Keep your eye on the shelves at your local Target and other food stores–General Mills is introducing retro-themed cereal boxes! Among the re-designed cereals are favorites such as: Kix, Golden Grahams, Cheerios, Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, Wheaties, and more. I am a big fan of vintage food packaging, and I am really glad to see General Mills bringing back some of these classic designs. Walking through the grocery store today, it seems like every brand is in competition to create the most elaborate and complex packages, when in reality, something like the Kix box above will do a better job at standing out and expressing the true essence of the product. Each of these retro cereal boxes has its own unique voice and I think the design reinforces the fact that these products have been around for a long time, and are proven, popular brands. Especially in tough economic times, I think it’s important to show consumers you have a strong, reliable brand. Off to Target…I see some Kix cereal in my future!
An original Kix package design:
New Wheaties and Golden Grahams packaging:
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Coming Soon! |
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[...] 12, 2009 General Mills is releasing some old versions of their cereal packaging. Kid Tested, Designer Approved Posted by cfredricks Filed in Chris F, Project Three [...]
They are going to sell a ton!
Ugh. Now, not only to I have to look at the young kids dressing like it is the ’80s again, but now when I go shopping, I have to turn retro too by eating food from these boring boxes? I want my Trix in the epileptic seizure causing, overly colorful box that I know and love.
Just kidding. But I don’t understand the logic with so many brands nowadays going to the “retro” look? Didn’t we learn from our mistakes?
Aside from it being ‘hip’ right now to have retro looking stuff, I think that a lot of companies are going in that direction because of the recession. I think that in times of uncertainty and fear consumers want things to be familiar, cozy, and “safe.” Vintage packaging elicits memories of a more secure time. I would assume that a lot of (traditional, stodgy) companies won’t be taking any risks in the near future…in regards to packaging, product design, etc. People are probably a lot less likely to take a risk in purchasing a new or new-looking product when money is tight. This is just a theory.
I wonder if any part of change is motivated by a desire to suggest the “good old days” when certain cereals and other foods were seen as being wholesome and healthy, versus the knowledge now of sugar content, no carb diets, and organic versus non-organic food products…?
It looks great, and it’s a nice gimmick, but i wish they would evolve and apply the skills used in the old boxes to a new, 2009 design. I imagine, immediately after this little phase, they’ll go right back to the chaotic, ugly designs they’ve been using.
I think the word “retro” gets thrown around a lot… It doesn’t look much like the old boxes, in my opinion (no fun character or cute car ad… just a self-aware little promotion for a “retro” t-shirt). I frankly think this looks very modern (like the new Pepsi cans). I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like it a million times more than the last box design, for sure.
I agree Michael–I think that while this is a cool promotional idea, General Mills should start designing their new boxes with some of the style and techniques of these older ones. I really do think that simpler is better, and especially in a recession, a more “classic” (not necessarily “retro”) design could help create a stronger, more stable brand image. Even if the design is new for 2009, using some of the old style and techniques to create something new would be really refreshing!
[...] Retro cereal box designs! From here. [...]