http://www.version-x.com/blog/ Version-X Design en steve@version-x.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-01T18:36:46+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/a_new_lifestyle_for_metropolis http://www.version-x.com/site/a_new_lifestyle_for_metropolis#When:17:36:46Z Market trends change and as designers, we have to help our clients adapt to those changes. See how we updated and re-adapted the brand and packaging for our existing client, Metropolis Technology. One of the major goals of any design studio is to create visuals that are appropriate for the market of whatever it is you’re designing for. The interesting part of this process is that trends for every market change from time to time and every so often it becomes necessary to come up with another solution for a project you’ve already worked on. This can be a fun challenge for designers since one of the main aspects of design is problem solving and finding solutions. A prime example of this change in trend and market is our client, Metropolis Technology. Version-X has been working with Metropolis for years, crating a brand, collateral and packaging for the company’s professional hair styling tools. Previously, Metropolis had focused on the technology aspect of their brand, with visuals that reflected a futuristic environment and a stark white and blue color scheme. At the time, the beauty market was heavily focused on new technology in styling tools, so this theme appropriately positioned Metropolis within that market and gave them a cutting-edge reputation.   In the years since this concept was rolled out, the market has become saturated with technology-laden tools. With technology being less special and more the expectation, Metropolis came to Version-X with the desire and need to stand out from the crowd in a different way. After months of research and development, Version-X created a completely new theme for the brand. The product line was simplified and reorganized to make the various styling tools more easily distinguishable to consumers and a distinctive city lifestyle theme was applied across the brand that reinforced the company’s name - Metropolis.  Rather than focusing on models and hair, the brand focuses on collages of modern urban imagery and a luxe yet young, hip feel. More vibrant colors are contrasted with rich blacks and are accented by matte and glossy finishes and textures. Even the product names have been tied in as part of the cohesive theme. Instead of a confusing jumble of technical terms, each tool is now named after a world-renowned city and the individual packaging visuals reflect those city names and styles. In some instances the products themselves are skinned with maps, visuals and typography that relate to their namesake city. The new branding elements are only just starting to be pushed into market, but the response is already resounding. With a new focus and a strong theme, Metropolis is poised to build even further on their reputation as a trend-setting leader in the professional beauty tool industry.  Check out more photos of the new Metropolis packaging in our portfolio. Design, 2010-09-01T17:36:46+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/pack_book_placement http://www.version-x.com/site/pack_book_placement#When:23:18:17Z The packaging we designed for Macadamia Natural Oil has been featured in the new book, Basic Pack from Index Books. The packaging we designed for Macadamia Natural Oil has been featured in the new book, Basic Pack from Index Books. The book includes exceptional packaging examples from seven different categories:  food, beverage, health & beauty, entertainment, industrial, fashion, home and office. From the publisher: "Basic Pack showcases a broad range of packaging design that make it both a compendium of visual input and a great source for inspiration." Take a look. News, 2010-08-06T23:18:17+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/cosmoprof_2010_roundup http://www.version-x.com/site/cosmoprof_2010_roundup#When:18:30:51Z Version-X was involved in four booths this year at Cosmoprof - expansions for two and two brand new setups. See what we’ve been up to. Each year, major players in the beauty industry gather in Las Vegas for the largest business-to-business beauty trade show in North America, Cosmoprof. At the 2010 show, Version-X was involved in four booths - two expansion projects and two brand new setups.  Last year, we made a splash by designing a large, encompassing environment for Macadamia Natural Oil that was so well received that the booth has been enlarged and expanded for this year’s show. New wall panels were created featuring new models to create two separate office spaces and new casual lounge areas were created in front where attendees could relax from the show while experiencing the Macadamia brand.  Another expansion this year was the booth for Neuma Beauty. Version-X had previously designed a booth for Neuma, but for this year’s Cosmoprof, the booth needed to be expanded and refreshed with new graphic panels, a new sheer fabric curved wall and new finishing details like realistic synthetic grass used as an alternative flooring texture to bring nature into the otherwise rigid show floor.  