Design Experts Weigh-in on How to Get That Premium Edge in Product Packaging

Have you ever wondered why most sellers make an effort to stand out from their competitors by opting to make their product packaging unique? 

This strategy aimed at gaining that premium edge is not solely exclusive to big-name brands that are as recognizable as Apple or Starbucks– or at least not anymore. According to the Food Marketing Institute of America, product packaging has become more significant in terms of influencing consumers to try out brand offers and in contributing to the over $600 billion marketing industry today.  

From concept to design and printing quality, product packaging makes a huge difference for a brand 

To share experiential marketing to their customers in a thriving industry that’s expected to reach a total market value of $61.55 billion by 2025. 

The factors that matter

From what we’ve learned from experts, many factors are more than meets the eye when it comes to designing your product packaging. 

For example, designs and color psychology elements will depend on how a brand wants to tell its story or create an impact in the market. Apple goes for simple solid fonts and colors that are complemented by solid wood fibre boxes that are eco-friendly while brands like Kleenex employ a variety of colors and elements to make their boxes more fun. 

Of course, it helps that Apple’s boxes make big environmental news in how they practice sustainability by protecting and nurturing managed forests for their wood fibre packaging. 

When it comes down to the brass tacks of design elements down, here are three of the most important ones you’ll have to consider if you want to customize your own product packaging.

Minimal elements, a huge impact

Not only Apple takes this product packaging approach for their tech treasures. Lesser-known brands like Yuta Takahashi and Hay Strike Matchboxes go for two-toned and simple designs that are still eye-catching and able to create an impact on customers. 

Always remember that it only takes four seconds for most customers to consider an unfamiliar brand on the shelf. This means that creating simple and clear designs have better potential to work if you are introducing a new product. 

Avoid getting too excited in using more colors in your print designs to the point that your dishwashing product looks like a kids’ fruit juice. It’s okay to manifest some type of mystery in your design but be clear on your content copies and brand identity so your target market knows that you are talking to them via your packaging.

Brand honesty

Speaking of making your brand identity speak, being honest in how you place your product images and beauty shots on your packaging is very important. When it comes to brand honesty, most experts remember the scene from the film Falling Down where Michael Douglas’s character went more amuck with an uzi over an unrealistic double-whammy with cheese display on the top of the counter as Rick the manager hands him a ‘sorry, miserable, squashed’ version on a tray. 

Getting that premium edge via product packaging requires expert management of consumers’ expectations especially when you are showing them beauty shots of your product. Misleading them with exaggerated images will only lead to reduced sales and leave you too incredible to even be considered for customer loyalty. 

Aside from this, there’s Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines of 1991– particularly in the violations of the Deceptive Sales Act and Practices, which protects consumers from such manipulative selling schemes. So, do yourself and your customers a favor by staying true to what you sell, advertise, and deliver.   

Being authentic

Remember when you were learning grade school arts and your teacher kept telling you to try and be original? The fact is that some artists have accepted that there are fewer and fewer original artworks these days that they have given up on originality altogether. Instead, many creatives embrace inspiration from other works which they can tweak into their own masterpieces. 

While this does not mean that such inspired artists steal intellectual property, it shows us that brands can still create unique and compelling designs that influence their target markets. Taking pegs and conceptualizing new attributes in your product packaging designs can give your brand better recall as your product is displayed on grocery shelves.     

Being authentic is the ultimate key to being creative with packaging designs and directly copying signature elements from other brands is always too obvious for anyone’s eye. Encourage your designers to create prints that introduce fresh flair and style while also giving consumers familiar elements that connote your brand identity. This way, you can give your products that premium edge that’s both innovative and appealing at the same time.

Wrapping up

Going for more unique print and custom design in your product boxes or packaging requires both effort and budget if you want to make a huge difference in profit. How you present your products to your customers will always send them a message about your brand and is certainly one of the best ways to connect with them.

Clarity, impact, honesty, and authenticity are your key factors in creating that visual message. Take it as a sort of ‘love letter’ that can make or break a relationship with potential customers. And like in any of the first missives you send, make sure they will know what your brand is all about immediately and do away with all the flowery words that only intend to deceive.

Want to know more about how you can design and customize your product boxes and packaging? Visit Ezee Prints– the preferred printing partner of MSMEs in Metro Manila, and discover how you can get that premium edge in your marketing.