CODi Worldwide & PEEL
Intro
When CODi Worldwide, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of technology accessories and protective gear launched their new product line, they asked me to give their packaging a subtle refresh. We kept the bold red and the gloss UV spot overlay—now enriched with a gentle gradient—to maintain brand recognition while signaling a fresh, premium feel.
My Role
Freelance Package Designer completing 10+ packages for varying tech and tech accessory products.
Tech
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
“James was very professional and took all input we provided into consideration in the designs we worked on with him. Everything was provided by James on time if not early and looked great! I can confidently recommend him for any design work needed.”
CODi Packaging Design
Starting Point
I was very excited to present my ideas to CODi after seeing the initial starting point of the project. The bold red typography set against the dark gray background, enhanced by a subtle gradient effect behind the product, creates an electric stillness that feels both inviting and authoritative. My goal was to capture and share that exact same look and feel within my own designs, but to express it in an even smoother and more refined way.
Breaking Away
Tim and Brenda, my leads from the CODi team, wanted a departure from the large panels of red but didn’t have a design methodology to lead the way.
The three drafts below show the thought process as I incorporated more radial gradients and the “lightning bolt arrow” found on the top of the docking station to break away from the simple plains of red.
Finished Packaging
The CODi team loved the direction! Swapping the blocky color boundaries for subtle expanding gradients confirmed my instinct to create a smooth look overall while keeping darker areas for imagery, elements, and specifications.
The Spot UV, shown in the blue and white design, is an additional file provided to the printer to indicate where a reflective clear coating would overlay after the full color printing.
PEEL Packaging Design
In 2024, CODi formed a partnership with PEEL, a company focused on minimal and unobtrusive tech accessories. CODi asked if I could present some minimal concepts with the same objective, refresh the design while staying true to the look and feel.
Challenge: How do you refresh minimalism?
Here you can see my first draft with a Spot UV. I used the mid-range gray and lightest gray in a subtle gradient background, pulling the middle of the gradient upward for a large transition space where I could use the mid-range as my primary text color.
