1. Be creative and unique.
If you want your product to be patronized by many, you can start with a creative packaging. Some products have mazes, crossword puzzles and others to encourage consumers to buy the item. Some even have collectibles with it so that they have to complete a certain collection like cards, paper dolls, and others. You can use a variety of shapes in your packaging, too.
2. Choose the colors and fonts.
Choose the color that suits the product. The text should be clear and readable. Example: Do not use orange text on a red background for it won’t be readable. Choose the right font that will best represent the product. Do not use fancy fonts that could be too hard to read.
3. Make sure labels are easy to read.
4. Use images.
You may include images in your packaging designs. It could be a cartoon, a picture of the product, a picture of the model or whatever. Just make sure it is of high resolution and would look good no matter how big or how small it will be used. Also, the picture should be appropriate for the product to avoid confusion.
5. Have relevance.
Choose the right image, font style, colors and design that would suit the product. It should have relevance to the type of product you are selling. Do not place an image of a dog when you are to make a packaging design for hotdogs. You will mislead the consumers and they won’t like to buy it thinking that it is dog food or is made of dog meat. So, be careful.
6. Use the right language.
Choose a language that is fitting to the product. Consumers are literate and informed. Do not say delicious when you are referring to a hard drive or a flash drive. You have to be careful with your language. Also use the right spelling and grammar. Most products with erroneous packaging came from sources that have low quality. Be careful with this. You’ll gain the trust and confidence of the consumer if you use proper grammar and language.
7. Make it convenient.
Be sure that your packaging is easy to use and convenient. Remember that most people who will use these products are busy people. So make their lives easier. Do not make a design that is so large and would be hard to carry. The handier it is, the more clients would prefer to buy it compared to the bulky ones. Make a packaging that is simplified.
8. Make sure it doesn’t look tampered.
Product security is very important. It should always be sealed for consumers wouldn’t buy that if it looked opened or tampered. You have to make sure that the design you’ll make for packaging will keep the product secured. You’ll have trouble selling the product if it looks tampered. You’ll have a big problem with that. So, in making your design, consider how it could be sealed and how to protect the product inside it.
9. Make sure it is easy to open.
Even if you are ensuring that your product is protected and will not be tampered, you still have to make sure that it is easy to open when consumers use it. These people are busy and don’t want to spend much time just to figure out how to open the packaging of the product they bought. Leave some instructions as to where to tear and how to open it. Even if it is already self-explanatory, just place those texts so that it could serve as a guide to the consumers.
10. Keep it simple.
Make the design simple yet striking. You should also make it easier for both kids and adults to utilize. Make it easy to handle. Use different colors for color coding. A simpler design with the right labels and contents will have a better impact than a crowded one.
Since a product’s packaging is important in order to sell the product, designers should consider the above mentioned things in order to come up with an effective and functional design. While making it, you should have a good coordination with your client and you should also make sure that the design you will make will suit the product and the client’s preferences. Do you have other tips to share for a better packaging design?
Source: Naldz Graphics
Requirements
1. PLAN your package design in a word document. This document should outline the following:
a) What is your product?
b) What makes your product unique?
c) Who is your target market?
d) What color scheme will you be using
e) What size will your package be?
f) What shape will the package be?
g) How will the package be assembled?
h) What materials will the package be made of?
2. Create the label for your package in Photoshop.
3. Create the package itself using paper. This will require math skills.
4. Apply the label to the paper package.
5. Remember you are graded on everything in number one, as well as originality, craftsmanship and all the tips and ideas outlined in the lesson (relevancy, easy to open, etc.).
DUE: February 24th, 2012
Helpful articles and websites:
Smashing Magazine
25 Examples of Amazing Product Design
