These are beautifully designed, limited edition bars. Because DC is in the midst of an election year, this is where the magic happens. The bars are relevant to the time and relevant to day-to-day conversation.
– Pum Lefebure, Design Army
Entrenched as we are in the most divisive American election season in living memory, martial law seems as likely an outcome as any. Thank goodness it’s Washington DC’s DESIGN Army that’s come to our aid with this (slightly) cheeky packaging for The (Very) Political Collection: six limited edition chocolate bars from DC chocolatier Harper Macaw.
“We wanted to do something for DC politics to make it a little less ‘bitter,’” explains Design Army Co-founder Pum Lefebure. “DC is in the news every day, but always for the wrong reasons. We thought it would be fun to collaborate and give politics a sweet flavor.”
You’ll recognize Design Army’s distinctive style all over the packaging for these tasty treats – their eye-catching work for Neenah’s Classic paper line is a good touchstone here.
No surprise, then, that these were all printed on Neenah Classic Crest Cover, Stipple Finish, Solar White. [Get the Swatchbook] Geometrical experimentation is everywhere, infused with a dynamism you just don’t see in packaging today.
However the most impressive detail has to be the diagonal belly band that fits snuggly over each bar like a mayoral sash, the die-cut zigzag edges complementing the sleeve’s shiny red foil stripes, logo and lettering nicely.
Finally, we can’t speak highly enough of Fey Printing’s work here, making all these reds, whites, blues and blacks pop with cornea-searing vividness. Let’s face it: At this point in the election cycle it takes a fantastic combination of designer and printer to make those patriotic colors really register.
While these wrappers are touted as Design Army’s way of paying “homage to DC’s political roots and the election year,” they’re clearly having a good old time while they do it.
Perhaps one of this packaging’s greatest accomplishments is just how gentle it all is given the subject matter in this overly sensitive political climate. True, there will always be a few people who will be offended by positively anything. But for most of us, it’s just nice to see a snazzily designed package that makes us smile…and then leaves us to enjoy our chocolate in peace.
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