Evaluation of the practical work

The final outcome of the Bloom skincare range perfectly shows that brands can design/re-design their products to suit everyone. Gender-neutral design is very easy and basic to achieve as I feel like brands now, try to over-sell their products by using claims, imagery and connotations where they do not need to be done. I think that it is more logical to create products for skin types than it is for gender. Regardless of your gender, your skin is still going to fall into a category of dry, normal, oily or combination skin. I wanted to create the packaging as simple and as direct as possible without any confusion or any connotations that may be in influenced by gender stereotyping.

I was able to show my idea through my design as I wanted to emphasise directly on the skin type as that is the main criteria for being aware and taking care of skin.

The prescription-style layout was the main idea I wanted to get across to the consumer as it makes the item feel exclusive, like a prescription from the doctors.The design more trustworthy and ethical as it is direct and markets skin type.The layout of the type makes it easier for the consumer and the stockists as they can place the product vertically or horizontally and still readable.The colour-coding idea is very useful as consumers can nd a suitable product easily and be able to pick it up without much thought.The solid colours allow the packaging to appear bolder and stand out more as opposed to having it monochrome.The use of bright colours, yellow, green and orange, makes the products stand out from a far as the colours are eye-catching and vivid.

The stock used was also a success as it gives the consumer a unique experience as the packaging connotes to the skin type. However, I was slightly let down by the printing of the design and packaging as they did not turn out as well as planned.The embossed stock meant that the laser printer couldn’t print into the at areas and therefore, the ink is patchy in some areas. During assembly, the ink would also transfer onto my hand so I couldn’t touch the ink on the product or it would rub off. If there was another way to print at a higher quality, I think the whole design would’ve turned out very professionally and sleek.

I am happy with the overall design and concept of the Bloom skincare range as it was relatively straight forward and easy to design. It conforms to the beliefs and ideals that I had in my creative writing piece and research, where the gender lens no longer needs to be used to design and market skincare products as it is an outdated theory.The minimalist style used in gender-neutral products, allows the product to appear expensive as it looks clean and simple.