More than a generalist designer, until I discovered Packaging Design

Hello! I’m Jess, a budding packaging designer based in Glasgow. I studied Product Design Engineering at University, graduating during the pandemic in 2020. After leaving my grad job in UX/UI design in 2021 to help care for a terminally ill family member, I found myself turning towards creativity to fill my time during the grieving process.

JESSICA VINNELS, SCOTLAND, UK

PACKAGING DESIGN LEVEL 4 COURSE

I have always loved making things, whether that is through art, design or cooking and found myself trying new crafty hobbies. I began making small homeware products like candle holders and plant pots, which quickly turned into a small business called Vinny’s Thingies.

The business was a great way to keep busy, get the creative juices flowing and become more connected to my local community through craft fairs and stocking in local stores. I love the hands-on process and having complete creative freedom; however, making the business profitable enough year-round was not easy. I started to work part-time at a small soap-making business here in Glasgow called OCH Vegan. With my background in design, I quickly found myself becoming more and more useful, so I began redesigning some of their existing packaging. Viewing myself as a generalist designer, this is how I discovered that packaging design could be a good niche to develop and a good path forward for me in my career. I like that it demands not only graphic but 3D design skills.

How I discovered packaging design

I discovered the CDS Packaging Design Course while working in this role, as I was looking to improve my skills and learn more about the workflows of this particular design discipline. Being in my late 20s and feeling like I hadn’t really found a sustainable career path, I was excited to commit to a specific direction in design and try to take a positive step for myself.
The course has challenged me to design for different types of customers, price points and industries while preparing me to work efficiently throughout every stage of a project. I feel that the course has given me the confidence in my design abilities that I needed in order to pursue future employment in the discipline.

Flexibility was a great attraction

With the CDS course being so flexible in terms of time, it is a great way to allow you to study while working, and I believe that you will really get out of it what you are willing to put in. My check-in sessions with my tutor were great for answering any questions I had about the course content, feedback on my designs, as well as advice on navigating the industry as a whole.

It is this advice that I am taking forward in my search for a role as a packaging designer. Now that I have completed the course, I am collating my portfolio and hope to be able to send this out to employers soon. I remain working on Vinny’s Thingies as a hobby as well as for Och Vegan in a freelance capacity, but I am excited for the stability that a full time role will hopefully provide.