07.01.09

Herman Miller Select packaging

Packaging, Consumer

In late 2008, with the release of an early version of the Eames® LCW with a cowhide upholstered seat and back, Herman Miller introduced a once-per-year limited-edition release of an archived classic. As a pilot program, it was launched on a lean budget, but the product and its price point demanded a premium packaging experience.  
 
When creating it, a key challenge for Traverse City, Michigan design firm Tandem, was utilizing existing dies and single one-color printing on corrugated packaging. The solution lay in using white corrugated with spot-metallic silver ink (versus kraft corrugated with black ink, characteristic of the way the chair is currently packaged). Printed cowhide-patterned labels add a pop of color and product distinction to the exterior and the interior tray, which tells the Eames story and houses a special gift box, was also printed in one-color to save on print costs. The cowhide-patterned gift box contains a limited edition signed, numbered and framed print of the LCW chair by photographer Nick Merrick, of Hedrich Blessing Photography. Product information and the certificate of authenticity (for the limited-edition of 500) are presented in a sleeve that slides into the box top of the gift packaging. A numbered nameplate on the bottom of the chair corresponds to the number of the photographic print.

Eric Campbell, art director/writer; Jennifer Allen/Eric Campbell, designers Synergy Photographic, photographer; Campbell Printing/Rapid Packaging, printers.

www.tandemthinking.comwww.hermanmiller.c ...