Practicality – The more practical a product’s packaging is, the more sales your product will get. Practicality refers to the shape, size, and functionality of the actual container your product is in. For example, remember when Heinz turned their ketchup bottle upside down? This is the perfect example of a practical packaging design. As Heinz writes on their website, creating packaging that is “Easier for you” is one of their long-standing traditions, but this should really be something that every brand strives to do. Practicality may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of designing packaging—but it certainly is a crucial consideration.
[dropcapcircle]2[/dropcapcircle]Quality – Have a quality product? Then you need quality packaging! You don’t want to let a poor packaging design and cheap material detract from how great your product is. Of course, you don’t have to go crazy and spend millions to have the most high end packaging available—but it is important to keep in mind how a package’s materials hold up over time. One reason why we think our plastic is such a great choice when it comes to packaging is because of how durable it is. The ability to stand up to the wear and tear that comes when a product travels from a warehouse to a customer’s hands is certainly key when it comes to quality packaging.
[dropcapcircle]3[/dropcapcircle]Attractiveness – This rule is sort of a no brainer. Of course, you want your product’s packaging to be pleasing to the eye. But how do you go about achieving this? This is tough to answer because different products require different kinds of packaging. For example, if you’re selling a cleaning product, you certainly don’t need to design a package that’s beautiful enough for a high end perfume. The most important thing you need to keep in mind is how your packaging will look alongside your competition. Will your product fade into the background? Or will your design pop out to the scanning eye? Don’t be afraid to do something different, whether that be through color choice, packaging shape, or texture.
[dropcapcircle]4[/dropcapcircle]Consistency – Packaging becomes part of your brand’s identity, so you want to make sure it is consistent with the overall branding of your company. When it comes to packaging, most often, consistency will relate to the color or shape of the packaging. For example, everyone recognizes an Apple product because their packaging is always white and very sleek looking. If you have multiple products under one brand, like Apple, you want to make sure that all of your product packaging is similar, but not necessarily identical.
[dropcapcircle]5[/dropcapcircle]Simplicity/Clarity – Flashy and graphic packaging does not always necessarily attract more consumers to your product. Utilizing a simple packaging design that clearly conveys your message and the purpose of your product is actually the better route, than going for an overly complicated design.
These 5 rules all play an important role in the process of creating successful packaging. At the same, these are just a start, and by no means the only considerations you should keep in mind.
Have questions about packaging design not answered here? Contact us and we’ll be more than happy to discuss!
