In 2021, the per-person food revenue was $1,067.28, and the global consumer spending on food is expected to reach a whopping $20 trillion by the end of 2030. Nonetheless, with so many choices available on the shelves, how will you make your product stand out and end up in consumers' shopping baskets?
Nowadays, your food packaging design can make or break how well a product performs in the market. Most customers use packaging to decide whether they want to buy the food inside or not. No one will buy your product if the packaging is poorly designed.
If you're planning your packaging, here are 10 critical factors to consider when creating a great food packaging design.
It should capture and call out benefits.
Clean labeling is popular now in the packaging design world. It means labels should provide clear and concise information about the brand/product, such as company values, sustainability, and health benefits. If the packaging is easily recyclable or reusable, it should state this. People are interested in distinctive features.
Also, try to arouse emotions. Emotional brand packaging designs are more captivating than those that are dull. However, the specifics of those emotions may differ. Some brands, for example, may appeal to consumers' feelings of joy, nostalgia, and others may appeal to desire. Marketing that appeals to people's emotions outperforms marketing that merely tries to promote features and benefits. This is because the brain's emotional areas are essential for long-term memory formation.
Melding form and function.
Good packaging, in general, should strike a balance between beauty, form, and function. All of these factors must be aligned to ensure that the products remain completely intact and customers are satisfied when it comes to the packaging materials.
So, essentially, it's a matter of deciding what materials are best for protecting the package's contents and how to make it look visually appealing for customers to choose it.
Now, there is a lot of inspiration to choose from as food brands become more creative in blending these different ideas. Along with aesthetics, eco-friendly food packaging is essential.
Make the package user-friendly.
Make it simple to open. Before you begin designing the package, consider how the product will be used. Give the pack a spout if your product pours. If the item is not for single-use, ensure that the package is simple to reseal. The Heinz ketchup bottle turned upside down is an example of well-designed packaging.
Consider positioning and branding.
Branding and positioning are critical considerations, and knowing your target market also involves determining your product’s expectations. Investigating users will help you choose the most effective and appealing packaging. Also, do some research and discover how your competitors' products fail to meet consumers' needs and then capitalize on them.
Simple and clear.
Although most people are usually drawn to fun and creative designs, there is quite a lot to be said about simple and clear communication. Consumers are becoming more aware of products' sustainability, recyclability, and health benefits. As such, the importance of legible and accurate nutritional information cannot be overstated. According to a recent survey, reading product packaging influences 85 percent of shoppers' in-store purchasing decisions.
Visually appealing.
Simplicity and clarity are the core of great food packaging designs. However, in order to appeal to customers, your packaging must be visually appealing. When your shoppers come across your product, the first thing they will interact with is the packaging. And when it comes to marketing, first impressions matter a lot. Would you purchase something that doesn't look appealing?
Although it is not the only factor in purchasing decisions, having a high-quality image, a well-positioned logo and excellent labeling will undoubtedly make your product stand out. Using great visuals with a distinct design style is a good strategy. You can also look into other types of products to get ideas and inspiration. Be daring and unique!
Show the food.
Although food is a sensory product, your customers will not be able to smell or taste it. So why not show it to them? This will allow them to see clearly what they are buying and evaluate its quality.
Take advantage of creativity to minimize costs.
Great packaging for premium products is fine. However, when it comes to packaging for products designed for consumers on a tight budget, designing a stunning package that will appeal to customers without using expensive materials can be difficult. That is where creative solutions and technologies can often help minimize costs while still making for great packaging.
The Happy Eggs carton is a good example of a unique package that utilizes low-cost materials. The cartons are designed with compressed hay and are crafted to resemble a small hay bale. The design utilizes inexpensive, readily available materials and totally unique that are ideally suited to the food or drink being sold.
With some creative thinking, you can come up with packaging that meets all your product's needs without being ridiculously expensive.
Safety of products.
Another critical factor in food packaging is product safety. A wrapper should be used to secure food materials because the materials might move to several places before getting to the final consumers. Furthermore, products must be protected from damage and must appear new when being purchased by customers.
Customers will never buy the same brand's supplies again if they receive products that look worn out or have damaged materials. As a result, you must consider product safety when designing packaging.
Honesty.
Newbies in packaging design frequently strive to portray a product in the most superb way possible. They will even show you a chocolate-drenched cookie when you are actually purchasing a plain chocolate-flavored biscuit. They'll display fresh cherries on fruit yogurt with a low fruit content.
By making a product appear ten times better than it is, you are deceiving and disappointing the customer, which can lead to poor overall sales and a negative brand image.
This is where truth comes into play. Purchasers have nothing against simple, low-cost items as long as they know what they're getting! Of course, they expect some face lifting, but not to the point where the product looks totally different.
As a package designer, your job is to showcase the product in the best possible light but keep in mind that consumers deserve to know the truth and have a good idea about what they are buying.
Wrapping it up
It is not just enough to look at packaging from one perspective. Take into account how the packaging can add value to the product and provide an experience for consumers. How will it make your brand relate with customers in order to increase loyalty and sales? Also, consider how well the package will propel your goals while wearing your business hat both now and in the future. QQ Studio helps make your creative packaging design come true. We offer competitive prices and short turnaround time. Visit our website to learn more.