Community Edition - Stage 3 Submissions Now Closed

Derren Thanks so much, we really appreciate that you fully grasped the concept behind the project

Just looked at all the currently uploaded submissions to this stage. Many entries are just missing the point of what a box should be, with weird ideas to make the consumer watch it glow in the dark. The final design team would know that spending money on such gimmicks is unnecessary, as the box will likely be sitting in some cupboard or a drawer after opening. More importantly, the box should simply convey what the product is at the VERY FIRST GLANCE, rather than relying on impractical features like designs that can only be seen in the dark. What even is the point of that on box. On the actual product it makes somewhat functional sense.

stealth Certainly, the final design will balance impact and cost, which is crucial in tech. Phosphorescent inks have been used for years, especially in kids’ products like books and stickers.

The current Phone 2a packaging already has some nice touches, like the embossed inner box. This contest is for the outer sleeve, and the brief highlights the importance of phosphorescence, as seen in the last two winning stages.

While most packaging gets tossed or stored away, for some products, packaging adds value over time, especially for collectors. Think of the original iPhone packaging or limited edition Nike shoes. Collectors sometimes buy items and keep them sealed to preserve their value.

In this case, we’re creating a Community Edition, possibly limited, for a young brand aiming to build a tech culture. Unique contributions to the product experience, including the packaging, will make a lasting impact.

Reveland My original post was a general observation to most of the entries. I hope you didn’t take it personally.

There is no denying your team has worked very hard on the project. Thanks for sharing it with us.

And maybe you misunderstood my point. The design cannot be made with the hope that some collector might find it interesting enough to buy at an auction. (That’s a tiny, miniscule almost negligible audience)

My main point was - the idea that I buy a community edition phone 2a with a phosphorescent design on the outer box. Get it delivered in the morning. I would then have to create an artificially dark environment just to see it glow and see the other side of the product. Don’t you think that’s a hassle for the end user who simply wants to get into the product ? Don’t you think the package is taking a user’s time away from the actual product ?

What about markets like India ? Where a lot of people buy phones offline and will certainly be interested in a box that looks unique in ALL lighting conditions ? Your design in the day time looks very similar to phone 2a in the white or milk. How would a user know in that market that the product has a unique feature. The storekeeper won’t turn the store’s lights off to demonstrate the box’s packaging. All these factors need to be considered.

Also phosphorescent materials are bound to fade with time. Meaning the latter part of the design will fade away after some time. (That’s actually a concern I have with the product as well)

stealth I think the idea isn’t that people have to create a artificially dark environment, it’s a nice flex and really cool design element, plus it’s very unique and different to most other packaging ideas we see across our shelves. Would be great to see if you have an alternative design submission that you think would work better?

Louis so anyone sharing thoughts about the current entries need to have a submission of their own

Louis plus it’s very unique and different to most other packaging ideas we see across our shelves

Except that uniqueness cannot be seen unless in the dark. That’s the whole point.

You asked me to make a design that would work better ? I don’t need to. I genuinely think the one made by Rahil is a perfect answer. It’s straight to the point, it strikes the perfect balance of storytelling and references. With just one look at his design, it is clear what the product is without the need for any additional explanation. This is exactly what a good design should achieve. I don’t need to make my room dark to see what his box is trying to convey. I genuinely appreciate that he avoided the cliché of exaggerated gimmicky features, instead focusing on the core concept and functionality of the product.

I just stated an opinion and that’s it. Reveland replied and I replied back. My original post was just a general observation of the majority of the entries.

Fractal no, but if anyone want to share thoughts and doesn’t agree with certain elements of another persons’ submission, it would be more useful to come up with some suggestions of how they might see it working - it’s more about creating collaborative discussions.

stealth you don’t need to submit a design entry, correct, but as above I was looking at ways to make this more collaborative. You may have some thoughts that you could write down, rather than designing it. Everyone is entitled to their opinions on people’s designs, it’s just much more collaborative to come up with some thoughts and ideas around how it could be different to suit your needs I guess is what I was getting it.

Louis

That is exactly what me and @stealth have mentioned in our initial replies. We did exactly mention suggestions on how the entries need to focus on something practical and useful instead of going for something that gets ignored. Crazy how someone like you gets to be a mod of a brand like nothing.

Fractal - forgive me, but I believe the point Louis is making, is that whilst your comments about “Glow in the dark” packaging are valid.

You two do not offer any solutions, only to remove the entire design concepts of those submissions already made.

