4 Tips for Better Food Package Design
Food packaging requires thought and planning. It helps consumers identify your product among a sea of competitors. It keeps the product fresh and protects it from outside contaminants. It also provides convenience for the consumer. With so many considerations, packaging design can be challenging. Here are four tips.
- Attract Attention
The food package must attract the consumer’s eye, standing out among other products. If it does not look interesting, the consumer may pass it by. You can draw attention in several ways. Try using:
- Bright colors
- Simple, clean design
- Clear lettering
- Consider Functionality
Your packaging design needs to meet the consumer’s needs. Is it easy to open? Can the consumer squeeze the last delicious serving from the bottle with minimal effort? Is it easy to hold and carry?
Your packaging, however, also needs to meet your needs. Is it durable enough for your packaging conveyor systems? Are the materials cost-effective? Does your design give you a return on your investment in the long run?
- Match the Packaging to Your Brand
Your brand’s purpose and message should match the look of your packaging. If your product is organic and carbon-neutral, your packaging can advertise it with recycled materials, natural colors and an earthy design. A product considered an indulgence can have packaging that evokes a feeling of special treatment and luxury.
- Analyze Shelf Impact
Retailers and grocers are interested in how your product looks and fits on the shelves. They also consider how your package design works in conjunction with products next to it in a display. Your product may look different on a grocery shelf than it does by itself. Consider what your competitors’ packages look like and try to make yours pop out among them.
It can take some analysis to design the perfect food packaging, but the upfront work pays off in ease of packing and shipping and improved sales.