Ento Packaging
The goal for this project was to create packaging that would slowly start introducing consumers to the idea of eating insects. The products name is ‘Ento’ which derives from the word the entomophagy which is the act of eating insects, eating insects is actually quite wide spread but has yet to take its place as a common food source in society which is a shame as they have their advantages, for one thing, they are packed with nutrients and good for the environment.
To me, the best way to introduce this was to create something sweet, and something that could be consumed in small dosages, because people tend to eat sweet things easier than large savoury dishes, the idea wasn’t to suddenly bombard people with insect foods. This is why I went with an insect marmalade, the concept was to combine the insects with something delicious and familiar, and if you can get passed having some Ento marmalade on your toast in the mornings, the whole idea of eating insects eventually won’t seem so bad and you would go on to eating larger meals, and actually consider buying precooked insect foods. The biscotti was just an extra element, or an extra insect treat to compliment the marmalade.
Besides insects actually being a tasty treat, they are also good for the environment, and I really wanted to convey this element in the packaging. The label represents a vintage/ homey type of label, which gives it a sense of heritage, and when something has a sense of heritage it seems safe and familiar to people. The label has illustrations of the content inside the marmalade and biscotti, I did the illustrations in such a way that the insects aren’t made to obvious, but can still be seen and recognised, I didn’t want the packaging to look ‘buggy’ or even worse, gross people out. The brand should ultimately attract, or persuade anyone to try it out, insects can after all be seen as the food of the future.
