Box Vox

packaging as content

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March 8, 2009

Seeds/plants

Abundant life seeds_pictoscribe

Gorgeous Abundant Life Seeds vintage packet, photo originally uploaded by Flickr user Pictoscribe. Abundant Life Seeds is committed to providing and preserving heirloom seeds and offering organically grown seeds.


Despite my uncanny ability to kill even the hardiest plants (a plastic plant placed within my care withers in days), months of icy New England weather have me jonesing for spring and its accompanying greenery. While I wait, I am getting my growing fix by planting the seeds I get from fruit and the potatoes that tend to flourish in the back corners of my kitchen cabinets. So while my seed "packaging" is usually, 'organic' (and edible), for the stylish gardener here are some really innovative concepts for seed and plant packages.

Seeds themselves are almost miraculously perfect
packages, preserving whole life forms in miniaturized, dormant format until
activated. So even though seed packets are one of those mundane objects that people don't immediately think of when considering posh package design, it's fitting that recently they've been showing up as part of eco-friendly packaging in interesting ways.

Seed bomb_lovely as a tree_vickysmithisnice

Seed Bomb packaging project, originally uploaded by Flickr user Vickysmithisnice.

First, this awesome project by Vicky Smith, which she has called a Seed Bomb. Designed as a concept for Lovely as a Tree, which is a resource for environmentally aware graphic designers. As you can see, she envisions the packaging as being reused as (what else?) a pencil bag. I think the project is beautifully thought out and executed, and the materials look eco-friendly too.

Giving tree_avigailba
 The Giving Tree Packages by Abigail Bahat, originally uploaded by Flickr user Abigailba.

Another seed-bearing and very cool project by Abigail Bahat, inspired by Shel Silverstein's book, The Giving Tree. The packages contain sawdust, charcoal, and planks (dead tree products), and are packaged in recycled and recyclable material. The packages also contain seed packets, so that the consumer can replace (eventually) the tree material that she consumed. What a lovely concept, and the styling is minimal and graphic – something different from the usual granola eco-conscious image.

Victory gardens_joeysplanting

Victory Gardens 2007+ seed packet, image originally uploaded by Flickr user Joeysplanting.


Fittingly modern design on a seed packet for Victory Gardens 2007+, a project developed Garden for the Environment and the City of San Francisco's Department for the Environment. Really cute, and great idea to boot. (Also, am I seeing things or is the negative space suggest a thumb/hand holding the city? As in… the habitat is literally in the palm of your hand when you hold the packet? Because that would be really cool.)

Get a tree_thisislove

A package of Christmas, i.e. a packaged Christmas tree! The description says:

"Plantae Pinaceae Pinus
Pinus Mugo Mughus

"Composition_ Pine Seeds (5%), Sand (95%), Christmas (175gr)."


Christmas Gift made for get a light™, 2008.


Postal packaging which contains a small vase cup with pine seeds planted in sand, and closed with a lid, accompanied by leaflet.


Limited Edition."

I like the periodic-table looking graphic design on the outside, mostly because I like the idea of holiday spirit being elemental.

Miniroll_tissue_by_KuwaKenta

Miniroll Tissue by Kuwa Kenta.


I came across this whimsical design by Kuwa Kenta. It appears to be constructed from tissue paper rolls. Not clear on the exact function of the designs, but it is meant to be paper-saving and eco-friendly. According to the description, "Plant's seed as gift item with the packaging. User can DIY let the packaging become a plotted plant."

Plant it water

Plant It Water Tetra Pak cartons.

This packaging represents a less direct relationship between packaging and plants. Plant It Water plants a tree for every (sustainable Tetra Pak) carton of water sold. Every sold carton also translates to a donation to A Single Drop, a non-profit working towards the availability of safe water sources for the poor in developing countries.

Fruit seeds_yifah mittleman

Fruit seeds packet project by Yifah Mittleman. Photo originally uploaded by Flickr user Yifah Mittleman.


Stylish, lovely, and fashionable! But then, perhaps this is simply a new take in a tradition of fashionable seeds. Observe:

Carrot man_nullalux 

J.A. Simmers Carrot Seed Packet. Photo originally uploaded by Flickr user Nullalux.


Melody Chang

Would eat her carrots if they all wore top hats and monocles.


P.S. I would really love to see more of the old Abundant Life Seeds packaging, if anyone knows where to find some images.

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