Metropolis Technology recently gave Version-X the task of a complete rebrand project for the company from collateral materials to new packaging. To introduce the new branding to market, we were also given the task of creating an all-new booth environment for the line. Graphic panels of different heights featuring the brand’s new look were towering monoliths (some reaching 18 feet) that anchored the bright, colorful new environment by reflecting the theme of a city skyline. A large new curved light bar rounded out the front of the booth and provided a casual, welcoming meeting space where attendees could browse the products and new packaging. A more formal meeting space was setup in the rear of the booth, but still provided a casual, relaxing environment.  We also created another completely new booth for I.C.O.N. This space was a massive 12 foot tall cube structure with custom shelving, graphic panels and a huge, shimmering chain curtain entrance. For more on this booth, check out our article about it’s construction. All of the booths - new and expanded - stood out clearly from the rest of the show with their bright colors and inviting environments. All of the spaces were busy with visitors wanting to know more about the brands - a sure sign that the designs have done their job! Design, News, 2010-07-30T18:30:51+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/building_an_icon_for_i.c.o.n http://www.version-x.com/site/building_an_icon_for_i.c.o.n#When:18:22:02Z The Version-X team traveled to Las Vegas to assemble a shining new booth environment for our client, I.C.O.N. at this year’s CosmoProf North America 2010 show. See how we did it. When you walk up and down the aisles at any trade show, it’s easy to be impressed by some of the elaborate booths (if you can even call them that anymore) that you see on display. What most people don’t realize, though, is just how much work goes into creating these customized spaces. Version-X is quickly becoming seasoned at creating these environments for their clients in order to bring their brands to market. In addition to a complete rebranding, packaging and website redesign, we took full-service to another level this year, at CosmoProf 2010, when we personally went to the show to setup our newest environment for I.C.O.N. The entire Version-X team lent a hand into the lengthy physical construction of the booth which led to world class results and had the masses stirring to get a glimpse of the finished space. The process began months before the show with brainstorming and lots of sketches of initial structure and layout ideas. From there, fabricators were brought on board to create digital renderings of the booth to judge for scale, spacing and proportion. This process involves going back and forth with the show management to obtain height clearances, pad width and many more constraints to take into consideration.   Once the initial structure was locked down, artwork was designed to be placed into the various panels of the structures. More renderings are created, now with the art in place and from there, the fabricator begins constructing the frames, panels and trusses that will be used to construct the space. During the weeks of fabrication, flooring, furnishings and decorative materials were ordered from various vendors and freight and shipping arrangements were made to have everything delivered to a central location.      Finally, the show approached and the weekend before, the Version-X team traveled to Vegas to coordinate and assemble the booth for the show. Construction began with layout out the flooring to set the base for the environment. Nearly 200 individual carpet tiles in various colors were assembled to form a specific pattern that would encase the tall structure area and serve as cornerstones of the booth. Each of the 12 foot tall walls was then constructed from individual framed pieces. Printed fabric panels were then attached to these walls as they were lifted into place where the individual walls were assembled together to form the main structure.        A few large pieces remained like shelving, a front counter, furnishings and an 11 foot tall hanging sign that was suspended above the main structure to stand out as a beacon to the booth.        To finish up the space, final touches were assembled and added such as stand-up obelisks with printed graphics, lighting and the big highlight for the front of the booth - a 12 foot tall faceted chain curtain.        The final product was an amazing, head-turning show space that highlights I.C.O.N.’s new brand for their U.S. launch. The vibrant colors, black and white contrasts and big height of the environment served as a meeting space, product demonstration area and a social lounge area. Not only has the booth served the purpose of introducing I.C.O.N. to the U.S. market, but it will also serve as a show environment that they can use for years to come. Booth assembly doesn't generally fall into the job description for most design companies, but we aren’t like most design companies. As always, we wanted to go the extra mile for the client, and in this case, it definitely showed.        