7 Best Practices for an Ultimate Product Packaging Design

Packaging design plays an important role in protecting and packing products. It can also persuade your customers to buy your products. According to a report shared by IPSOS:

“The buying decision of 72% of Americans is influenced by the packaging design.”

But how do you design packaging that not only keeps your products pristine but also impresses your prospects and converts them to your buyers? By understanding everything you need to know about the packaging design, you will be able to make perfect packaging for your products.

In this blog, we will give you a 7-step guide to product packaging design. From branding to packaging styles, we will cover all the aspects needed to make persuasive packaging. Read on to find more!

What is Designing a Product Packaging?

A product packaging design comprises the shape, style, color, typography, imagery, and brand elements of a packaging. All these components give your packaging a unique appearance and categorical identity, and that is called a design.

Designing product packaging has become paramount for businesses to stand out from their competitors and protect products. Also, a good packaging design allows you to pack, ship, and display your products with utmost convenience.

Apart from protection and convenience, packaging design brings you much more. For instance, you can market your products on retail shelves and boost your brand by choosing the right approach in packaging design. So, choosing custom packaging for products is important.

Build Design Guidelines for Your Brand

How you can design creative and functional packaging for your products is an important question to answer. Establish clear, concise, and effective design guidelines that resonate with your brand’s essence. Here are the key considerations in this regard that you should not overlook:

• Conduct Thorough Research to Determine Brand Values

Before you decide the design guidelines for your branded packaging, you should do a comprehensive research and analysis. It involves digging deep into the market needs and understanding the demands. Doing so will help you determine your values and missions.

You should also set an audience that you will be targeting to sell your product. A Demographic approach helps you understand the needs of your prospects precisely without indulging in complexities.

• Choose a Brand Archetype that Resonates With Your Missions

A brand archetype is a representation of a brand’s persona that describes the values, emotions, and missions of a brand. The prime purpose of a brand archetype is to build an emotional connection with targeted audiences.

By identifying the interests and likings of your target audience, you can move your business objectives in the right direction.

Source: Iconicfox

Deciding an archetype plays a role in crafting the right design guidelines that help connect with your potential buyers. It helps you build a brand personality that catches the sight of your prospects and converts them to your customers.

3 Design Elements for Branded Packaging

Now that you have your brand personality, proceed with finalizing guidelines about your packaging designs. Here are three ways to develop your visual hierarchy to craft packaging designs that are consistent with your brand identity:

• Typography

Typography, sometimes called the typeface, is the art of incorporating text on your product packaging. If used appropriately, it can evoke the emotions of your customers and persuade them to buy your product. Pay special attention to the typography of your brand logo to decently display your identity on your product packaging that catches the eye of your prospects.

• Imagery

Visuals matter a lot! They are the perfect depiction of your brand’s essence. Ensure you pay attention to deciding what type of graphics, patterns, and textures you choose to print on your packaging to showcase your branding consistency. Imagery should not go beyond your brand archetype as well if you want to fascinate the right audience for your products.

• Color Scheme

The importance of color schemes is undeniable while making your brand guidelines. Go for a color palette that evokes the emotions of your target audience and persuades your buyers. You can go for vibrant, subtle, or dark color themes depending upon your brand personality, yet stay consistent with your color schemes.

Explore the 5 Elements of a Good Packaging Design

A good packaging design is one that not only protects and packs your product appropriately but also impresses your prospects and helps convert them to your customers. You also need to overcome packaging design challenges to make protective and persuasive product packaging. Consider these five important elements of a good packaging:

• Material Choice

The significance of material is undeniable when it comes to making safe and catchy custom packaging for products. Packaging material also helps decide the right design for your packaging. How? Flexibility and durability of the material are the core factors that enclose the choice of packaging shapes and sizes in a boundary wall.

For instance, if you choose kraft paper, you won’t be able to make heavy and robust shipping boxes for bulky products. And you can’t make easy-to-carry tote bags with hard materials like rigid stock or tin either. Ensure you choose the material wisely that can be perfectly altered in your desired packaging design.

• Packaging Styles

Once you have selected the material, you can move to choosing the right style for your product packaging. A style of product packaging includes its physical appearance, shape, and functional features. Style is a vital component of a packaging design that decides how your product packaging will look and function.

