NOTHING (R)
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Stage 3

Community Edition Packaging Design Brief

The third stage of the Community Edition Project is all about packaging: the first meeting between a user and their new device.

Your task is to create a unique packaging design that delivers a wonderful first impression and represents the product within.

We’re looking for a packaging design that represents the design of the phone inside of it. Before submitting, you should carefully consider the winners of our Hardware and Wallpaper design stages to ensure a cohesive unboxing experience. Remember, the winning concept of Stage 1 was Phosphorescence:

Using green-tinted phosphorescent material finishes, elements of the back of the phone emit a soft glow in the dark. This feature is purely analogue, requiring no power source, and can last for hours before gradually fading until it recharges by daylight. It is widely used in the watch industry. Like the fireflies, the glowing feature can also be functional, for example locating your phone in the dark or indicating your presence.

As part of your submission, you should share the inspirations and ideation process behind your packaging design by responding to the following:

  • Describe your idea and the inspiration behind it.
  • What tools were used to create the series?
  • What was your creative process? E.g., computer applications used.


We strongly recommend sharing the story behind your work as a way to strengthen your overall submission.

The submission deadline is 21 June, 22:00 BST. Valid entries will then go forward to a period of community voting. Votes will be a key deciding factor for our internal panel who will determine the overall winner. The panel will be led by Ryan Latham, Senior Director Brand & Creative and Chris Weightman, Industrial Design Lead. Once the winner is announced on 4 July, the team will be in touch to begin the collaboration process.


Brief specifics:

  • You are designing a new outer sleeve for our existing Phone (2a) box, meaning the size and dimensions of the packaging cannot be changed.
  • Your design should wrap around all sides of the sleeve. Be aware that a large regulatory label will be placed on the back, covering part of your design. See the attached file to note the exact placement of the label.
  • Please note, the product name ‘(2a)’ and the Nothing logos will be present over the top of your design in a contrasting colour. This does not have to be incorporated into your own design. 
  • The specific sleeve dimensions are: 177 x 91 x 28 mm. These cannot be changed.
  • To assist with your submission, we have attached an outline of the packaging. Here you can see where the (2a) logo sits. You use this as your template if this helps.

Rules:

  • Nothing reserves the right to choose any design submitted and will take Nothing Community votes into consideration.
  • Designs featuring third party IP, offensive words, symbols or ideas are not valid and will not go forward for voting or judging.
  • We believe in a future where AI elevates human creativity and talent. Your entry to the Packaging Design stage should be a display of your unique, genuine and distinctive creative process. If you decide to make use of a generative AI tool, we would like for you to use it to elevate your concept, not for it to generate a concept for you. If you decide to use a tool, you should openly state that you have used it, explaining how it has helped elevate your idea.
  • The winning submission will go through a feasibility assessment for implementation and is therefore subject to change.
  • One submission per person.
  • Full T&C’s linked here.

Key Dates:

  • Submissions Open: 3 June 2024
  • Submissions Close: 21 June 2024
  • Voting Opens: 24 June 2024
  • Voting Closes: 28 June 2024

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common questions

  • What do I get if I win?

    Winners will engage directly with the Nothing team to collaborate and build on their winning submission. This collaboration may occur via video calls or in some cases, the winner may be offered an all-expenses-paid visit to the relevant teams in their workplace. All winners will be invited to a trip to London later in the year for an event to officially launch the group version of the phone (2a). Of course, the winners will also win the final product itself.

  • Yes, this is an essential part of entering and choosing the winner. If you win and are unable to comply, we may select an alternative winner.

  • no. This project is not designed to generate revenue but as an exploration of mutual collaboration between Nothing and our community.

  • no. You can make presentations across any supported file types, including images, videos, and text. The most important part of your presentation is the idea.

  • Yes. We will celebrate the winners online throughout the campaign and on the product itself. Your work may even be featured by a design brochure.

  • Winners are selected by Nothing's internal committees. The committees consist of experts in the design discipline concerned at each stage. The committees will pay attention to the concept, story and overall design – and will also take into account community voting as evidence of the popularity of the application.

  • Yes! This is a collaboration project after all.

  • no. Under the Terms and Conditions, participants assign rights to the designs to Nothing. The reason behind this covenant is that the designs are closely linked to Nothing's products and Nothing needs full rights to manufacture and distribute the winning mass edition phones. Participants will be given credit and retain a license to display their design work.

  • The stages are opened one by one, ensuring that the wallpaper, packaging, and marketing campaign are all informed by the hardware design. There should be a consistent look and feel across all of these aspects in the final product.

  • Yes!

  • No, we are looking for quality, not quantity. Accounts will be limited to one submission each.

  • The Contest is open to individuals over the age of eighteen (18). Due to legal restrictions, we cannot accept entries from sanctioned countries/regions or from individuals on export control or sanctions lists. Please review our terms and conditions .