Limited Edition Cubism Can Opener

Design: Kyle Doody
Location: United States
Project Type: Student Project
School: Ball State University
Course: ADS 341
Tutor: Shantanu Suman
Packaging Contents: Can Opener
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Paper and Cardboard
Printing Process: Digital Printing

My professor assigned our class with a limited edition package design for our final project this semester. My classmates and I were provided a name from a list of twenty daily-use products, then tasked to create a limited edition package inspired by a design movement. The name on the list I received was a can opener. I instantly thought of all of the mothers that have warned their children not to touch the can after it is opened, as they might cut their hand and get injured. With this in mind, I began researching different art movements and was stopped by the cubism movement. Specifically, a piece by Pablo Picasso called “Girl with a Mandolin.”

It is composed of many different shapes with very sharp angles and strong edges, but as a whole depicts a woman playing a mandolin. These sharp angles and defined edges can be seen in both cubist art and the ridged ring left behind when a can is open. I used this and fruits and vegetables that are usually canned as the inspiration for my design. I also wanted to touch upon the deeper meaning behind the cubism movement. It was a revolutionary form of abstract art that no one had ever attempted before Picasso and Braque. An important ideology of this movement was seeing the same subject from multiple views.

This can be seen in many cubist face paintings created by Picasso. I brought this same ideology into my can opener package, splitting my design into two separate views. The front being my design and logo, and the back showing an abstract representation of a tin can.

What’s Unique?
My design is unique because it exemplifies design thinking. It was very difficult finding a correlation between can openers and any design movement. It is very easy to just make something look pretty, but I wanted the thinking and ideology behind my design to be strong and have meaning. As I mentioned in the description, I found many strong correlations for such an obscure product to use in my design. Not only is my process was unique, but I pushed my self to learn new software while making this design. All of the fruits and vegetables I included were constructed in a 3D software Blender. I also designed my own cubism inspired typeface for the “Can It!” logo. I strongly believe these attributes make me stand out among other students and individuals.