They say the simplest ideas are often the
best – and this is no truer than in the case of Wesley
Podmore and Matthew Stacey from WA’s Parkerville Primary. The boys took
the humble school shoe box and turned it into a valuable reusable toy –
turning packaging itself into a lasting and environmentally friendly
product. This unique idea could easily be the envy of marketing and
design gurus across the country.
Over time,
consumers have found many ways to reuse shoe boxes but the judges of
this challenge doubt anyone has ever deliberately turned a shoe box
into a zoo before!
With a few simple cuts and re
arranging of provided internal artwork, this simple shoe box turns into
a wonderland of animal frivolity, complete with scenery and removable
bars to keep toy animals safe from harm or free to roam the open plains
of a child’s bedroom!
The boys were very thorough in
their technical considerations – providing a detailed net showing all
folds and cuts for the manufacturer to use. Choosing a recyclable
cardboard, Wesley and Matthew made sure they had chosen the best
packaging material to protect the product from breakage by completing a
series of drop tests to make sure that the product remained safe and to
ensure its good condition at the point of sale.
Of
course the construction materials used, the lack of sharp corners etc
and the incredible detail the boys went into in their labelling
(including a warning sign on the outside of the box about the silica
packet) means there is no excuse for any adult not to make sure that
the packaging is suitable for use by their
children.
Little Feet Shoe Co – the name of the
company brand Mathew and Wesley created for their design plays on both
the contents of the box, their target audience and the fact that their
packaging will later hold the little feet of toy animals. A great play
on words and a marketers dream.
This design comes
from boys who ‘get it all’ and know how to make environmentally
responsible choices in a consumer orientated world.
