Can you help me on this product label design?

by Todd Smith on January 19, 2009

I’m a photographer, not a graphic designer, but I like learning new things and I often dive into the deep end before I know how to swim. Right now I’m in L.A. working with my favorite Ayurvedic doctor, Vaidya Mishra. I planned to spend the week photographing his product line, but soon realized that it would be a waste of effort to photograph the current labels which are not very professional.

So I was suddenly transformed into a graphic designer. Art is art, right?… Well, I hope so.

I spent the weekend crash learning Adobe Illustrator (that one program in the Creative Suite that has always been an enigma to me). I’m semi-comfortable with the pen tool at last and am having fun with vector graphics.

Here’s what I’ve done so far. What I need is your feedback.

Dr. Mishra label design - first draft

Some people say that this design is too masculine, and I can definitely see that. Some say the green block is too strong. Maybe I should reverse things and not have the text in a block at all.

I’m thinking of adding a thin, solid border around the whole label. I’m also still considering other color schemes and am open to anything you suggest. The small oval to the left is for the doctor’s picture.

Overall, I want to have something that is recognizable off the shelf, easy to read, elegant, simple and charming to look at. The design is missing something and I’m not sure quite yet what it is. Can you help?

I plan to keep adding new versions of the label in the comment section based on your advice.

{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }

Holly Sehrt January 19, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Christian Messer January 19, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Todd Smith January 19, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Janice Cartier January 19, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Diane Whiddon-Brown January 19, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Todd Smith January 19, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Todd Smith January 20, 2009 at 11:50 am
Sweet January 20, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan January 20, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Janice Cartier January 20, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Todd Smith January 20, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Bev January 20, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Todd Smith January 20, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Bev January 20, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Sarah January 21, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Mother Earth aka Karen Hanrahan January 22, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Todd Smith January 22, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Todd Smith January 22, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Todd Smith January 23, 2009 at 2:36 am
Todd Smith January 23, 2009 at 2:42 am
Janice Cartier January 23, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Todd Smith January 23, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Christian Messer January 23, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Todd Smith January 23, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Janice Cartier January 23, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Tom Leparskas January 29, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Janet January 30, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Todd Smith January 30, 2009 at 6:04 pm
cynthia January 30, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Dr Mark Vinick February 16, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Todd Smith February 18, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Dr Mark Vinick February 18, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Todd Smith February 18, 2009 at 7:58 pm

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge

You can add images to your comment by clicking here.