Design, 2010-07-27T18:22:02+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/an_updated_booth_for_macadamia http://www.version-x.com/site/an_updated_booth_for_macadamia#When:20:58:56Z The updated trade show booth we designed for our client, Macadamia, was unveiled at ISSE 2010 in Long Beach this weekend.  Check out some of the photos. The trade show booth we designed for our client, Macadamia, was a huge success again when it was on display with some new updates at the 2010 International Salon & Spa Expo in Long Beach this weekend. The unique environment we designed for them drew big crowds to the booth where industry professionals could come test out the products as well as soak up the unique branding and packaging that we created for Macadamia. Here are some photos from the show floor.       Design, News, 2010-02-02T20:58:56+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/two_new_book_placements http://www.version-x.com/site/two_new_book_placements#When:01:44:12Z Several of our projects were featured in two recently published books, “Market Smart” and “Really Good Packaging Explained”.  Take a look at some pictures of the books and placements. Several of our projects were featured in two new design books: "Market Smart" & "Really Good Packaging Explained".  The website we designed for Scratt Surf was featured in "market Smart" and both the M2 and Metropolis Technology Flat Iron packaging were featured in "Really Good Packaging Explained". We've know they would be featured for a while now, but just recently got our hands on copies of books.  Take a look at some pictures below. News, 2010-01-28T01:44:12+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/macadamia_trade_show_booth http://www.version-x.com/site/macadamia_trade_show_booth#When:18:26:32Z In addition to the branding and packaging, we designed a tradeshow booth for our client, Macadamia.  Here are some images from the show floor of Cosmoprof ‘09. In addition to the branding and packaging, we designed a tradeshow booth for our client, Macadamia. The booth came together great and was a big hit at the show. Here are some images from the show floor of Cosmoprof '09. Design, 2009-08-12T18:26:32+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/coming_soon_the_new_groovehouse.com http://www.version-x.com/site/coming_soon_the_new_groovehouse.com#When:18:05:40Z We’re wrapping up the design phase of an all new look for Groove House, a CD & DVD manufacturing company. Take a look! We're wrapping up the design phase of an all new look for Groove House, a CD & DVD manufacturing company. Take a look! Design, Web, 2009-05-27T18:05:40+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/designing_the_macadamia_logo http://www.version-x.com/site/designing_the_macadamia_logo#When:16:38:04Z Take an in depth look at how we designed the logo for Macadamia, from concept to completion. We were approached by one of our long time clients to design the logo and packaging for their new line of hair care products. The products are heavily based around Macadamia oil, so the Macadamia nut became the source of inspiration for the logo. We felt that a literal representation of a Macadamia nut would be a bit too "on the nose" and not particularly interesting or memorable and started playing with more abstracted representations. During the research process, a particular image of a split open Macadamia nut in it's bright green skin caught our attention, as it almost looked like a cross-section or dissection of the nut. We sketched up a bunch of different variations and came up with a few that we felt were heading in the right direction. Both versions became fully realized, but the image on the right was ultimately chosen due to the fact that it was a stronger mark when rendered in one or two colors (important for the packaging) as well as the fact that it started taking on the form of a droplet of oil. Finally, we chose a typeface that had some interest to it and a slightly exotic feel which we then modified for the final logo. Design, Identity, 2009-04-03T16:38:04+00:00 http://www.version-x.com/site/metropolis_packaging1 http://www.version-x.com/site/metropolis_packaging1#When:23:31:25Z The Metropolis packaging we designed is now hitting the shelves! New packaging for their L-Ion Mini Wireless Iron, T-Ion Travel Dryer, Ti-Ion Mini Iron, T-Ion Iron, S-Nano Iron and T-Ion Digital Iron! The Metropolis packaging we designed is now hitting the shelves! New packaging for their L-Ion Mini Wireless Iron, T-Ion Travel Dryer, Ti-Ion Mini Iron, T-Ion Iron, S-Nano Iron and T-Ion Digital Iron! L-Ion Mini Wireless Iron: we went with a hard plastic box with artwork leaving a large window to best showcase the products impressively small size and sleek appearance. T-Ion Travel Dryer: we gave it a simple flush closing box with artwork in line with the rest of Metropolis' products and spot UV.   Ti-Ion Mini Iron: we used foil stamp on the sides to emphasis the shiny, titanium qualities along with the rest of the artwork.   T-Ion Iron, S-Nano Iron and T-Ion Digital Iron: we designed all the full sized iron boxes in a unique shape that opens much like a book to reveal the actual product, with a cover that clasps with invisible magnets. Print, 2009-01-19T23:31:25+00:00