Good is... Existing ipod packaging.

http://www.shinyplastic.com

http://www.atpm.com/7.12/ipod.shtml

http://opencal.com/blog/minimalist-packaging/

The connection with the white background can be seen throughout Apple's packaging too, keeping the same sleek look and so that one element is connected to the other. Apple have had some quite creative packaging designs over time and this is something that can also become desirable about the product because most consumers tend to appreciate the way in which an item is packaged too. I think in more recent years the idea of the iPod coming in this hard plastic casing seems somewhat disappointing when looking at previous packaging designs. I've also got examples here of packaging I own from my own iPods, the fact these are black moves away from this clean sleek look but still looks as sophisticated as ever. I think the use of a gradient on the black looks really good on the first example because it makes the image of the iPod seem almost real. The other thing that stood out in particular was the special finishes on this black packaging because it makes it more desirable and something you may like to keep afterward. Looking at the packaging has given me ideas to take into my own work, I definitely think I prefer the more high-end looking packaging to the plastic casing - this being more to experiment with but also because my product will be limited edition so consumers will be expecting something special. 

Good is... Existing Apple ipod advertisements.

www.google.co.uk

http://billboardom.blogspot.com

http://www.appleinsider.com

http://www.flickr.com

The main way in which Apple tends to advertise is through television adverts, this is the quickest and one of the most effective ways of getting a message out to an audience because in a way they are forced to see it when it is replayed again and again on certain channels. Apple's television adverts tend to be quite memorable too so they definitely do the job they were intended for because they want people to remember them and discuss with others as this could be a way of cleverly extending their market. There is a definite focus on the product within Apple's more recent ads because all you see is a hand holding the product, these adverts are almost as if your interacting with the product making the advertising experience more 'real'. The link here to some of the print based advertising is the white background, this is something that is constantly associated with Apple and creates a very sleek look for the brand. Apple do however still use print based media to advertise and quite often on a massive scale, as seen above. The tend to go for the biggest, the best and most creative ways of advertising in a bid to capture the attention of their audience, the more 'wow' about their advertising, the more likely people are to be taken in by the brand. 

Good is... Existing Apple ipod advertisements.

www.google.co.uk

These are some of Apple's more recent advertisements. Due to the fact the brand is now so well known it seems to take less to advertise the products. The whole idea of the shadows dancing with the iPod has become quite iconic itself and having the iPod in white makes it stand out from the background so as well as the title the consumer knows exactly what the advertisement is about without really having to read anything. The fact that all of the people in the posters are completely different people is also a really good design feature because it basically says to the consumer that the iPod is literally for anyone. The use of bright and patterned backgrounds is really successful because the ad stands out and is very eye catching so will definitely capture the attention of the audience. With the design being so simplistic it can be used again and again only changing slight details each time. Overall its a very strong concept for the iPod advertising campaigns. 

Good is... The history of the Apple logo.

The Newton Crest: 1976-1976

The first Apple logo was designed in 1976 by Ronald Wayne, sometimes referred to as the third co-founder of Apple. The logo depicts Isaac Newton sitting under a tree, an apple dangling precipitously above his head. The phrase on the outside border reads, “Newton… A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of Thought … Alone.”

The Rainbow Logo: 1976-1998

Not surprisingly, the above logo only lasted a year before Steve Jobs commissioned graphic designer Rob Janoff to come up with something, oh I don’t know, a little bit more modern. Janoff’s eventual design would go on to become one of the most iconic and recognizable corporate logos in history.

According to Janoff, the “bite” in the Apple logo was originally implemented so that people would know that it represented an apple, and not a tomato. It also lent itself to a nerdy play on words (bite/byte), a fitting reference for a tech company. Quick sidenote: Corporate design sure was a lot simpler in the 70’s. Nowadays, companies like Pepsi spend millions of dollars on logo re-designs that are based on complete BS and new age mumbo jumbo.

As for the rainbow stripes of the logo, Steve Jobs is rumored to have insisted on using a colorful logo as a means to “humanize” the company. Janoff has said that there was no rhyme or reason behind the placement of the colors themselves, noting that he wanted to have green at the top “because that’s where the leaf was.”

The relatively simple origins of the rainbow colored Apple logo hasn’t stopped some from reading a bit too much into what it represents. Jean-Louis Gassée, former Apple executive and founder of BeOS, quipped about the logo:

One of the deep mysteries to me is our logo, the symbol of lust and knowledge, bitten into, all crossed with the colors of the rainbow in the wrong order. You couldn’t dream a more appropriate logo: lust, knowledge, hope and anarchy.

The passion of the French knows no bounds!

The multi-coloured Apple logo was in use for 22 years before it was axed by Steve Jobs less than a year after his return to Apple in 1997. In its place was a new logo that did away with the colorful stripes and replaced it with a more modern monochromatic look that has taken on a variety of sizes and colors over the past few years. The overall shape of the logo, however, remains unchanged from its original inception 33 years ago.

 The Monochrome Logo: 1998 - Present

TInkering with one of the most recognizable logos in the world wasn’t done simply because Steve Jobs is always looking to change things up. When Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was bleeding money, and Jobs and Co. realized that the Apple logo could be leveraged to their advantage. That meant experimenting with larger logos to make it more prominent.  If the shape of the Apple logo was universally recognizable, why not not put it where people could see it?

That being the case, placing a large rainbow Apple logo on top of the original Bondi Blue iMac, for example, would have looked silly, childish, and out of place. Not exactly the direction Jobs wanted to lead Apple in.  So instead of placing a somewhat minuscule rainbow colored Apple logo on its products, Apple began placing sizeable and Monochrome styled logos on its products in all sorts of places:  on top of the original iMac, on the side of the Powermac G3 Tower, and in an assortment of colors on the good ole iBooks.  This trend, which began in 1998, continues to this day.

The rainbow colored logo might always be a source of nostalgia for Mac enthusiasts, but the monochrome logo allows Apple greater flexibility when it comes to branding its products.  Also, Steve Jobs isn’t exactly the type to get wrapped up in warm fuzzy feelings of nostalgia.  When Jobs returned to Apple, he needed to transform Apple’s image from that of a failing company into one capable of churning out sleek and cutting edge products, and he needed a new logo to match.  It doesn’t appear likely that Apple will change up its logo again anytime soon, but one thing that will undoubtedly remain is the shape of the logo itself.

http://www.edibleapple.com

Good is... Existing Apple advertisements.

http://www.stumbleupon.com

I came across this link with a huge range of Apple advertisements that have come about over the years, from some of the very first ones to some more modernised ones. This has proved quite a crucial part of research for my project because i'm creating my own advertising campaign and I want to keep some of my ideas uniform to that of Apples. A lot of the very first advertisements seem to include quite a lot of text which I don't find a particularly good feature because the consumer may take one look at it and decide that its far too much to take in. The later advertisements seem to be quite minimalistic with a lot of white spacing and less text, this seems more appropriate because it will send a definite message. This may be something I look at exploring when it comes to designing my own work. The other thing I found works really successfully with some of these advertisements is the hint of colour in the product because I feel this make the product stand out and seem somewhat more appealing. Overall the way in which Apple's advertising has changed over the years definitely moves with the times and the work here gives me a lot of scope when it comes to my own designs.