DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
WL : The main objective for this project was to maintain the same minimal design language from the products while still tying to the architecture theme of the brand. By creating a final design following the principles of architectural model making, we believe that we were able to create something consistent with the overall story of All Mies: bold simplicity!
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
WL : As a packaging for a brand that is trying to disrupt the industry to begin with, we wanted to create something unique; something that fits the story and the values of the brand. The whole design is divided in layers that extracts inspirations from architecture by playing with the relationship between volume and void; form and function; and produces a distinctive unpacking experience.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
WL : It took us about 6 months between different concepts and iterations until we reached the final design.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
WL : This design was commissioned to be the mainstream packaging for an innovative startup looking to change the way the retail industry works, so it was a no-brainer decision that we had to come up with something unique; something outside of the box.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
WL : This design is being used as the official packaging for all of the watches sold by All Mies.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
WL : This design targets those consumers interested in design value. We live in a world of overpriced retail in which design is reserved to the elite. We hope to show that great design doesn't need to cost premium price tags.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
WL : This design is different than the typical retail packaging because it is unique to the story, values and goals of the All Mies brand while offering a distinctive unpacking experience. It doesn't just fit a functionality purpose (packing a watch), it delights and surprises. It is the perfect combination of form and function.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
WL : The most unique part of this design is the use of several different layers to create a play between void and volume able to securely pack a wristwatch.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
WL : From the very beginning, our intentions was to clearly exemplify the core beliefs of the All Mies brand: design doesn't need to be elitist. In order to do so, we worked on the development of a design that holds the high standards of a great design but that is also affordable and financially fits the business. By studying different materials capabilities and strengths, we were able to understand how to properly balance design and cost.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
WL : We were really happy with the final result and have received a lot of attention and feedback from the public that have interacted with it so we decided to submit it to an international design competition to validate such design accomplishment.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
WL : The biggest lesson was to deeply understand the weaknesses and strengths of different materials and be open to continuously evolve your design even when you think something is good. For this design in particular, there were hundreds of different ideas and prototypes. Every time we thought we had finished, we pushed the boundary just a little bit further to discover a whole new world of possibilities. The incessant hunger for improvement led us to a path and final product that was beyond our wildest expectations.