TBARK
Would you eat a termite?
Believe it or not, eating insects may be in our future sooner than we think. Many insects have a high nutritional value and are a great sustainable resource.
Timeline: September - December 2019
Software Used: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign
Challenge
To design the packaging and branding for a company that sells a snack containing an insect as its main ingredient.
Research
Background
Termite
Termites originate from many countries throughout Southeast Asia. They are commonly found in large groups and are known for eating through large pieces of wood.
Depending on the specific species, termites can consist of 38-67% protein. They are also filled with calcium, iron, and other fatty and amino acids.
The Doc. 2017. Wood Floors and Termites. JPEG. WoodFloorDoctor.com. December 2nd, 2019.
Target Audience
Athletic/Active Adults
Ages 18-65 - Less focused on the ingredients, more interested in practicality of the product. They want an easy snack to easily take on long hikes or camping trips. They are also interested in reducing their carbon footprint with less plastic packaging.
Health Conscious Millennials
Ages 25-40 - They are becoming more conscious of what they spend their money on and how it is produced. Ethical shopping and sustainability are a must when searching for new brands.
Brainstorm
Logo
Early sketches of logo.
Digital logo iterations.
Final Logo
I designed custom letterforms to create this final composition. I was heavily inspired by textiles found in Indonesia, one the termites’ origin countries. All of the letters fit together like a puzzle and have strong sense of geometric balance.
Logo Specifications
Whenever the TBARK logo is to be used, it must follow the proper measurements and proportions.
Acceptable and Unacceptable Logo Uses
For branding and consistency purposes, the TBARK logo can only be used in its original color palette or in all black.
Typeface
I used a combination of Axia Black and Axia Regular throughout this project. I felt that the structure of Axia’s letterforms mirrored the edginess and geometric nature of TBARK’s final logo.
Color Palette
Business System & Pattern
I designed a business system to be used and sent directly from the company:
8.5” x 11” Letterhead
3.5’ x 2” Business Card
#10 Envelope
Stamps
Because termites attack trees from within, I designed a custom woodgrain pattern, which includes outlines of the termite body, to be used in both the business system and final packaging.
Packaging
Sketches
Early packaging shape sketches.
Packaging & closing mechanism iterations.
Final
Packaging Prototype
Final TBARK prototype constructed with paper.
Materials
TBARK’s packaging is fully compostable. The main structure is made from wheat straw fiber, a material that is compostable both commercially and in home environments. Vegetable-based inks are used as an eco-friendly alternative to toxic dyes.
Digital mockup of final TBARK packaging.
Production
Store Display
Due to TBARK’s cylindrical packaging, I designed each unit to have a flat panel on the top and bottom so it can easily stand on its own or be stacked without tipping over. When displayed on a shelf, it is recognizable from the side or front-view due to the double logo placement.
Shipping Considerations
TBARK’s unique structure allows multiple orders to be easily stacked and packaged to be sent out directly to stores or customers.
Andrew Wach 2024