We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer My Linh Mac about their original and creative Packaging Design design work. My Linh Mac is an award-winning communication designer, that makes our world a better place with their original packaging design works.
My Linh Mac ("MLM") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Co Ba Coffee Packaging Design. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
MLM : My main inspiration for Co Ba Coffee project is from my cultural heritage and my client's vision for her company- which is to introduce the uniqueness of Vietnamese coffee culture to the world.
MLM : My main focus was to create strong identity for the brand that stood out among other Vietnamese coffee brand out there. My secondary focus was to share inspiring story about the company's founder- who is a extraordinary women came from humble background and work tirelessly to achieve her dream with her coffee company. I believe by knowing more about the company, the brand would be more marketable and appealing to the consumers.
MLM : I hope my design will receive positive recognition and my successful story would inspire young designers out there, including my dear students.
MLM : It took me approximately over 2 months to complete the main concepts from consultations, sketches, design, adjustment to final design.
MLM : I decided to pursuit a new inspiration as I get to know my client better. I was very fortunately to have such inspiring clients who share the same aesthetic mindset and challenge me to move forward in the most positive way. Half way through the project, I decided to make a bold choice of incorporate her illustration into the final design and made major changes to the original design. The final design was beyond our expectations.
MLM : No. My client authorized me all ownership of the design.
MLM : Packaging and branding design has always been my focus areas as a designer.
MLM : For this project, no.
MLM : My main target customer/consumers are young adult such as college students, office employees who consume coffee on daily basis. The brand and products are for everyone regardless on their age, occupations and culture backgrounds.
MLM : I personally think having portrait with strong cultural representation on coffee packaging is a very rare yet catchy concept. I am positive that it would standout and attract many consumers.
MLM : We used “Co Ba” a Vietnamese term for the second aunt in a Vietnamese family, as our brand name to symbolize the nostalgia of family bonds, cultural and community cohesion.
MLM : Adobe suite was my main design tools.
MLM : 1) Strong cultural representation, 2) Refreshing, 3) Appealing
MLM : This a solo project.
MLM : Technology plays major role in this project, not just for the production process but also for communication as well, since my client is in Hoi An, Vietnam, I am based in Chicago on different time zone.
MLM : No. However I did my research on other coffee brand design as well as history of Vietnamese coffee to find 'niche' for this brand. It was a long but very rewarding process.
MLM : The biggest challenge is communication with my client through different time zone and explaining technical design and software terms to my client because she is not from creative background.
MLM : I intentions was to satisfy my curiosity, testing the water of international design competition. I was recommended by a expert designer who believe in my works as well.
MLM : I have learn many things from the process, and one of them is to trust your instinct and be adventurous as a designer, as well as pay careful attention on details consistantly.
MLM : None. Thank you