Numerous style options are available to choose from. They vary depending upon the industries in which they can be used and the type of products you want to pack in them. Here are some popular packaging styles for your products that have earned significant popularity in the market:

• Pillow Boxes
• Tuck-End Boxes
• Spouted Pouches
• Gable-Style Boxes
• Sleeve-Slider Boxes
• Countertop Display Boxes
• Regular Slotted Containers (RSC)
• Hinged Lid Boxes With Magnetic Closure

• Custom Printing

Printing is an essential element in making your product packaging informative and enticing as well. To stand out with graphics and illustrations, you need to opt for a reliable printing technique. You can choose from endless options in this regard. Digital, screen, rotogravure, and offset printing are some popular options for you to choose from.

Focus on the quality and attention to detail if you want to print appealing graphics on your custom packaging. Also, choose those graphics and patterns to print on your packaging that depict your brand personality.

• Catchy & Functional Add-ons

Custom packaging is not all about boxes and bags. There are some functional features that you should add to your packaging to complete its design. These features are the add-ons that not only enhance the elegance but also the practicality of your packaging.

Famous add-ons mostly include handles, custom inserts, nozzles, caps, etc. They offer ultimate convenience in packaging, carrying, and using products. You can also add custom die-cut windows to your packaging boxes to provide a glimpse of your product to your customers. Visualizing the product, customers can get inclined towards buying your items.

• Personalized Finishing

Choose the right finish if you want to add a touch of elegance to your box packaging. You can pick from endless lamination and coating options that can enhance your packaging’s glory. The most popular ones include gloss or matte lamination.

Both these lamination types not only give your product packaging an enticing look but also protect it from environmental hazards.

You can also go for holographic, gold, or silver foil stamping if you want your packaging to look luxurious. Their reflective metalized surfaces give your packaging a captivating appearance.

Follow 5 Key Essentials for Designing Custom Packaging

When designing personalized packaging for your products, some elements must never be overlooked. Pay attention to these 5 key considerations to stand out from your competitors and build a strong brand: 

• Functionality

Stay informed about your requirements for packaging design and work on making it functional. For this purpose, you should understand what features you want to incorporate in your packaging that will meet your specific requirements. For example, if you want to make user-friendly packaging for your powdered or semi-liquid products, add a nozzle covered with a cap on it.

It will provide your customers with convenience in using your products. And if you are looking for a packaging design that allows your buyers to easily carry your items, go for tote or euro paper bags with custom handles.

• Authenticity & Visual Cohesion

As far as the visual designs of packaging are concerned, coherence and authenticity are paramount. The information you print about your product on your packaging must be authentic. Display whatever you want precisely and accurately by choosing the right typography.

Visual cohesion also matters a lot! Staying consistent with your brand design guidelines will help you print cohesive imagery on your custom packaging.

• Clarity & Creativity

Going creative with the design is essential to stand out from the competition. However, creativity should not outplay the clarity of your design. Be creative yet stick to displaying your message with utmost clarity. The best method to do so is to avoid stuffing the intricate designs in your packaging.

You should also understand the visual patterns of your target audience easily. It will help you craft perfect graphics that will convey your message to your prospects without losing the creative aspect.

• Compliance

Regulatory guidelines for custom packaging are not usually strict. However, for some items like medicinal drugs, chemical products, and more you need to design a compliant packaging that protects and packs your items without much hassle.

This is why you will need to understand the packaging and protection requirements of the specific products. For instance, liquid or moist solid products need to be packed in water-resistant packaging. And products that should be kept away from toddlers and kids should be packed in child-resistant packaging.

By following the right regulatory guidelines about the products, you can make compliant packaging without any hassle.

• User Experience

Think of your customers first! Providing an ultimate user experience with your product packaging can help you fascinate your target market. Design your custom packaging the way it enhances the shopping experience of your customers.

You can choose some captivating box styles providing a unique unboxing experience to your buyers. For instance, sleeve-slider packaging boxes are famous for their captivating unboxing style and can leave a lasting impression on your customers.

