Tips for designing great packaging from Liv Design

Packaging first and foremost should perform a function. It is designed to contain, hold and protect a product or item. It’s as simple as that. Or is it?

It might sound straightforward but there are many factors to take into account before even trying to design packaging. There is a mix of art, science and psychology involved and it could turn into quite a complicated process. Here are a few things to think about.

You have to take into account the whole packaging process, including:

• Substrate 
• Production methods 
• Pricing 
• Health and safety protocols 
• Distribution and transport 
• Storage 
• Longevity and shelf life 
• Customer expectations 
• Market 

Hopefully you will be working with a client or company that has already researched some of these processes and collated the data for briefing before the creative starts.

As a starting point think to yourself, ‘what would make you buy the product?’ What would make you pick it up? How is it sold? How do you distinguish it on the shelf? Put yourself in the customer’s shoes. From a creative point of view a design has to standout from the competition. It has to shout ‘Buy me!’

Visit the Liv Design website for the full article.