for cake products and how they have dealt with packaging such a difficult item. I also wanted some inspiration on shape, colour, and how to deal with occasion and the idea of self packaging several items.

Link: http://lovelypackage.com/student-work-mara-rodriguez-beatrice-menis/#more-27141

Lactose free food packaging, holding individual items in unique ways, the packaging has the ability to carry, and securely hold the items inside. A range has been designed for each of the different items.

Link: http://lovelypackage.com/nanatsukahara-butter-cake/#more-20991

This packaging looks at simply packaging one large individual cake. The design I'm not fond of but the net I find quite wonderful in its simplicity, the bottom box forming a square simple through folds. I'd like to do something similar.

http://lovelypackage.com/student-work-beth-chapleau/#more-17675

Looking at the idea of individual cases again, I am really liking the nets of these boxes but I'm not sure if it would obtain the freshness of the produce due to the holes, some form of inner packaging would be needed to avoid stale produce. I also like the idea of a series of individual packaging, this allows a customer to select a style best suited to their needs.

http://lovelypackage.com/puccinos-coffee-shops/#more-11621

I love the comedy elements within this range of packaging design, it takes the seriousness out of coffee shops. The way this comedy element is pushed across a rather large range of items is quite nice to, I have always likes the 'little extras' when it comes to packaging design. Although cakes won't need things like a sugar sachet, serviettes, plastic forks and wetwipes may come in handy.

http://lovelypackage.com/sevva-ms-b/#more-7085

I've finally began to find packaging designed for cakes and a gift, the quality of the design is much higher than corporative design, the use of bows, foiling and a thick substrate adds to the gift idea.

http://www.thisisikon.com/index.php/projects/ms-b-s/

Again another packaging project for high quality cakes, as a gift. The designs pushed across a range of elements, even down to the delivery of the product.

http://www.campbellhay.com/project/lol#1

A very simple way of securely holding each individual cake to avoid spoiling. A range of sizes has been produced so you can pick and choose on the amount of cakes you can pick to package. This is something I will need to consider.

http://lovelypackage.com/beyaz-firin-valentines-packaging/#more-2866

http://www.karbonltd.com/

So i've possibly found the best designer I could for this project; Korbonltd seem to focus on designing for bakeries and have given me a ton of ideas for my own. Packaging both individual and a large sum of produce. They have packaged cakes and pastries for takeaway, using the idea of a sided tray sized exactly to the products it intends to hold, meaning a secure holding of the items. Other creative methods can be seen within the packaging of Macaroons, using a donuts style tray to hold a large selection in which every product can be seen, chosen, and put back into packaging to retain freshness and quality. The idea of occasion has come back into light too, the company kept the same nets, simply changing the design for valentines day and christmas, this is something I could look into doing.