We have been working with the Isle of Harris Distillers for several years, and couldn’t be prouder of the creative work we produce with them. But, when this is also recognised by industry leading awards it really is the cherry on top!
At The Drum Design Awards last month we were thrilled to win the Resourceful Design award which recognises the biggest impact with the lowest materials or resources used. And just last week we were immensely pleased to have received a coveted wooden pencil award from D&AD Awards for Packaging Design, which is a prestigious benchmark for creative excellence in design and advertising.
Our work with the Isle of Harris Distillers began with brand identity and since then we have worked with the team on creative designs and packaging. Most recently, we were tasked with creating packaging for a limited edition 350ml ‘half-bottle’ of Isle of Harris Gin, hand-thrown by ceramicist Rupert Blamire.
With the original bottle used as inspiration, our team needed to physically embody the spirit of the island with the new design and help foster a sense of connection and community during the Covid-19 crisis. The design needed to communicate the concept of the cèilidh, protect and present the bottle well, and connect people to the beauty of the place and each other through beautiful imagery and sustainable materials.
Not only did the packaging need to look beautiful, but it also needed to protect the contents within. The bottle survived stress testing by being thrown from 6ft and the use of bold imagery allows retailers options for eye-catching displays, plus the images on the outer packaging can be reused as postcards.
“Graham at APS has looked after every aspect of our graphic design work since day one. He and the APS team are an extended part of the Isle of Harris family. We are especially pleased with APS’s innovative packaging design to transport our beloved ceilidh bottle.”
Simon Erlanger, MD at Isle of Harris Distillers.