Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project – flex those Adobe Illustrator muscles. I have a new post to share… kindly, the team over at Paper Engine has now said that I can share and discuss my part in creating some of the packaging concepts for a new range of Wallace & Gromit themed products.
The artwork shown in this post was used to pitch to Aardman for a new range of British designed card products, otherwise known as – Build Your Own, For Paper Engine.
Aardman Project | The Brief
The Brief | I was commissioned by Paper Engine to help create the core design for the packaging concepts for a new range of of Wallace and Gromit themed paper products.
Aardman had set up an agreement with Paper Engine for them to come up with a range of products, themed around Wallace & Gromit.
If you don’t know Aardman, they are the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Arthur Christmas, and Shaun the Sheep to name a few.
Paper Engine got in touch with me and asked for assistance in coming up with the core packaging concept to pitch to Aardman.
I won’t lie, I was excited and honoured.
Under a strict NDA, I was called in to help come up with some of the core concepts for the new eye-catching packaging.
The NDA has been relaxed now, as the products have been released onto the market. So don’t worry. And I asked the crew over at Paper Engine and they were happy to allow me to show my my part!
(All artwork on this page is the intellectual property of Aardman and Paper Engine. Do not copy, save, or download any of this content for commercial use ).
Packaging For Paper Engine… Which was actually for Aardman
To spill the beans on the projects.
Here is a bit of extra information on the project process. Once Paper Engine had sent the brief across to me, and we did all the admin, the project was set in motion!
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | The design process involved…
- Coming up with some very early ideas for speech bubbles, titles, typography, backgrounds, and other accents and parts for the project.
- Creating a variety of packaging front ideas for both products.
- Developing rough designs into polished designs.
- These were presented to Aardman ( gulp ).
It should also be said that this project was quite particular and that there were 2 companies involved in the approval process. Nonetheless, it still allowed room for design creativity.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | Developing The Design
While I was allowed to work conceptually and creatively, I also had to adhere to 2 sets brand guidelines! One set was supplied by Paper Engine for Paper Engine and, the other was for Aardman!
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | The Delivery
After working on the polished designs, Paper Engine pitched the artwork to Aardman. I was told on the grapevine that they were pleased with the project – with very few changes to the pitch!
Thank you Paper Engine, it was an honour! From there the look and feel for the range was set. It was an awesome project.
How I approached the project
When creating the packaging, I tried to create artwork that was exciting and matched the tone of Wallace & Gromit. I also tried to create packaging concepts that would excite both children and adults if they saw them on the shelf!
‘wow look at that!’
type of thinking with the hopes somebody would pick the product up and purchase it. The product did most of the selling in all fairness, these are very cool products.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | Paper Engine Testimonial
‘We worked with Jimm on some early packaging concepts for our collaboration with Aardman on three Build Your Own kits. He delivered some superb designs which enabled us to get ahead of the curve by keeping the client on board with approvals and saved us some valuable in-house studio hours. We would definitely work with Jimm again in the future when the occasion arises. Top marks. 5 stars.’
Geff – Creative Director, Paper Engine Ltd.
Aardman Wallace & Gromit Project | You may be interested in some of the following
Retail packaging projects
Stem Project samples
Snakes & Ladders type board game
Board game playtesting post
