Your product’s packaging plays a crucial role in protecting the product and communicating your brand. Follow these best practices when designing packaging to maximize impact.
Key Packaging Considerations
Product Protection
- Use durable materials that can withstand shipping, handling, and storage
- Make packaging water/airtight if needed to keep product clean and intact
- Avoid designs that leave product exposed or vulnerable to damage
Visual Branding
- Make packaging aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching
- Ensure design fits your overall brand image and style guide
- Make packaging recognizable and tie it to brand identity
Cost Factors
- Select packaging materials that balance quality and budget
- Account for production, material, and printing costs in budget
- Consider cost impact of quantity ordered and complexity
Ease of Use
- Design packaging customers find easy to open and transport
- Avoid frustrating and hard-to-use packaging that hurts experience
- Ensure customers can access and use product without struggle
Labeling and Compliance
- Include legally required labels like barcodes and ingredient lists
- Follow regulations for symbols and warnings based on product type
- Adhere to package labeling laws and standards for your industry
Key Steps for Packaging Design
Keep it Simple
Minimalist, clean designs look elegant and avoid frequent redesigns when trends change. Don’t clutter packaging or overwhelm with too many visual elements.
Follow Brand Style Guide
Use company’s defined fonts, colors, logos, and copy tone to ensure consistency with overall brand image.
Make it Unique
Incorporate elements that make your packaging identifiable and tied to brand identity so it stands out on shelves.
Research Competitors
Analyze what works well in competitors’ designs and what could be improved. Draw inspiration but differentiate.
Ensure Legibility
Use clear, simple fonts and text formatting so customers can easily read packaging. Messy text is ignored.
Include Descriptive Copy
Highlight important features, ingredients, and benefits right on the package to grab customer attention.
Get Feedback
Get input from target audience on legibility, visual appeal, usability. Refine design accordingly.
Check Compliance
Ensure packaging follows laws and regulations for required symbols, warnings, etc. Research your product category.
With careful attention to these areas, you can develop distinctive, branded packaging that effectively sells your product. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!