Packaging design plays a very important role in a brand value, growth, market position as well as defining the brand. Due to digital revolution and the growing increase of online shopping, packaging design trends are evolving more than ever. With this, it is very important to be aware of new and upcoming trends in packaging in order to stay competitive and ahead in the market.

Brands need to know of the evolving packaging trends that are taking place in order to gain new customers while retaining their share of a cluttered market place. Here are the four main trends that affects packaging design

Simplicity

As it goes, good packaging protects your product, great packaging protects your brand. Clean and minimal design is a continuous key trend that affects packaging design.

A strong minimal packaging design builds brand fairness as consumers always tend to favour neat designs that are easy to recognize and understand in their fast paced environments. The beliefs that minimal packaging connotes or equals luxury is common among customers.

Brands need to come out with new, unique and refreshing designs that can stand out among competition salt the same time helping to form and support their brand identity.

Online packaging

Packaging design is not just about the physical elements. Digital environments should also be put into consideration in the design stage.  E-commerce is now at a continuous growth level ranging from luxury clothes to food shopping.

Consumers are now dropping brick and mortar for the convenience of online shopping. As a result of this, new packaging designs need to be considered like compact shape, designs made for shipping, robust designs and designs that can stand out and work well on screen and capture consumers attention.

Technology

Consumer ethics is greatly influencing the drive for smart, active and intelligent technologies. Consumers are becoming more socially conscious making environmental and social ethics key purchasing drivers.

Smart activated packaging does not only saves lives in regards to allergies but also engages, entertains and educates. Here are three innovative technologies that work along with technology

Smart labels

This is the adoption and integration of mobile enabled technology, and it allows the consumers to get greater product information.

There are also colour changing labels used to indicate products in a clearer and concise way.

Intelligent Designs

Intelligent design is a style of packaging that changes the packaging temperature and atmosphere.

This packaging design is used to help drugs, food and product designs to maintain the best quality and to keep consumers safe.

Experience

Packaging is growing and it is one of the component that helps with the creation of memorable and entertaining consumer experiences.

As time goes on, consumers desire more and to satisfy this, packaging designers now focus more on packaging design as a bigger part of the brand and not just a mere extension.

Using Coca-Cola's packaging as an example, they infused in their brand design values of  “happiness” and “sharing” with bottles designed with different  names for consumers to purchase to share, gift and collect.

This design encouraged to create an experience that will make the consumer happy.

Take away

Packaging is an important aspect in attracting customers and advertising the brand quality. With the right packaging skills and material, it is a sure bet that your products will secure a soft spot in the hearts of your consumers.

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If you are thinking now is the time and to invest in your brand, products or packaging, to adapt, go digital or even produce a printed magazine contact us to see how Handle Branding can help you.