Can I Design an Orange Juice packaging with AI?

I recently decided to explore the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in aiding me to create a bubble tea packaging design from scratch. As a lifelong orange juice enthusiast, I thought, why not try my hand at crafting my own fictional orange juice packaging this time?

To embark on this creative journey, I opted for Adobe Firefly, an AI tool designed to assist in generating AI-driven designs. Eagerly, I delved into experimenting with various prompts, attempting to discern the most effective approach for achieving the desired outcome. My prompts finally danced with the Firefly’s colors and shapes, not a carbon copy, but a vibrant echo of my vision. Hope ignited, I coaxed the lines like vines, the canvas sang with life. Human and machine, we waltzed, birthing something new, bigger than the sum. Creativity’s future whispered, AI a brush in my hand.

The Start

As a complete novice once again, I entered “Orange juice packaging design” into the Adobe Firefly text-to-image prompt, resulting in the generation of four initial designs.

With a nervous click, I unleashed the magic of AI upon the innocent phrase “Orange juice packaging design.” Firefly hummed and whirred, pixels swirling like a kaleidoscope until four distinct visions materialized on the screen.

Design 1: A slanted orange glass packaging, segmented like stained glass, its juicy flesh radiating warmth against a grungy green background. I can’t make out the text on the label.

Design 2: A playful dance of citrus. Cartoon oranges accompanied a plain bottle of orange juice with a strange-looking leaf motif.

Design 3: A somewhat retro label on a kinda unique plastic-looking glass bottle with an oddly placed straw inside it.

Design 4: A better-looking design. A vintage-style illustration of a sunbeam orange slice on a glass bottle. The color palette was vibrant and nostalgic, evoking memories of TV ads of orange juice brands.

Four vastly different options, each holding the potential to quench not just thirst, but curiosity. Which path would I choose? The journey, it seemed, had just begun…

The outcome took me by surprise. Perhaps my optimism led me to overestimate the speed at which artificial intelligence could conjure up a visually stunning orange juice package. Undeterred, I refined my approach by entering words associated with the essence of orange juice, such as “refreshing label design on an orange juice carton.” With enthusiasm and finesse, I embarked on a new creative adventure.

The Second Round of Results

The AI’s designs were better. But… They lacked…soul. I needed something warmer, something that captured the feeling of sunshine in a bottle. So, I switched gears. Instead of focusing on looks, I thought about memories: sun-drenched groves, sticky fingers on a cool glass, summer laughter.

Back to the AI I went, armed with these feelings. And wow, the results were amazing! Sunrises over orange trees, playful hands holding juice, even a childlike “Sunshine” bursting with color. These weren’t just labels, they were stories! Not just for eyes, but for hearts.

Maybe Sunshine Goodness?

This wasn’t just orange juice anymore. It was sunshine, bottled and ready to share. And I learned a big lesson: creativity isn’t always about tech, it’s about capturing the true essence of what you want to say. And in this case, Sunshine Squeeze said it loud and clear: joy comes in a carton.

Time to Rethink – Knowing what you want, before using the AI.

Acknowledging that AI wouldn’t guide my design concept, I decided to define the creative direction I desired. My orange juice brand needed to exude a sense of fun and quirkiness. It was time to have AI generate imagery that aligned with this vision. Let’s make it captivating! Here are the visual that I believe would suit my brand direction, “Jumping into a pool of orange juice.”

In this visualization, a dynamic scene unfolded with a teenager wearing a swimsuit, in mid-air as he jumped into a pool filled with an oversized, cartoonish pool of orange liquid. The exaggerated splashes created a visually appealing and immersive experience, embodying the exuberance and zest I envisioned for the brand.

The Squirrel Detour

I sensed that the generated visuals were getting closer to my creative direction. I wanted something cuter so I went ahead and Googled “Which animal loves orange juice?“.

According to iNatualist Community Forum, “some monkeys and apes eat oranges. they will peel them before eating just like humans do. Some rodents, such as squirrels and chipmunks, will also feed on oranges”. I love squirrels and I think they will look good with oranges so I decided to use squirrels in my future AI generations. Of course, monkeys and apes will look great too!

Fourth Round of Results

Feeling confident, I generated four results with the adjusted prompt. While the squirrel imagery was satisfactory, there were minimal references to the “oranges.” To enhance the results, I needed to make adjustments. So far, I have used 7 out of my 25 credits on Adobe Firefly. To refine it further, I wanted the imagery to depict a character, perhaps a squirrel holding an orange, jumping into a pool of orange juice.

Planning my next step

There are a few prompts that come to my mind now, talking about AI helping with mind blocks! Now my mind is churning with fresh ideas. My mind’s buzzing with ideas about AI and beating those pesky blocks! It’s like a creativity explosion, and I can’t wait to see where these sparks lead. Imagine the possibilities: AI as your personal brainstorming buddy, helping you dig through mental roadblocks and unearth hidden gems of inspiration. No more staring at a blank page! Get ready to paint with vibrant colors, write stories that write themselves, and turn “impossible” into “let’s do this!”

A possible list of prompts (ideas):

1. An orange-colored squirrel holding an orange
2. A squirrel sleeping on a slice of orange
3. A squirrel holding an orange and jumping into a pool of orange juice
4. A squirrel standing on top of a giant orange

Let’s prompt them all and compare!

