Graphic Remix: Soda Can Designs That Shake It Up!

Marc — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:37 +0000

[ By Marc in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

They provide a much needed dose of caffeine, and fit comfortably in a hand. As iconic as the drinks they hold, the soda can has become the standard for soda storage. Soda cans are so common that we rarely take a second glance at them, until now.

(Images via lovelypackage, notcot, behance, designflex, smh)

Most brands try to put as much information as possible, in as many places as possible, slathering their messaging across every open space on their product’s packaging. It’s for this reason that a minimalist design is so appealing. If the major brands knocked it down a notch, the purchasing public would no doubt be pleased with the results.

(Images via psfk, ivman, vizeer)

Almost everyone has had a can roll away, sloshing and shaking its fragile contents with an explosive result. One intrepid design student has taken this into account, and came up with a design that is both anti-rolling, and visually stunning. Talk about futuristic!

(Images via brandflakesforbreakfast, rft3, thedieline, bannerblog, sundancechannel, coinnovative)

It’s always neat when the brands we’re so used to decide to switch up their designs for a limited edition run. Here are some fun and cool examples, many of which look even better than the original packaging.

(Images via mergevisual, eatingintranslation)

A fine mix of minimalism and great design can make a soda can just look… nicer than other ones. It’s surprising how awful some soda cans look, considering the product is the packaging.

(Images via sundancechannel, liquidinspiration, inspirationspam, mikekrol, lushlee)

When artists turn to a new medium there are often awesome results. These soda cans are no different. From the truly unique porcelain china crushed cans, to the entertaining comic and pulp inspired designs, it’s great to see some people having fun with designs (even if they’re never produced).

(Images via trendoriginal, briankaneonline, newtech-news)

For true can lovers, their nemesis, the bottle, has one major advantage: they can be resealed. There is hope for the can, however, as future-looking inventors attempt to create soda cans that can easily and cheaply be set aside and saved for later.

(Images via popsop, tonic, epromos, niceshoes)

Some designers like frenetic, flashy designs, and they tend to work quite well with soda cans. Since soda cans are for the road, it makes sense that an action packed and glitzy can would fit the theme.

(Images via toyqube, toyqube)

Currently just a novelty phone in Japan, maybe a similar design will be the phone of the future. One could keep their daily dose of caffeine on hand, and talk while they sip!

(Images via 248am, aquamanshrine, seriouseats, pzrservices, antiquetrader)

Anyone who has seen the throwback soda cans appearing in stores, understands how drastic a change soda can designs have gone through over the years. While some of the older designs are unattractive, overall they tend to be quite a kick.

[ By Marc in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

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Shake it Up: Strange and Unique Soda Flavors & Packaging

Marc — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:00:07 +0000

[ By Marc in Design & Products & Packaging. ]

Soda is probably too much a part of our daily diet – it helps us wake up when the day starts dragging, it spices up a night out at your favorite restaurant, and helps teenagers fuel all night video game sessions. Almost all soda consumption involves a few brands, mostly Pepsi and Coke, but there are other creative options out there. Sometimes the big boys like to mix things up as well. Here are 9 overlooked soda flavors and styles that would liven up anyone’s day:

(Images via gigi-reviews, grandpa’s wisdom, de clubz, knowledgeforthirst, bevreview, japan trends)

There are a lot of soda flavors that are either seasonal, or popular in other countries, that are favored by only a small niche in the gigantic worldwide soda market. Pictured above are drinks flavored like apples, celery, curry, coconut, turkey and gravy, and even tomato. These drinks would be interesting to sample, but I have a feeling I’d have trouble finishing them.

(Images via gunaxin, three steps over japan, 248am, theinspirationroom)

Most soda cans are dull, relying only on branding and customer loyalty to get you to buy. There are always exceptions, however, from limited edition examples of the most famous brands mixing it up, to attempts to launch new sodas with a distinctive style and philosophy. Artwork and design can go a long way in making a soda stand out from the crowd, yet the sodas that tend to win in the end, rely on taste for the long haul.

(Images via sereneonion, weirdsodareview, popsucker)

The soda war has basically been settled in America, so the colorful packaging and flamboyant mascots of independent soda companies have made way for the classic swirls and logos of our favorite brands. There are some companies that step out and attempt to cash in on popular cultural events (like the television show Tru Blood), but for the most part, small companies struggle to find a niche. In other countries small companies get a lot more creative, adding bright and flashy artwork and cartoon stills, and coming up with wild flavors that become cult favorites to a small group of consumers.

(Images via hardwaresphere, lighting-china-supplier, desktopped, inventorspot)

It may not seem like soda dispensing has improved much over the years, considering it still simply involves fancy ways of mixing syrup with soda water, but there have been quite a few stunning improvements, and wacky modifications. Several different ways to easily pour soda from 2 liter bottles have emerged, which promise to keep your soda from going flat, while also preventing spills. Refrigerator can dispensers (and this computer desktop mod) are examples of simple changes that have made soda storage a lot easier.

(Images via christyleezilka, antiquetrader)

Vintage branding and artwork is typically seen as having a classic feel… more reliant on aesthetics and good looking package that has an artistic feel rather than the slick corporate feel of today’s beverage packaging. While this might be true for the most part, the past still had their ugly soda cans. Here are two of the most offensive examples.

(Images via benseary, members)

On the other hand, sometimes soda manufacturers do get it right, with the creation of classically simple glass bottles that look elegant and interesting. There is an increasingly large interest in glass bottle collections, especially with art deco styling.

(Images via jem, curiositieschamber, kidestore, toxel)

Soda cans are in a state of transition, with every company eager to lend a technological spin to their sales… promising better can insulation for temperature control, or making the images on the can change color depending on temperature. There are even ways for kids to turn one of our most mundane by products into a mini science experiment, and some entrepreneurs are about to come out with a new can that’s resealable.

(Images via smilingonthego, mirror)

For every soda flavor there’s a different marketing strategy, but relying on people’s nostalgia for old style soda, and relying on humor, have always been favorites. People love to know they’re drinking a soda that’s outlasted countless others, and that their great grandparents may have tried. There’s also a lot of selling power in the novelty of witty packaging, as people like to give something funny a shot.

(Images via schadenfreude, smurfwreck, bevreview, zandland)

One niche in the drink market that I’ve thankfully avoided, is sodas flavored like popular candies. From life savers to candy corn, sometimes candy should just stick with being candy. Loaded with sugar and artificial flavoring, giving a cup of this stuff to anyone under the age of 10 would result in a week of hyperactivity.