Best-Practice Packaging Design Ideas Unwrapped

Photo by Agenlaku Indonesia on Unsplash

When it comes to packaging, first impressions matter. The design of your packaging is more than just surface-level - it plays a crucial role in protecting your product, communicating your brand identity, and influencing consumer decisions. Whether you’re launching a new product or overhauling your current packaging, it’s crucial to get the design just right.

In this post, we’re exploring best practices in packaging design, offering insights on how to create packaging that is functional, eye-catching, and aligned with your brand’s goals. From choosing the right materials to making sure your brand message is heard loud and clear, we’ll help you design product packaging that stands out for all the right reasons.

Streamlining for sustainability

Eco-friendly packaging goes far beyond a passing trend - green design is here to stay, as businesses do their bit to reduce their carbon footprint and combat the effects of climate change. In packaging, sustainability means streamlining - getting rid of any surplus material for a sleek, minimalist product packaging solution that eliminates unnecessary waste while saving your company money in the long term. On top of that, clean, minimalist packaging design also resonates with modern consumers who value simplicity and sustainability, improving brand perception and loyalty.

When in doubt, refer to the age-old mantra: less is more.

Harnessing colour psychology

The laws of colour psychology provide an instruction manual you can follow to make consumers feel all the right things when they lay eyes on your product packaging. Colors evoke emotional responses and can communicate key messages about the product without words. For example, red is often associated with energy and urgency, making it ideal for products that aim to spark excitement, while blue conveys trust and reliability, making it perfect for products in the wellness or tech industries. By carefully choosing colors that align with the brand’s values and target audience, businesses can attract attention, create an emotional connection, and even drive purchasing decisions.

This year, give colour-coded product packaging the green light.

Promoting your value proposition

Communicating your value proposition through packaging is a powerful way to instantly convey what a product offers and, importantly, what sets it apart. Packaging should clearly highlight key benefits, such as product quality, unique features, or sustainability, using design elements like bold typography and succinct messaging. Even the packaging materials themselves can communicate value: for example, a premium feel with high-quality materials can suggest sophistication, while eco-friendly packaging can appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Get more bang for your buck with packaging that communicates value.

Being up-front with customers

When companies clearly communicate key information such as ingredients, sourcing, manufacturing processes or environmental impact, they demonstrate a commitment to honesty and integrity. Transparency empowers consumers to make informed choices, especially as more people are becoming mindful of the ethical and environmental implications of their purchases. Being transparent with your product’s packaging can ultimately strengthen brand credibility, reduce skepticism, and create a deeper emotional connection with customers who appreciate authenticity in the brands they support.

Keep it real with your customers - let your product packaging do the talking.

Creating a cohesive product line

By ensuring elements of your product packaging - such as color schemes, typography, logos and overall design - are consistent across your full product range, you can create a visual language that customers can easily identify. A cohesive brand identity helps reinforce your brand's core values and message, creating a sense of familiarity and trust with consumers. It also enhances the overall aesthetic appeal, making products more visually attractive - whether on shelves or delivered to customers’ doorsteps - and ensuring they stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Build your brand brick by brick with harmonious packaging design.Take your brand reputation to new heights with packaging design informed by our decades of experience and expertise. Whether you’re looking for ecommerce packaging essentials, sustainable solutions or custom printed parcel tape, look no further than No1 Packaging.

Best-Practice Packaging Design Ideas Unwrapped