Royston Labels has been selected as the UK label printer for a global initiative called ‘Make a Mark 2022’, working with the Black Eye Project on its Vodka label design ‘Bartletts Final Nail’.
Make a Mark is an exclusive design innovation project developed by three global industry leaders: Estal, Avery Dennison, and Leonhard Kurz. They have invited some of the world’s top packaging design agencies and printers to take part in creating an inspirational platform for the wine and spirits sector. Concepts were developed around the pillars of sustainability, luxury, and innovation. The completed project launched at Luxepack 2022 in Monaco.
Paul Clayton, managing director at Royston Labels, said, ‘The label design required a combination of flexo and digital print and various foiling and embossing techniques, it also uses a special paper from Avery Dennison, which when blind hot stamped becomes transparent. The level of detail throughout the labels design and the tolerances worked to, were incredibly challenging, however the results are a tribute to all concerned.’
According to the Black Eye Project, the company explored the ominous world the vintage poison bottles and found inspiration in their sinister shapes and intriguing choices of cobalt blue. The team devised the story based on the infamous Pimlico Poisoning Mystery of the 19th century. While the sculpted glass and typefaces on modern design, the meticulous graphic detail and filigree are reminiscent of another era.
The classic skull is accompanied by the final nail illustration with a warning ‘X’ placed off centre like a cautionary stamp. The unsubtle brand positioning ‘Handmade with Malice’ is embossed into the glass and hot stamped on the lid. An aged holographic mug shot of the villainous Adelaide Bartlett stares coldly from the bottled space and on second look, her face becomes a haunting skull.
Jim Lobley, executive creative director, Black Eye Project, said, ‘From the very beginning of the project, it was very reassuring to know we were working alongside Royston. In previous collaborations they’ve always delivered when we’ve pushed the boundaries and, for this project, we had to go even further. Paul and John were always available to talk through all the crazy ideas we proposed for the label. The end result is pretty spectacular, and the amount of technique and detail in there is something we didn’t think possible. It’s a label everyone involved in should be proud of.’
