Honey of the Messestadt: A Unique Blend of Community and Design

Joel Derksen's Award-Winning Packaging Design Captures the Spirit of an Eco-Utopian Community

In 1992, visionary planners transformed an abandoned Munich airport into an “eco-utopian” community. Concrete runways were replaced with tree-lined bike paths, creating a car-less district where residents invest in projects that directly benefit the community. Derksen's design inspiration came from these unique tree-lined paths, using them to create the label and supporting brand identity.

With only 30 jars of this special honey produced each year, it was crucial for the packaging to bring the story of this special community to life. The design features clear labels with white screen print, two rubber stamps, and pre-made labels for the tag. The label design size is 273mm x 50mm, fitting a jar that holds approximately 230ml of honey. The text is applied with a rubber stamp, adding a personal touch to each jar.

Derksen faced several challenges during the design process. Over 60 conceptual and visual explorations were conducted to ensure the chosen direction was the right one. Material research involved finding the perfect type and quality of line-work to capture the map of the Messestadt area. Inspiration was taken from cartography and hand-drawn maps, where lines were perfectly straight but still retained the visual friction of a moving pen.

The design was realized between October 2013 and April 2014 in Munich, Germany. The key to this design is capturing a community spirit that legitimises the hard work of the beekeeper, allowing the honey to be shared and gifted since it feels safe and professional. The design was awarded Silver in A' Packaging Design Award in 2018, a testament to its creativity and professional excellence.

Joel Derksen's 'Honey of the Messestadt' is more than just a packaging design. It is a testament to the power of design in telling a story, capturing the spirit of a community, and creating a product that is not just consumed, but also cherished.