Hi everyone—thank you for all of the submissions so far. We really appreciate the effort and the range of ideas coming through. After reviewing the first round, we wanted to share a few clarifications and directional notes to help guide the next set of designs:

1. VERY IMPORTANT – Label Space Requirement
- This pouch is a base design used across all flavors, and a separate product label will be applied to the front.
- The reserved label area must be clearly defined, clean, and intentionally blank
It should not feel like part of the printed design
- Designs that treat the pouch as a fully finished product (with no clear label space) will not be considered

2. VERY IMPORTANT – Product Window
- The product viewing window is a fixed structural element.
- The size and placement must match the template exactly
- It cannot be resized, repositioned, or redesigned
- Designs should be built around the window—not modify it
- Submissions that change the window dimensions will not be considered.

3. Overall Direction
We are aiming for a look that feels:
- Clean and minimal, but not plain or generic
- Natural and ingredient-focused
- Premium, but still warm and approachable

We are trying to avoid:
- Overly busy or cluttered layouts
- Designs that feel like traditional “pet product” packaging
- Anything too bright, artificial, or heavily stylized

4. Color Palette
- Please stay within soft, natural, earth-inspired tones
- Muted greens, warm neutrals, and subtle blues are all good directions
- Avoid bright or high-saturation colors

5. Base Bag vs. Finished Product
A key point for this project:
This is not a final retail label design, but a base pouch that will be used across multiple SKUs.

The design should feel:
- Flexible
- Clean
- Supportive of an applied label

6. Required Elements
Please make sure all required elements from the brief are included, especially:
- “Simple, Healthy Ingredients. Earth Friendly Packaging.”
- “Hand Made in the Pacific Northwest”
- Compostable packaging messaging

7. What We’re Responding Well To
The strongest concepts so far:
- Use softer, natural color palettes
- Feel balanced and cohesive
- Present well as a real product on shelf
- Keep the layout clean and easy to read

We’re excited to see the next round of revisions—thank you again for your work!

Hi! To ensure accurate color choices, could you confirm the base color of the new compostable material (kraft, off-white, or white)?

noted

The new package is a custom bag and can be printed in any color we wish.

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for the time and effort that has gone into your submissions so far. We’ve reviewed a large number of designs, and I want to share some important clarifications and expectations moving forward to help guide revisions.

?? NON-NEGOTIABLE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Please ensure your next submission strictly follows these:

1. NO DOG IMAGES OR ILLUSTRATIONS
This is a hard requirement.
Our logo is the only place where a dog should appear.
Any design featuring dogs will be eliminated.

2. PRODUCT WINDOW MUST MATCH PROVIDED TEMPLATE
Size and placement are fixed.
Do NOT resize, reshape, or relocate the window.
Do NOT add additional windows (front or back).

3. LABEL AREA MUST REMAIN CLEAN AND EMPTY
The front of the pouch requires a blank space for a 4.5" x 3.5" label.
Do NOT fill this space with graphics, patterns, or placeholder boxes.
This is critical for real-world use.

4. USE THE CORRECT LOGO
Several submissions are using incorrect or altered logos.
Please ensure you are using the provided Paws Gourmet Bakery logo only.

5. FOLLOW THE TEMPLATE DIMENSIONS
Designs must align with the dieline provided.
Some submissions do not match the proportions or layout.

?? FRONT OF PACKAGE – EXPECTATIONS
We are looking for a design that is:
Clean and professional
Natural and eco-forward
Visually balanced (not overly busy or overly empty)

Key notes:
The front should support a label-based system, not compete with it.
Avoid large empty areas that feel unfinished.
Avoid heavy patterns, stripes, or distracting textures.
Subtle environmental or ingredient-inspired elements are preferred.

?? BACK OF PACKAGE – VERY IMPORTANT
Many submissions are missing the mark here.
The back should:
Tell a clear, cohesive brand story
Feel intentional—not copied or loosely assembled
Include structured sections (e.g., product values, sustainability, ingredients philosophy)

We are especially drawn to designs that:
Use hierarchy well
Feel thoughtfully composed
Reinforce our positioning:
Simple, Healthy Ingredients. Earth Friendly Packaging.

?? OVERALL DESIGN DIRECTION
We are aiming for:
Elevated but approachable
Natural, not cartoonish
Clean, not sterile
Professional, not corporate

Avoid:
Cartoon-style graphics
Overly bold or loud color palettes
Clipart-style icons or generic stock elements
Overly busy compositions

?? WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR NOW
As we move forward, we will prioritize designs that:
Fully follow the brief
Demonstrate strong structure (front + back)
Show thoughtful refinement—not just variations

?? FINAL NOTE
We truly appreciate the work that has gone into this so far. The goal of this update is to help everyone align more closely with the vision and avoid unnecessary revisions.

Designs that do not follow the above requirements may be eliminated without detailed feedback.

We’re excited to see the next round of submissions. Thank you!

im working on the revision.. thanks

im working on the revision.. thanks

Hi everyone,
As we move into the final phase of this project, we wanted to share a few important clarifications to help guide your final submissions.
We’ve seen a lot of great work so far and truly appreciate the effort that’s gone into this. With that in mind:

?? The submission deadline has been extended to Friday
?? We will be selecting the winning design this weekend

We encourage everyone to put forward your strongest, most refined work as we enter the home stretch.

?? Primary Focus: Full Color (No Kraft Designs)
Our current packaging uses a kraft-style look, and one of the main goals of this redesign is to move away from that.
With newer compostable printing technology, we now have the ability to use full-color printing, and we want to take full advantage of it.

? What We’re Looking For:
Designs that stand out (“pop”) on the shelf
A natural, elevated color palette
Blues (sky / freshness)
Greens (fields / ingredients)
Clean, premium, modern feel
? What We Will Not Consider:
Kraft / tan / paper-style backgrounds
Brown-dominant designs
Flat or overly muted “earthy” palettes
Anything that feels dull, rustic, or outdated
Loud, neon, or overly aggressive color schemes

?? Think:
Natural, colorful, refined — not earthy or heavy

?? Non-Negotiable Structural Requirements
To ensure designs are production-ready, the following must be followed:

1. Product Window
Must match the exact size and placement from the provided template
Cannot be moved or resized

2. Label Space
Must include a clear, unobstructed area for labeling
Do NOT:
place text inside this space
frame it with heavy boxes or borders
The design should flow naturally behind it

3. Top Section (Zipper Area)
Use this space to highlight:
?? “Home Compostable Packaging”
Do NOT include:
zipper instructions
“tear here” messaging

4. Front Design
Should feel cohesive and continuous
Avoid:
segmented layouts
boxed or label-like structures
The pouch should feel like a complete design, not a background for a label

5. Back Design
Move away from:
bullet point lists
rigid “Our Mission / Our Recipes” sections

Instead, focus on:
Storytelling
Flowing layout

A sense of:
brand identity
clean ingredients
sustainability
small-batch craftsmanship

?? Final Thought
We are looking for a package that feels:
Fresh. Natural. Premium. Memorable.

Something that stands out on shelf while staying true to our values.

Thank you again for all the creativity and effort—excited to see your final submissions!