As the train barreled through the French countryside, I caught my first glimpse of Paris. The swooping roofs, brightly colored shopfronts and weaving streets lay before me. I left London for a long weekend to immerse myself in a new place, to drink wine by the Seine, to stare at great art, to walk along the streets with a baguette in my hand. My time in Paris was for exploration, art, culture and food—by the end, I expected to be full of bread.
I did not expect, however, to be so focused on surrounding myself with French packaging while there. Something shifted in me while in London. My brain was now tuned to seek out every opportunity to look at packaging, to study the nuances of its design and shape and differences. I was surprised by the effect my overseas class was having on me.
On our first night, we went to a small grocer to pick up cheese and wine. The trip was supposed to be quick, but as soon as we entered, I became entranced by the tubs (called “pots” in the U.K.) of yogurt, the boxes of cookies and the bars of chocolate, and not just with what was inside. The packaging in Paris held a certain unexpected and marked difference when compared to its British counterpart. While France and the U.K. share a desire for simplicity, French packaging felt more whimsical and playful. Illustrations and line art were more common; a sense of playfulness was infused in much of it.
What made it all the more interesting was the grocery store itself. In the U.K., grocery stores are utilitarian in function, free of fluff and decoration. In Paris, they felt more American than British, with photographs of food hanging across the store and shelving that towered over me. The stores and packaging were somewhere in-between the bluntness of Britain and the overwhelming of America.
“The packaging in Paris held a certain unexpected and marked difference when compared to its British counterpart. While France and the U.K. share a desire for simplicity, French packaging felt more whimsical and playful.”
While most of my trip was spent doing exactly what I expected, I was still surprised how much my class affected the time I spent in Paris. I was not only noticing differences in packaging and retail space, but I was actively seeking opportunities to look for them. As I make my way back to London, I wonder what else I will learn.
Next: Emma reflects on how a children’s TV show influenced her design.