Anyone remember what kind of box the Lisa came in? Our point exactly. There was a time when Apple product packaging had all the charm of generic cigarette cartons. Today, however, the form and function of Apple packaging matches the panache of the company’s product design - buying and opening a piece of Appleware is an experience in and of itself. So how might Apple skin its products in the future? Using the next version of iLife as a canvas, we asked three local designers to show us some evolutionary paths.

ROBIN DICK: Mac|Life Art Director
We’re going to call this one the “luxe model.” Robin’s case-within-a-case design doesn’t skimp on material, but nonetheless aims for a certain functionality in service of aesthetics. The recycled cardboard shell whispers environmental sympathies, while the colorful, action-packed belly band communicates all that iLife stands for. “It’s a simple, sleek, modern way of giving the consumer a permanent disc case, while duplicating the experience of opening a gift,” Robin says. “The contrast in materials adds a splash of color and vibrancy that attracts the eye.”

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MARK ROSENTHAL: Freelance Designer
The teardrop casing doctored up by former Mac|Life art director Mark Rosenthal references organic models, which Apple has played with since its inception. The packaging hangs from a display like a piece of fruit hanging from a tree, while the disc’s paper-laminate petals (don’t worry, they come off easily) peel back to reveal flower-esque bursts of color. “I wanted something that’s quick and easy to get into, and would be hard to hide from a display perspective,” Mark says. “And part of that was making it pop. And like all Apple packaging, it needed to have a fun-factor thing going for it as well.”

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KATORI DHOJI: Freelance Designer, Unified Design Labs
“This study reverses the trend toward excessive paper and plastic,” Katori says. “Slim it down, make it more eco-friendly.” Her low-profile wonder uses biodegradable plastic, paper, and recyclable rivets, giving iLife ’09 a negligible carbon footprint (all user documentation is stored on the disc itself). Just grab your disc off the Apple Store display - like grabbing a pack of batteries at a drugstore - and off you go. “Most people get their disc home, slip it into their computer, and never deal with the box again. This package recognizes, and runs with, that reality."