Say Hello to Storm Wiggett- Woody’s Packaging Designer
Say Hello to Storm Wiggett- Woody’s Packaging Designer
Woody’s is all about innovation, so when it came to choosing an artist to redesign some packaging, we opted for a creative force who has carved out a niche of her own in the industry- Storm Wiggett.
After spending her childhood in a small Eastern Cape town, King Williams Town, Storm spread her wings at the age of 17 to visit Finland, thanks to a Rotary Exchange programme. After her short international travels, Storm returned to South Africa and enrolled at the AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town. She quickly established herself as a stand-out talent and graduated top of her class.
Storm entered the professional industry by cutting her teeth at top design studios, including M&A Design and Draft FCB. In 2009, Storm started her own company, Creating A Storm, which is a single-entity packaging and graphic design studio.
We sat down with Storm to find out what her advice is for aspiring designers, how she finds her inspiration and how she likes her Woody’s Bacon.
1. What gets your creative juices flowing?
Travel. It inspires me and challenges me to think out of the box when it comes to design. I travel abroad as often as I can to gain. Each country has its own unique design style and ways of executing to create packaging which is innovative and different. The more countries I visit and packaging designs I see, the greater my archive of reference to draw from. It allows me to keep my designs fresh, on-trend, and to be innovative. My workspace showcases my treasures, so when I need a little inspiration, I don’t need to look far, because a sea of creativity surrounds me.
2. What’s your advice for anyone who wants to get started in the graphic design industry?
Find your niche early. The sooner you can specialise, the easier your path to success. The industry is saturated designers trying to do it all. To become sought after, you need to specialise. Focus on web design and master UX design, or specialise in illustration.
3. What would you say is the biggest misconception about graphic design, in general?
That it’s glamorous, fun, and high-paying. Design is extremely hard work. You put in long hours for minimum pay, particularly if you are an employee. And while someone might respect the advice of a doctor, the same doesn’t apply to design. Everybody has an opinion and knows better than the designer. Often the end product is less than what it could be because you’ve had to bend to your client’s wishes.
4. What was your approach to designing for Woody’s? How do you find the balance between the visuals and the message?
Taking inspiration from global meat brands, I created an identity that was unique, edgy and fit what people expected from a cured meat brand. I also looked at the bigger picture. I needed to ensure that the design concept would work across all packaging items and Woody’s divisions. As a new line was added, it would easily fit into the already existing concept. Lastly, it was important that the design didn’t date.
5. What design trend do you wish would disappear in 2019?
While I don’t actively want any trends to disappear, I would say that I’d like clients to be more open to using environmentally friendly packaging. It’s something I hope will at some point in the future become the preferred choice of packaging.
6. When inspiration is running low, what are your go-to solutions?
I take a nap. Inspiration is easily affected by how tired you are. If you’ve been working too hard, you might experience burnt out or a creative block. It is amazing what a good nap can do to recharge your mind, reinvigorate your body and offer a different perspective.
7. What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve been asked to design?
Definitely to create illustrations for condom packaging. Sourcing reference material was definitely a unique experience for me.
8. How do you best enjoy your Woody’s bacon?
I love to eat a few slices of grilled bacon with fried tomatoes in my garden outside for breakfast. It’s the perfect way to start the morning.
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Eager to get to know some of the other creatives Woody’s works with? Check out our profile on Food Stylist Emma Wilson.
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