The modified prompt proved successful, the squirrel balancing on top of the orange really attracted me. Content with the results, I still had 9 credits remaining to generate more variations by selecting one of the images and producing additional iterations keeping in mind the proportion of a normal TetraPak carton box, so I chose to generate in Portrait this time.

More variations

The Chosen One

As I delved deeper into the final stages of my orange juice packaging design, I encountered a challenge – a shortage of suitable backgrounds that complemented the proportions of my label. Recognizing the need for a harmonious blend, I turned to Adobe’s generative fill to seamlessly generate new backgrounds that would enhance the overall visual appeal.

Proportion Shortage Challenge

The initial backgrounds, while captivating, didn’t quite align with the proportions of my label design. This prompted the exploration of innovative solutions to maintain a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look. Adobe’s generative fill, known for its ability to intelligently generate content based on existing visuals, emerged as the perfect tool to address the proportion shortage challenge.

Harnessing Generative Fill for Seamless Integration

With a few clicks, I initiated the generative fill process, allowing Adobe’s advanced algorithms to analyze the existing visuals and intelligently extend and create a background that seamlessly blended with the label. The generative fill not only addressed the proportion challenge but also added an extra layer of sophistication to the overall design.

Bringing AI results to your canvas

As I approached the final stages of perfecting my orange juice packaging, the need for a high-quality mockup became evident. While there was still work to be done, including arranging the graphics and refining the brand logo, I decided to elevate the presentation by incorporating Packreate’s Tetra Pak Prisma Carton PSD into the design process.

Packreate’s Tetra Pak Prisma Carton PSD offered a versatile and realistic canvas, perfectly suited for showcasing my vibrant orange juice label. The mockup’s attention to detail and lifelike rendering would provide a compelling preview of how the final product would appear on the shelves.

With the Tetra Pak Prisma Carton PSD downloaded, I seamlessly integrated my orange juice label into the mockup. This step allowed me to visualize the design in a three-dimensional context, ensuring that every element aligned harmoniously with the carton’s contours and dimensions.

To enhance the realism of the presentation, I engaged in meticulous fine-tuning. Adjusting lighting, shadows, and reflections, I aimed to capture the nuances that would make the orange juice packaging appear not just as a digital concept but as a tangible and enticing product ready for consumption.

The mockup served as a crucial validation tool for my design choices. It provided insights into how the colors, graphics, and overall layout interacted in a real-world setting. Any necessary adjustments were made with a keen eye on ensuring the final product would resonate with consumers and stand out among competitors.

Thinking of the name

Using ChatGPT, I prompted – “Help me think of a few Orange Juice brand names, that has a squirrel on top of orange as the mascot. The target group is teenagers.”

…And so, my journey with ChatGPT and the squirrel on an orange began. Would we crack the code to teen thirst? Would our citrusy concoction take the market by storm? Only time, and a whole lot of orange juice, would tell. But one thing was certain: I have decided on the name – Sip n’Scurry. It fits the personality I wanted to integrate into the brand. The whimsical and catchy brand name perfectly encapsulated the playful personality I envisioned for my orange juice. Now, armed with a name that echoed the spirit of fun and adventure, I launched Photoshop and added the brand name into the packaging mock-up.

Conclusion

In reflecting on my experiment with Adobe Firefly and ChatGPT, I recognized the profound insights it brought to the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and creativity. The collaboration with the AI emphasized the symbiotic relationship between technology and human creativity. While AI proved to be a powerful tool, streamlining the creative process and generating innovative ideas, it also underscored the irreplaceable role of a creative mind and experience in shaping the final artistic direction.

The experiment reinforced that AI could serve as a valuable asset for designers, providing inspiration, generating ideas, and expediting workflow. The efficiency and breadth of possibilities AI offered were undeniable, allowing designers to explore uncharted territories and experiment with concepts that might not have emerged through traditional means alone.

Yet, amidst the enthusiasm for AI’s capabilities, a crucial realization surfaced – AI was a tool, not a replacement. It lacked the innate human touch, the nuanced understanding of culture, emotions, and context that a creative mind brings to the table. The ability to infuse a brand or design with a unique personality, cultural relevance, and emotional resonance remained firmly within the realm of human creativity.

I found that AI excelled in providing a starting point, sparking inspiration, and handling repetitive tasks. However, the true magic happened when I, as a designer, applied my experience, intuition, and artistic sensibilities to refine and curate the generated content. It was the collaboration between human ingenuity and AI capabilities that produced the most compelling and resonant results.

For designers considering incorporating AI into their toolkit, I would wholeheartedly recommend it as a means to augment skills and boost productivity. The synergy between AI and human creativity is a potent force that can redefine creative processes. However, it’s essential to recognize that AI is a facilitator, not a replacement. The creative mind remains the compass, guiding the artistic direction, making subjective decisions, and injecting the intangible elements that breathe life into a design.

So, for fellow designers navigating the ever-evolving landscape of technology and creativity, take heart. AI is a powerful ally, but it will not strip away the essence of what makes your work uniquely yours. The nuanced interplay between technology and human creativity is where the true magic lies, ensuring that, despite the advancements, the artistic soul of design remains firmly in the hands of its human creators.

Let me know in the comments what packaging design I should tackle next with AI!