Lanni is a spec brand I created. Lanolin has been used by women for generations and more recently is getting increased public recognition. It is what my mother used while breastfeeding and found, like many women before her, that it is a miracle for dry skin and lips. Prior to its mainstream realization, I was looking at my very underwhelming lanolin tube thinking how it’d be nice if some of my everyday objects were a bit more pleasing to the eye. I knew I wasn’t alone as I have witnessed a resurgence of design-forward packaging, primarily in beauty products. A call back, if you will, to the times of ornate lipstick cases and intricate lighters. This made me think how putting more patience and intent, from a craftsmanship perspective rather than purely a monetary one, behind the looks of such a powerful balm could help it gain the attention of a broader audience, not just people who breastfeed. I found a few brands that were a bit more eye catching in my research, but none that had a pure, 100% lanolin option and captured what I was looking for, so Lanni was born.
Lanni is a brand whose goal is not to make as much money as possible, but to share knowledge, encourage discussion, and foster bits of joy with everyday items. This goal was set up for success through a unique tube design and imperfect logo. The packaging gets its uniqueness not by adding graphics or branding, but by removing them and altering the actual structure of a lanolin tube to be unlike others on the market. Its untapered, pill shape not only gives it an intriguing look, but makes unscrewing the cap an easier experience. A removeable information sticker makes it so users can have a clean, practically unbranded tube to carry around. A simple, refillable, metal tin rounds out the packaging lineup and fosters potential for artist collaborations that create intriciately engraved keepsakes. This puts the attention on the object and its contents, not the brand. The only clear-cut branding on Lanni’s packaging is a subtle, debossed logo. A logo that mimics the rhythm of lanolin squeezing out of a tube and is not overly concerned with being completely legible. This lack of overly-obvious branding promotes discussion, appreciating the word of mouth passing of tips and traditions. It focusses on discussing the product and its benefits, whether purchased from Lanni or another brand, in a time where it’s too easy to stay disconnected from community, and companies too often put hoarding money above everything else.