Believe it or not, sometimes there’s a way to get exactly what you need without spending any money and it involves one unique piece of collateral: you.  

Skill-swapping has become more and more prevalent in our culture because, as it turns out, we all have skills someone else needs. And sometimes all it takes is asking.

When new mom Elizabeth C. of Pittsburgh wanted to get back into shape after having a baby, she looked into get getting a personal trainer to work in a quiet gym setting that would allow her to bring her daughter along. The more research she did, the more she realized…personal trainers are expensive. But she spoke with a trainer who was really into tattoos and it just so happened that Elizabeth’s husband owns a tattoo shop in Pittsburgh. Her trainer was willing to trade training sessions for tattoo sessions. It’s just that easy.

The art of skill-swapping, even though it’s suddenly seeing a surge in popularity, has actually been around for centuries. Bartering can be traced back to Mesopotamia in 6000 BC. Roman Soldiers were known for exchanging their services for salt, which, at the time, was incredibly expensive.

Once you realize what skill you have to swap, the hardest part can be figuring out how to swap it. Enter skill-swapping websites like simbi.com or swapaskill.com. At each of these sites, users can offer what they love to do in exchange for what they need. Everything from haircuts and oil changes to resume writing and cooking classes are available or wanted by users anywhere from around the corner to around the world.

With the uptick in popularity and positive reviews these websites have received, many more have been developed in response. Skill-swapping is not only something that can help you get by in your day-to-day life, it’s also something which makes you more marketable. Many people who utilize skill-swapping websites can add the work they do to their resumes. Additionally, skillshare opportunities offer a great way to get connected to the community around you. By offering your services, you open your doors to networking in your local area and also meet people who may just change your life.

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One of the best examples of this method in action is none other than the infamous Pet Rock from the 1970s. If not for the pet carrier box, the straw lining and the booklet enclosed, no one would have ever thought to buy this product. Due to the packaging alone, 1.5 million pet rocks were sold for $4 each. The owner quite literally became a millionaire by selling rocks to consumers. That’s how powerful packaging can be.

The best and most creative packaging ideas start with the product itself, using it as the inspiration for its packaging. Time has progressed since the Pet Rock and there are hundreds of new, clever ways to package products. These are a few of our favorite examples.
1) New York City Spaghetti

This packaging was originally created as a University project by designer Alex Creamer and has received a lot of media attention. According to Alex’s website, “NYC Spaghetti started as a university project, where we explored different ways to package everyday food items. My choice was spaghetti. Rather than build a facade or pack around the spaghetti, I decided to make the product itself the focus. When tightly packed together the spaghetti began to take on sculpture like properties that when placed on different surfaces would create a like for like impression on top. This led to the idea of NYC Spaghetti, a series of skyscrapers around the world made out of our favorite Italian food. In this instance a model of the Chrysler building (created by Ben Thorpe) was modeled and pushed into the spaghetti creating a similar impression on top.” It looks like her innovative thinking really penne-d off.

2) Gnome Bread & Note Headphones

These are a few simple ideas that are still creative. The packaging in the first photo was created by Lo Siento Studio, a graphic and media design company founded in 1996. It gives the simple bag that comes around a loaf of bread a whimsical feel. The second comes from designer Corrine Pant and displays headphones as music notes. It’s a simple concept, but it can really stand out amidst the typical boring chords.

3) Ford Ranger Extreme: Matchbox

This one was created by an advertising agency called JWT from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As pictured above, they used matches to look as though a Ford truck was carrying planks of wood in its extendable cargo bed.

4) Mustache Paintbrushes

This is another example emphasizing the idea of a product inspiring its packaging. These Moustache Paint Brushes were designed by Simon Laliberté and feature a series of fuzzy-faced friends to make the a paintbrush more humorous.

5) Hanger Tea

Created by the designer Soon Mo Kang, Hanger Tea is both useful and creative. It has a cute, simplistic look, keeps your tea bags organized, and allows your tea to hang perfectly at the edge of your cup while it steeps.

6) Penguin Juice Boxes

This one is just plain adorable. Creative Guerilla Marketing took the flaps that you’ll find at the ends of juice boxes and transformed them into the flippers and feet of an adorable penguin.

7) Playable DJ Pizza Box

Getting into the more technical territory, Pizza Hut took things to a whole new level by creating a fully functional DJ pizza box. Is this something we needed in our lives? Honestly, probably not. But we can’t deny that it’s extremely creative and certainly got them some attention.

8) Loot Crate

Many monthly box subscriptions, such as Loot Crate, are also known for their creative packaging. Every month, Loot Crate will choose a theme to feature and the box itself either becomes the backdrop of a scene, a diorama, or it can be folded up to become an item of its own.

How’s that for thinking outside the box?

The post Thinking Outside the Box: Creative Packaging Designs appeared first on Inventionland.

Each and every day, talented Creationeers arrive bright and early to our 61,000 square foot creative facility to do exactly that – get creative! From prototyping, to metalworking, to woodworking, industrial and graphic design and more, each Creationeer is prepared to put their skills to work.

As to be expected, however, even the most creative minds experience burnout. So, how do these Creationeers do it day after day? Here are just a few tips for staying creatively inspired.

Immerse yourself in a creative environment.

Visitors are often amazed and awe-inspired by the whimsical environment at Inventionland. From Pirate Ship Discovery to Inventalot Castle and more, the uniquely designed sets within our space have brought Inventionland to the forefront as one of the most creative office spaces in the world.

It’s important to note, however, that the unique environment here is not just for show. According to a dedication plaque you can find on our treehouse, “Inventionland is a gift that is designed to encourage your creative spirit so you can lead us into the next area of discovery.”

Inventionland is designed to spark innovation and creativity for each and every person that comes to work in our space. While most companies don’t have a themed environment quite like Inventionland’s, there are things you can do to immerse yourself in your own creative environment. Outfit your office, cube or desk with items that are uniquely you. What things spark your creativity? Surround yourself with elements that ignite creative thought and keep you motivated.

Let your creative brain recharge.

Have you ever worked on a project and felt your brain just simply isn’t working to move the project further? It’s certainly true that sometimes you just have to put down a project and come back to it once your brain recharges.

“Each week, we brainstorm with our designers and sometimes the brain just gets stuck or doesn’t seem to work properly anymore.  You have to put things on hold and come back to them with fresh thoughts.  Most of the time when you look at something, the second time around it is easier to figure out,” said Creative Director of Design Curtis.

Creative Director of Design Tim agrees. “Sometimes, you just have to go home and come back the next day having to redo what you’ve already done,” he said.

Let your creativity bring you a sense of accomplishment.

Founder and CEO Mr. George Davison can attest to the sense of accomplishment that channeling your inner creativity can bring.

“The truth is that both men and women get inspired by the release of the creative imagination within them. When you are creating something, you are usually completely absorbed in doing so, and the process allows us to form ideas into a structure that gives a sense of accomplishment,” said Mr. Davison.

Here’s to keeping creatively inspired!

Copyright Inventionland, 2017

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