When selling a product, your packaging will likely be one of the first things your potential customers see and could sway their decision of whether or not they buy it. While the look and feel of the packaging are important, the physical, constructional side deserves equal consideration. A successful packaging design project will seamlessly meld these considerations–resulting in packaging with both high functionality and effective branding. Here are five factors to consider when designing your packaging:
1. What should the imagery look like?
The appearance of your packaging, including color choice, fonts, images, and other considerations, is essential. The physical appearance will go a long way in earning a positive first impression from consumers. The packaging design should capture the essence of the product itself–consumers should get an immediate impression of what it is, how it adds value, and the positive experience they'll receive from using it.
The product's essence should be tied to your brand identity so that a positive association with your brand is transferred to the product, and a good visual impression from the packaging strengthens your brand identity. Whatever your project, IPI offers end-to-end ideation, design, and production expertise with innovative, cost-effective solutions to elevate your product and your brand.
2. What does your product's supply chain journey look like?
Product packaging always runs the risk of being damaged in transit. Therefore, having an understanding of your typical supply chain is essential. Consider the size and shape of your product, the other types of products it is likely to be held by in transit, as well as the number of delivery steps from concept to consumer.
Your packaging should be designed for durability throughout its journey–that way it will remain in pristine condition when lands in front of consumers.
3. How sustainable is the packaging design?
Sustainable packaging is a huge concern for consumers right now and is impacting packaging design at every angle. From a constructional standpoint, plastics and overly 'packaged' designs are frowned upon. In turn, brands are utilizing a wider range of recyclable, multi-use, or secondary-use packaging. From the graphic design lens, it isn't enough that the materials are sustainable–the design needs to look sustainable too. This greatly affects the visual appearance of packaging–current trends include:
Artisan fonts
Pencil drawings of natural subjects
vintage-inspired designs
4. What material will your packaging be made of?
Another constructional design consideration–will your packaging be made from plastic, overwrap film, or utilize a multi-material design? Custom-designed packaging often includes a variety of materials. This will impact the images you use, as well as print and assembly considerations.
5. How much will the packaging cost?
Every element of the package design and manufacturing process contributes to the costs of your project. The total cost should align with your ROI goals for your product as well as sit within your packaging design budget. For those fast-moving consumer goods, there is little room for error within the packaging design costs. Work with a strategic packaging design specialist throughout the design process to ensure quality results.
Let's talk about designing your package
At International Packaging Incorporated, our clients have relied on us to create successful promotional packaging and marketing programs for nearly five decades. From ingenuity that makes a difference to innovation that solves problems and high-tech implementation that saves time and money–IPI is your start-to-finish solutions partner. Give us a call at 763-315-6200 or visit our site today to talk about your project.