matt - thanks for finding that! we were totally knocked out by the halloween design on our last target visit, and trying to describe the stuff wasn't easy. isn't it all gorgeous? And...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, btw!! Do something fun today!

I like those big masks, especially the cat mask, that greet customers. Thanks for the link.

Happy Birthday!

those are really nice. i didn't think they made things with such style any longer. :)

Drool!

By the way the candy tubes at the top of the graphic are not only incredibly awesome figures - they're also incredibly awesome self-inking stamps of that figure.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with this praise. Some individual patterns and graphics may be nifty, but the overall impact in the stores in the stores screams "cheap, cheap, cheap!" And that's not as in "inexpensively priced."

Some of this is a result of the printing. Althought the color is consistent from piece-to-piece -- surprising because of the number of sources -- the stocks and finishing ruin any chance the designs might have had of lending a feel of quality to the products.

I must admit that the giant, eyeless Princess mask hanging in the stores is truly creepy!

This graphics package is part of a shift in Target's business model. Where the chain was once a distributor, it is moving to a sourcing merchandiser. This goes beyond merely contracting with a supplier to add Target's stock codes to the label -- Target in essence becomes the supplier by private labeling products, though those products may still be manufactured by the original producer(s).

For a company that is so sharp in building its brand in print and television advertising, store signage and design (and in employee's clothing... red over khaki...), they sure haven't figured out packaging. The Halloween graphics are miles beyond house brands like Restore and Restyle, Activity, or Kool Toyz. Eew!

Finally, who would have thought you could trademark "Friday the 31st?" That's the kind of thinking that should drive the packaging: take it to the next level, or three.

Charles S. Anderson came to speak at the Dallas Society of Visual Communicators meeting in September (DSVC.org). We got a sneak peak of what he was doing for Target, but to see it LIVE and plastered all over the store was incredible. He talked about how they came up with alot of the characters and designs. It was a really dope experience. BUT yeah it does kinda suck that some of the print quality isn't there. But that's not his fault. Anyway, just ran across this site looking for designers that noticed the work.

- Be Easy