The Beginner’s Guide to Packaging Design

Whether it’s a box of chocolates, a bottle of beer, a strip of vitamin capsules, or a container of processed food, the places where we put things in are important. Design of a packaged product is more than a decoration created on the exterior of any consumer item. Good packaging serves to keep the product safe inside. And eye-catching designs will make your product stand out, capture buyer’s attention & even influence their purchasing decision. Moreover, bespoke packaging design is an excellent way for a company to brand itself and stay ahead of the competition. 

This is the main reason a creator should take advantage of the design used in product packaging. Although downloading the colors, fonts, graphics and other visual elements from reliable, reputed tool is a smart approach to make their design appealing in no time, this ultimate guide to packaging design will help you explore your creativity to the fullest and meet the consumer’s expectations. 

So, without further delay, let’s get started on the path to create innovative design for packaging to always make your product the first choice. 

It is imperative to be aware of the number of layers you are putting into your packaging while designing. Packaging comes in three layers: the outer layer which is visible to the consumer, the inner layer where the product is placed and a layer mainly used for wrapping the product. 

The number of layers you put is mainly dependent on the nature of the product. While one layer is enough for packaging bunch of biscuits, chocolate may need two and fragile items need all three layers. Also, consider the size of the package and determine the material that allows easy storage and distribution of the product.

It is important to fix the cost incurred on package designing. Consider the cost of material and labor along with the budget you finalized for the original design and dies. It would be inappropriate if the cost of packaging is more than the amount spent in making the product. Furthermore, make sure you set the budget smartly even when you opt for custom packaging to keep your costs down. 

Studying the product packaging design of the competitors will help you set apart. It is necessary to design a package that will make you stand out and create an impression that your product is above its competitors. For example, you can distinguish yourself with an exclusive design and also by using eco-friendly materials and reusable bags. Be unique by making the packaging and design quirky.

Once you are done with the design, take some time out to access it. You might be finding answer to the questions, Is the design relevant? How distinctive is the design? Does the packaging looks accurate & gives an honest representation of the product? Evaluating the packaging materials, taking good care of the design and accessing the overall get up of the product can help you convince your existing and potential buyers. 

After getting your packaged item designed with accurate colors, graphics, fonts, and typography, make room for some extras. Leave some white space on the front-facing side of the design to implement some promotional content, stickers, and barcodes. Adding a logo to your design will give it a personalized touch. You can create design with logo maker tool or by professional designer. Including these extras without blocking the key information is a creative way of adding uniqueness to the product packaging design. 

With a plethora of options, it is essential to do market survey and choose a printer which is highly featured and have the necessary infrastructure to make premium quality packaging. Make sure that the printer you select is capable of opening & processing the file where the design is given, match the colors accurately, give die line templates if needed and provide visual mock-ups.  

The only mission to make the product succeed and give its packaging design an appealing appearance tends designers overlook the odds of using materials, layers inappropriate with the item. Having the packet dashed when opened can be disastrous for the product. Besides, it can make or break brand image.

Following designs similar to those of the competitors is another common pitfall in package designing. Therefore designers are advised to beware of this as this could lead to copyright issue and restrict their creative approach to give the ultimate look to a product package design. 

Package design can build and strengthens brand image of a company and can increase the volume of sales. Investing in creating a robust package design of any consumer item yield better results, and can make a brand recognizable. 

Hopefully, this article will make you familiar with the tools and techniques required for ultimate package design.