Food Packaging Design: The Ultimate Guide

‍Food Packaging: Features & Influence on Brand Strategy Development

Placing enough attention on brand strategy development allows companies to survive harsh market competition. Additionally, those who do branding well will steadily thrive in the congested food industry.

In this case, branding plays a huge role in your success because it carries marketing ― something that any successful company must do spectacularly.

What’s one of the most crucial aspects of branding identity? Your product’s packaging, of course. Packaging design will always have an impact on any brand’s evolution.

You see, food packaging design gives consumers their first impression of your brand. When it comes to saturated supermarket shelves and online stores, your packaging needs to stand out.

By doing this, consumers will be more aware of your brand identity, encouraging them to want to know more about it. You know what happens when someone gets to know someone or something more ― they fall in love with it.

In a nutshell, food packaging holds the key to making a great first impression. By using the right combination of colors, patterns, and text, food packaging design encourages consumers to tap that add-to-cart button with enthusiasm.

Key Things to Consider While Working on Food Packaging

Are you wondering what you must do to make a stellar graphic design for your food product? We got you, fam.

Here are the key things to consider while working on your food packaging:

1. Create a brand identity

One of the key aspects of food packaging is producing a package that reinforces your brand identity.

For instance, expensive chocolates are sometimes presented in elegant boxes with imagery that oozes richness, such as a satin veneer or fancy ribbons. This kind of presentation shows luxury lovers that they share the same values.

This process requires you to set goals and objectives, including discovering your consumer market.

After the grunt work is done, you can create your brand’s identity through creative marketing campaigns and strategies.

2. Use elements of design

The graphic design should follow three simple, yet often underserved principles of design: form, function, and beauty.

The package’s function is to preserve the contents and maintain its shape. You must also consider its form while creating food packaging designs to avoid product damage.

Last but definitely not least, your food packaging design must be eye candy to your target market ― pun intended.

3. Make sure the packaging complements the contents

The contents must determine the cover, not the other way around. After all, you can only retain and maintain repeat customers if what’s inside is as pleasing as what’s outside (talk about a timeless quote).

Quotes aside, your food product must reflect your food packaging. For instance, if you sell chips, your audience must expect chips inside.

Think about this: if a person buys your product expecting to see chips but finds cookies, we bet our bottoms that they’ll be disappointed.

Best Examples of Great Food Packaging Design

Want to draw inspiration from great food packaging design? As always, we got your back.

Here are the best examples of engaging and add-to-cart-inducing food packaging designs:

Dunkin’ Donuts

Starting with a small store in Quincy, Massachusetts, Dunkin’ Donuts has evolved into a giant chain that people frequent for breakfast and snacks.

Their packaging brings a warm, conversational atmosphere to the brand’s tradition. Bright and friendly orange and pink are used in the graphic design, impressing current and new customers.

The pace of life increases every day, and Dunkin’ always keeps up with its customers through food packaging and delicious treats.

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Wagg Pet

Wagg’s pet food packaging is a nice variation from the norm ― bright colors and a simple, yet playful style. What better pet packaging could there be for a brand that makes your pets wag? Another pun intended.

I’m not a pet owner, but I could imagine that it would be nerve-wracking to choose the right food for your pet at the right time. Wagg’s packaging makes it easy to choose and understand your pet’s needs because everything has a consistent, easy-to-read label; you know what you’re getting.

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‍Waitrose & Partners

Waitrose has a new “free from food” range that comes with intelligent packaging, keeping Waitrose’s brand sense all while adding a unique touch.

In a less formal atmosphere, the food looks delectable. It also lessens your guilt knowing that you’ve chosen a healthier food. The packaging informs all of this.

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Archer Farms Coffee

Archer Farms Coffee packaging is another fantastic example of the power of illustration.

This one jumps out to us because of its function and shelf presence. The grid on the packaging lists roast, flavor, and provenance, among other pieces of information. Its black and white element is versatile, yet consistent, making their packaging boundless and concise all at the same time.

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Red Jacket Tea

This tea packaging is stylish and high-end, mainly thanks to foiling. Red Jacket uses delicate patterns that allow you to almost imagine what happens when the tea mingles with hot water.

Plus, every detail of the packaging screams excellence. When creating a packaging design, keep in mind that it should always remain consistent with your brand’s vibe.

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Food Packaging Design Trends 2022

We have given you some examples above, but it doesn’t end there. Here are trends that can help up your food packaging design game:

1. Minimalism

Minimal designs might be safe bets, but there are additional reasons to choose simplicity other than for security.

Reducing a product’s packaging to its core sharpens your brand. Plus, letting your goods speak for themselves to make a lasting impression on your customers is a great idea. Your product shines on its own accord with minimal packaging, contrary to popular belief.

2. Localization

Packaging needs illustration. It improves a product’s display impact by enhancing visuals and extensive elements.

Plus, localized illustrations capture shoppers’ attention (believe us because these work on us too). Packaging graphics can be based on regional history, tribal art, abstraction, or plot art depicting its production.

3. Interactive Packaging

Emerging packaging trends include QR code scanners that transform customer-brand interactions. They also boost brand image and trust.

Through interactive packaging, customers can learn more about a product without opening the package. If there are two things consumers like, it’s learning all while saving precious time.

Conclusion

Food packaging design must gain consumers’ trust and turn them into brand loyalists.

However, creating appealing food packaging that engages people is hard to do on your own. For the love of all things delicious, let the professionals handle your food packaging design.

Speaking of professionally designed custom prints for your merch, Sketchy Digital is home to over 70 graphic designers and business illustrators willing to help you anytime. Contact us for a free consultation now!

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