Packaging

Packaging is the combination of materials used to protect goods.

The 5 basic functions of packaging are:

Protection - preventing the goods being damaged

Containment - Keeping the goods in a controlled position or place

Information - Tell customers about the product inside

Utility of use - Help the customer to use the product

Promotion - encouragement of a cause or agenda

Different types of packaging:

Box Packaging

Box packaging is usually made from some type of board such as cardboard. Cardboard can come in different thicknesses or can be reinforced to give better protective properties such as corrugated.

Blister Packaging

A blister package has a clear plastic pocket that allows the product to be visible when on display. The plastic is heat moulded to match the shape of the product that is contained within it.

Example package 1

The outside is decorative and has a black plastic emblem on it. It looks pretty like a bow around a giftbox.

When the lid is opened the box has large flaps the stick out a long way. It also has a large tab that held the lid in place.

The back view of the box reveals information on the back of the box but also on the inside of the box.

There is a liner inside the box that held the good in place. This is good for protection and containment since the product inside was made of glass.

Here is the liner lifted out of the box. It has cut out areas to hold the product. It is made from a different type of card to the outside of the box. The card on the inside is corrugated.

Here is the inside liner flattened out. This flattened shape is called a net.

When we look inside the box we can see the a tab is glued to hold the package together.

Example package 2

Here are two small box style packages with the lids open.

Here is the net of this packaging. We can see where the glue has ripped the card at the top when the packaging was flattened.

On the outside, the card had be lacquered to give a shiny finish. Notice how the words on different tabs face in different directions.

The packaging of your Torch is an important part of your product. Measure accurately and cut safely.

Finished packaging should house your Torch.

Perfect measurements allow for the perfect size to fit your product.

What is a Net?

In Design and Technology, a net is the word used for a 3D box template.

Imagine if you had a cereal box (cornflakes) and you cut the edges and unfolded the box - turning the 3D box into a flat 2D shape - you now have a template or outline of the box which we would call a 'net'.

You can also see some net designs on the side. When the nets are cut out and folded, they too will make a 3D box.

Net design are also used in maths - not for designing but for working out which shapes make up a 3D shape - rectangles and squares are the most common in packaging.

Types of Net Designs

Basic Net Design

The first stage of designing your net is working out what size you need.

Using flaps that are a standard shape will be easy to fold and glue together.

Intermediate Net Design

A slightly improved design from the basic net would be to include flaps that have slight angles and small gaps between the edges.

Gluing might be harder and making sure your box is straight with square sides will be more difficult.

Hard Net Design

Advanced net design may include angular cut out flaps.

These types of flaps have been designed to be folded together without the need for glue.

Before and After

You can see here the side by side designs of the plain net outline and the finished design with colour and logos.

Ready to Print

Can you guess what shape this box will become?

Yes, you guessed it - a cube.

You can tell it will be folded into a cube since all sides are square and a cube is made up of 6 square faces. Check to see if there are 6 squares.

Ready to Print

This simple box net shows you clearly how a finished net design should look.

Notice how not all of the faces include a design. that is because some faces are the flaps that will be folded and glued together - these will not be seen.

How To Create Your Own Net Design

Task 1. Step 1

After completing Step 1 you should have a box net that looks like the design above.

This could be a basic net or an intermediate net.

Notice how the solid outlines around the outside edge are the lines for cutting and that the dotted lines inside the net are lines for folding and NOT for cutting.

Task 1. Step 2

Although this design DOES NOT match the box net from Task 1 Step 1, you should understand that your finished box net design should also include colour, a design, a logo and product information.

Remember this box is for your maze puzzle. That means your designs, logo and information should match your maze puzzle (the one you made on Tinkercad).

What Size is Your Net Design?

As you know, you designed your Torch to fit inside a rectangle that was:

70mm x 50mm

Also, your torch is 3 layers thick. The top and bottom layers were 3mm thick and the middle layer was 5mm thick. So, the thickness of packaging must be

12mm (this will give 1mm extra space.)

These are the sizes you should follow to make sure your packaging is the correct size.

Plan your NET! Your overall box design size should be: 70mm x 50mm x 12mm

After you have completed Task 1 Step 1, your net should look exactly like these photos here. Remember that we are all make a net and box the same size and same shape.

Use a ruler for all straight lines.
Measure correctly and check the length of all lines.
Add 7 flaps only - follow the example.

Help Videos

Task 1. Step 1

How to draw a net to scale - Half size.

IMG_0288.MOV

Task 1. Step 2

Designing and rendering your net.

Task 1. Step 2 in more detail

Wrong! Find my mistake!

There are 6 sides - the large top and bottom and 4 side walls. It is very important to write your text and logos the right way up.

Notice how the 'Laser Cut Model' text faces into the net - this is correct.

Notice how the text on the 3 other walls faces outwards - this is wrong and will mean your text will be upside down after folding your net to make a box.