Ready for action?
Resources
Tangible Resources
thick coloured paper, clear thin plastic sheet, card, scissors, tape, glue, rulers, box-cutter, tape, cutting mat, craft knife, printer, laser cutter, vinyl cutter, computer
Preparation
Students to gather materials and equipment; optional work with teacher or contact local makerspace to assist in the making process.
Goals, messages & concepts
Specific goals
- To make packaging which will protect and preserve the snack.
- To make the packaging appeal to the target audience.
- To combine all prior learning to create successful packaging.
Specific messages
- Graphic design can be fun and allow you to share the truth with consumers.
- You can improve your design by using prior experience and testing before making the final product.
Main terms
- graphic design
- communication
- target audience
- CNC
Practices & skills
STEM practices
- Analysing and interpreting data
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Developing and using models
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
- Using mathematics and computational thinking
- Planning and carrying out investigations
Soft skills
- Empathy
- Learning failure is a part of learning
- Teamwork and collaboration
Management skills
- Planning
- Use of resources
Course of activity
step 1
Working in their groups, students should use the measurements taken in LU7 and determine how they want to package and present their snack. They must create packaging which can preserve and protect the food, as well as presenting it in an attractive way.
step 2
They will use the skills acquired in LU5 to create a net for their packaging design. They should closely document the steps for if measurements need adjusting later. They should convert the file to .DXF if required so that it can be laser-cut in card (i.e. use open source design software such as Inkscape).
step 3
Students will coordinate the use of the laser cutter or vinyl cutter with other groups. They will cut a prototype and fold the net along the scored lines to create the 3D shape and glue the tabs together. They will then determine if it is successful or needs adjusting/improving before cutting out the final design.
step 4
Next, they will determine the nutritional function of the ingredients in their snack considering body, mind and wellness. They will select what information they think is important to share with the target audience. Using design software, they will make this information look appealing by using logos, fonts, colours, graphics, etc.
step 5
They will then apply this design to a ‘sleeve’ to fit the 3D net. They will print a test version to fold around the cardboard ‘body’ of the packaging to determine if it is successful or needs adjusting/improving before printing the final design.