Runtime Design Automation is a software company in Santa Clara, CA. I created the company’s website. But before that, I also created a microsite for them for the brief intro purpose. Screenshots are as follows. Site can be viewed from here.
Packaging - Moisturizer
Posted by Jen in design & art, random thoughts on December 5th, 2008
The three packages presented are Neutrogena Moisture, Elizabeth Arden Prevage and Alpha Hydrox.



Neutrogena uses white and blue as its primary colors. With the color scheme and big white spaces, the package gives a clean and simple feel to the consumers. As a skin care product, clean and simple design is trying to make people think of good skin.
Unlike Neutrogena’s white paper package, Elizabeth Arden uses a plastic semi-transparent box through which consumers are able to see the inside product. This design makes the product package interesting and appealing. The gray and orange color scheme is pretty and high-quality looking.
Alpha Hydrox uses a very different color scheme - red and white. On the left top corner of the box, it uses a fake 3D design, in order to emphasize on the product’s important feature - 10% AHA Anti-wrinkle treatment. This special effect works great to draw people’s eyes to that part of the package.
Overall, I’d say all of the 3 packages are in good design. They all use light color as their primary colors. Logos of the manufacturer are all placed in the front of the package, with big white spaces around to give a clean feel. They all have their own unique look. The designers are trying to make their own product stands out from the same type. And I think they succeeded in it.
Styles - the spirit of a design
Posted by Jen in design & art, random thoughts on December 4th, 2008
How can type attributes strengthen a design and why are “styles” important?
The most obvious feature of type is that it forms words and sentences, and makes the direct message in graphic design work. On the other hand, type also appears as a form of graphic, through which it provides meaning in an immediately visual way. The type attributes of font, weight, size, color etc impact the look and feel of the entire design work. Type has its mood. If used properly, different types with different attributes can express their own mood. And readers are able to feel the mood even without reading the direct message. Good design can integrate the visual attributes of type with its sentence meaning and the theme of the entire design work. From this we can see integration of all the elements in design is always the point to create a good design with powerful way to tell its message.
Style in a design is just like spirit of a person. Person with spirit makes a living, active and thoughtful life. Design with a style makes an interesting, dynamic and meaningful visual work. To tell a certain message is the ultimate purpose of a design. Therefore, style is determined by this message. It is to support the design work to convey the message in a clear and impressive way. Style applies to type, photos, layout, etc. And in one design work, it is always supposed to have only one style. Elements display this style consistently through out the design work.








