Filed under: Design and Digital Media
It’s amazing what packaging can do for a product.
When I stumbled across this photograph I had to do a double take. Yes, you viewed correctly.
I originally thought the designer, MT.Design designed the line as an experiment. However, after taking the time to read rationale I understood the entire point of the design. MT.Design states “Design can make even the most evil of companies appear friendly, and it is done by designers every day.“
To take drugs such as cocaine, heroine and LSD and create packaging that offers a unique and elegant image is like taking the evil out of the drugs and giving them a positive appearance.
Although, with the heroine (marked as H for the design) there is a lengthy warning label warning users of all negative effects of the drug. Effects such as physical effects, likelihood of overdose, and opinion on long term usage.
The points of interested are done so in a varied text weight to grab the users attention.
NarcoTech even has a caution advising users to only trust NarcoTech heroin.
Each of the NarcoTech packages has the warnings on the container or product itself. NarcoTech not only offers the drug in a fashionable image but they warn of the dangers of the drug as well.
MT.Design took the basic usage of the drugs and incorporated that idea into the design.
For example, the Cocaine (Co) comes in a plexiglass and metal box. The box is used as a storage case for the individual packets of Cocaine, but also as a table to use the drug. The container also includes razor blades, which are used to portion the cocaine. The individual packets contain warnings of the effects and probable side effects of using the drug.
With the Marijuana (Mj), the instructions are printed right onto the marijuana sheet. The paper is given as an envelope the marijuana was dispersed in. On the backside of the marijuana sheet are the warnings of the drug.
The LSD (L) is dispersed through a Listerine PocketPal type of container. The LSD is laced onto paper for the user to eat. On each piece of paper is the effects and warning for the drug L.
A lot of thought was put into the design of this line. Each piece was given immense attention.
MT.Design took the time to make these products to prove a point. A company may be evil or bad, but with the proper design concept and advertising the company can look innocent and professional.
MT.Design closed their rational by saying “The comparison can be made that these illegal drugs are no different than products made by businesses with questionable business practices on the basis that both are destructive.”
I couldn’t agree more with MT.Design, they state that a company needs only good design and concept for a product to look friendly to a user.
Fifth times the charm. Design is….
The fifth Design is more than Graphic Design.
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When I first looked at these designs I had to second-guess myself. I thought for sure they were designed for something different. But wow, they really played up drugs to look safe and “more addicting” because the design draws you in.
Comment by marlenebakkelund November 25, 2009 @ 4:30 PM