Go Through Creative Packaging Design Ideas

Now that you know how to design your distinctive product packaging, let’s explore some creative packaging design ideas. Here is a list of product packaging design ideas for you to consider based on different industries:

• Cosmetic Packaging Designs

Cosmetic products need special packaging that protects and keeps products pristine for long. You can choose a suitable packaging design according to the cosmetic or beauty product you want to pack in it. For instance, you can choose sleeve boxes for hair extensions, tube packaging for nail polishes, and plastic bottles for lotions.

Some other common box styles used in the cosmetic industry include:

• Tuck-End Lipstick Boxes
• Lip Balm Display Boxes
• Holographic Cosmetic Boxes
• Cream Jars

• Designs for Confectionary Packaging

Confectionary products require distinctive packaging that not only keeps the items fresh but also persuades customers to buy. If you want to design persuasive packaging for your confectionery products, you can look into some styles that have earned significant popularity in the market.

Bonbon box-style for chocolates, window boxes for cakes, and gable boxes for pastries are some trendy packaging styles for you to consider.

• Soap Packaging Ideas

Soap packaging design depends upon the type and appearance of soap you are selling. Whether you sell handmade soap or medicated ones, you should customize exclusive packaging for them. The most popular designs for soap products include sleeve packaging for soaps, square boxes, custom boxes with dividers for bath bombs, etc.

• Food Packaging Designs

Endless packaging designs are available in the market for food products. You should choose the one that suits your specific products the most. You can go for Chinese takeout boxes, hexagonal boxes for burgers and donuts, triangular boxes for sliced pizzas, etc.

Adding your brand elements to food packaging is important to make your customers recall your brand. Also, it enhances the perceived value of your food products, persuading customers to buy.

• Display Packaging Ideas

Displaying products on the countertops and retail shelves is paramount for businesses. But how do you ensure that your products stand out on the shelves? If you want your products to stand out from your competitors and leave a lasting impression on your buyers, you should choose the right design for your display packaging boxes.

You can go for unlimited options but the popular ones include gable boxes with die-cut windows and open front countertop boxes. Both these display boxes can showcase your products uniquely in the retail shops leaving a good impression on your customers and help you build a strong brand.

Focus on Eco-Friendly Packaging Design Trends

Eco-friendly packaging has become the need of the hour for many brands. According to a report shared by PR Newswire,

“82% of the buyers are willing to pay more for products in sustainable packaging.”

Therefore, paying attention to eco-friendly design trends can help attract ecoconcious buyers. Choosing biodegradable and recyclable packaging material comes first when it comes to sustainable packaging. You can go for kraft paper, cardboard, or corrugated stock, as all these options are 100% eco-friendly.

As far as the design is concerned, you should adopt a minimalistic approach that uses less material and reduces waste. You can also minimize environmental waste by packing your products in the packaging that is designed to be reused by your customers.

Compare Minimalist and Detailed Design Approaches

The minimalistic vs detailed design approach debate is important in the packaging industry. Minimalist packaging is characterized by its clean and simple design. It consists of some basic elements, like clean geometric shapes, and simple typography.

Minimalist designs aim to convey the message in a straightforward manner. This design strategy is perfect for those who want to create memorable and scalable product packaging.

Detailed packaging designs are those having intricate graphics and complex elements. Their textures, illustrations, and shades create a visually elegant and compelling image. If you want to go artistic and tell the story of your brand through packaging, you can go for a detailed design approach.

Where to Design Custom Packaging?

Designing custom packaging can be an uphill task, but you can simplify it by contacting a reliable packaging supplier. A good packaging company offers you full design support so you can make persuasive and practical packaging that perfectly fits your products and persuades your buyers.

If you want to design your packaging uniquely, OXO Packaging is your reliable packaging partner. We’ll save you time and money by reviewing your needs and designing the right packaging quickly. 

You can get free and excellent design support to create perfect packaging that not only meets your requirements but is also liked by your customers. With our endless customizations, you can make custom packaging in any size, shape, print, and finish. Contact us today!

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has helped you learn the process behind creating awesome packaging designs. Choose the tips mentioned above according to your designing needs and follow the practices shared. 

If you run into problems during your design process, you can reach out and we’d love to help you on your way. 

Or if you’ve got your designs ready, you can drop us a line and get your custom packaging quote now!