Competition: Dezeen has teamed up with Geometry of Pasta founder Caz Hildebrand to give five readers the chance to win set of pasta and sauces that come in graphic geometric packaging. More about Competition: win a pasta and sauce set by Geometry of Pasta
Japanese designer Yuta Takahashi created the pared-back packaging for these natural chocolate bars to reflect their simple ingredients (+ slideshow). More about Yuta Takahashi designs minimal packaging for natural chocolate bars
Tokyo design studio Spread has used industrial materials to create minimal CD packaging for a Japanese rock band (+ slideshow). More about Spread "gives new meaning to the CD" with metal and bubble-wrap packaging
McDonald's is rolling out simplified new packaging, designed by branding agency Boxer to function as a "mobile billboard" for the fast-food giant (+ slideshow). More about McDonald's launches "striking and in-your-face" packaging designed by Boxer
Japanese design studio Nendo has combined Japanese and Latin characters to create a crest-style logo and colour-coded packaging for Iwate Kura beer. More about Nendo creates family crest logo and packaging for Japanese craft beer
Artisanal oil brand By Evolve has packaged its organic extra virgin olive oil in a cylindrical reusable bottle made from laboratory glass (+ slideshow). More about Evolvia By Evolve olive oil is presented in a minimal bottle
US rapper Snoop Dogg has launched a line of edible cannabis products with packaging designed by Pentagram to skirt around US laws on controlled substances (+ slideshow). More about Snoop Dogg launches edible marijuana range with branding by Pentagram
British design studio Horse has created a log-like carton and a Norse-inspired identity for birch-sap drink Tåpped, to help it break into the UK market (+ slideshow). More about Horse's packaging for Tåpped birch water is designed to resemble tree bark
New York designer Joe Doucet created the packaging and branding for a new brand of sake, including a dimpled glass bottle designed to represent the mountains of Japan's Niigata Prefecture. More about Joe Doucet encourages westerners to drink sake with SŌTŌ bottle design
Japanese studio Nendo has created a perfume bottle for Paris fashion house Kenzo in the shape of a tiny totem pole. More about Nendo creates bottle and logo for Kenzo's unisex Totem fragrance
Fans of Bubble Wrap are up in arms after its American manufacturer unveiled a new variety of inflatable packaging that doesn't pop under pressure. More about Bubble Wrap redesigned to create pop-less packaging material
Product design consultancy Mormedi has created an electronic cigarette, which they hope will become like a "personal accessory similar to a pen" for users (+ slideshow). More about Mormedi's e-cigarette is designed as a personal accessory
Japanese studio Nendo used grey and white crosses for the packaging of this line of skincare products based on the practices of Chinese medicine. More about Nendo designs brand identity for skincare based on Chinese medicine
News: a former Royal College of Art student has been found "technically" guilty of plagiarism and misconduct after a company complained that his graduate design project was similar to its own services. More about Royal College of Art graduate "technically" guilty of plagiarism
News: the Royal College of Art is investigating claims that one of its graduates plagiarised an existing design after a Finnish company complained that its reusable packaging concept had been copied. More about Royal College of Art investigates plagiarism claim
Central Saint Martins graduate Robert Cooper has created chocolate and wafer snacks that can be built into Airfix-style models, which are on display at the New Designers Part 2 exhibition that opened yesterday (+ slideshow). More about Airfix-style model kits by Robert Cooper are made from chocolate and wafer
Royal College of Art graduate Yu-Chang Chou has developed a "return and reuse" packaging system to help online retailers reduce waste (+ movie). More about Yu-Chang Chou develops a reusable packaging service for sustainable online shopping
Claw marks slash these wine bottle labels designed by Spanish agency Franziska Studio to represent the degree to which the strong body of the contents "scratches" the throat. More about Scratches across Feroz wine label visually communicate the taste
Design graduate Mireia Gordi i Vila presents a flexible and reusable packaging system for valuable goods at the Royal College of Art (RCA) show in London, which opened today (+ slideshow). More about Reusable Fragile packaging forms a protective skin around delicate objects
This Greek olive oil comes in simple circular bottles and stripped-back packaging. More about FIVE Olive Oil bottles and packaging by World Excellent Products