Hence why you were both prompted to “share your ideas” on the matter. Explain to us your ideas on how to make the Community Edition packaging special? - What routes would you take to champion the phosphorus design of the Phone, in the packaging of the phone?

Finally, Louis has been a great ambassador of Nothing, a fantastic moderator of the community, an all round lovely human and very deserving to be chosen of the position he holds. As do all of the mods here.

They are merely enforcing the Community Guidelines, feel free to re-read again and familiarise yourselves with them.

Ealesy101

Its okay. So you are just repeating what Louis has mentioned in his reply. As members of this community, I believe we have the right to share our opinions.

Care to explain what do you mean by “remove the entire design concepts of those submissions already made” ? We are removing entire what?

And @stealth has shared exactly what would a real world, practical and sensible concept would look like. Do read into that.

But It is interesting to see you guys hanging on to the idea of “If you want to share your opinions about something, you should have your own ideas to make the subject better”.

Fractal - No one is shutting down your opinion sharing, infact, in Louis’ reply and in my own, we are inviting you to further develop your ideas. We enjoy the active engagement in the Community.

Fractal Care to explain what do you mean by “remove the entire design concepts of those submissions already made” ? We are removing entire what?

Certainly, please see Stealth’s message. This is what I was referring to, and your agreement with their points.

stealth The final design team would know that spending money on such gimmicks is unnecessary

stealth What even is the point of that on box.

I appreciate Stealth’s message, but as mentioned before, we are inviting you both to further develop these ideas into a submission. I would love to see what both or either of you could submit as a box design, this doesn’t have to be done as a graphic design itself, merely a worded breakdown would suffice, as the submission brief allows.

Fractal But It is interesting to see you guys hanging on to the idea of “If you want to share your opinions about something, you should have your own ideas to make the subject better”.

This is entirely the end goal of a discussion, no? What is the point of shouting “this is bad” into the void, it benefits no one.

Do I believe that glow in the dark packaging has a future past the first time you see it? Maybe not, but the design of the Community Edition of Phone (2a) is just that, glow in the dark. The design brief invites those who submit to pay attention to the winners of Stage One and Two, to create a cohesive design, hence the popular design choice of a glow in the dark box.

Happy to see variety in the submissions as you say:

Fractal entries like these are what makes the contest interesting.

Hope this helps clears up where I was coming from and I appreciate your engagement in the Community. I just hope that it comes with more friendly intentions going forwards and not aiming disrespect to those who have been selected to be voluntary Moderator’s of this Community.

I think it is best we leave this “discussion” here.
All of the best to the amazing designs we have received so far and I look forward to the voting stage opening, to really enjoy the wonderful work that has been submitted by this Community and to see the eventual winner.

@Louis @Ealesy101 Wait. It seems like either of you guys didn’t understand what was originally said or you didn’t read it at all. And some of the above message is taking some of the stuff I said out of context. I did not say anything negative towards @Louis and I did not violate any community guidelines. I also did not specifically mention any entry in my original comment or called it bad. It has all been respectful on my end.

Please refer the original comment and check the thread - stealth

In my original comment, I provided a solution and later in conversation with Louis referenced Rahil’s design as a great example of meeting the brief’s requirements. It is important to read and understand the brief, which clearly states (in the very second line actually) the need for a packaging design that makes a wonderful FIRST impression and represents the product effectively.

I believe that the glow-in-the-dark designs may not effectively convey a wonderful first impression as they require a dark environment to be completely seen. The solution, in my opinion, lies in simplicity.

Regarding the “special” feel for the box, this is not the special edition. This is the “community edition” I suggest incorporating elements that highlight the contributions of the community, similar to Rahil’s design with the representation of the community stages as he has done on the back of the box. Alek has done something of the sort too.

I just wish more submissions would focus on what actually is important here.

Overall, I believe that a focus on simplicity and incorporating community elements will lead to a more effective and impactful packaging design for the product instead of “Hold the box in the dark and see the other side” kind of designs.

I would love to end this here as well. My point was already made in the first comment. But this was taken very differently than what was intended.

The thing is that, phosphorescence is all about glowing in the dark, which makes some ideas of the box having tinted phosphorescence is a unique and out of the box idea, but, at the same time, @stealth also makes a valid point.

But anyways, everyone has their own creativity. So let’s just go with it and may the best person win.

Rob hey rob why was my stage 3 submission got rejected