Packaging Design: Where To Start

When it comes to creating products as an artist, a business, a franchise it's easy, almost second nature. Creating what you want, what your customer wants, what the industry wants is the fun part. Seeing those sketches and CAD drawings come to life as a physical product is something other worldly. You feature it on Etsy, on your business site, advertise it on social media and BAM! You have people wanting what you made. It's pure bliss. You take your beloved product that you put your heart and soul in, place it in a plain kraft box and wait for the review. When that 'ding' on your computer happens, the same magic you felt for your product seemed to escape the customer, and you're not sure why. You spent hours on concept creation, branding, product testing and creating, marketing and advertising, and finally when the product is reviewed, it's almost underwhelming. Why?

In today's world people want an experience delivered to the door. They want to feel just as special as if they were to walk into a boutique and see everything and touch everything for the first time. They want the colors, the personalization, and the experience as if they were there with you. People want all this without having to leave their house. That seems like a pretty high expectation, but it's what makes the product that much better. So how is this achieved?

Whether you are a small business working out of your garage, or a corporate company with factories all over the world, you need a high focus on packaging. Packaging includes everything from the box you put the product in, to the things you put in the box to give your product that 'WOW' factor when your customer opens it. Applying your branding to your packaging is absolutely a key factor. Colors, patterns, tag-lines, etc. all need to be apart of the 'unboxing experience' that this society has come to not only love, but expect. What is different from your company? Why should that person choose you? Even if the main argument is because 'Support Small Businesses', there are TONS of small businesses making similar products. Why should the consumer choose you?

Starting to define what you want your packaging to look like may seem like a simple task, but it is much harder than you may think. Do you want to buy your custom boxes from an internal company, or a local company? Do you plan on keeping the same design, or constantly changing it? What type of box do you want? Do you want your boxes to be customized to each customer, or a standard design that everyone will get? How many colors do you want, and do you want color on the inside of the box? Is the box going to be the primary shipping box, or is it going to be kept safe inside a different bo for shipping? There are so many questions you have to consider before you order custom packaging, and that was just for the box. Feeling overwhelmed? Don't! There are tons of resources out there to help you.

Starting out, let's talk visual. what is that box going to look like? What is it that you want the customer to think when they see that box? Are you thinking eco-friendly, bold and loud, classic and simple? What is the message you want to convey, and how does it connect to your branding? Do you have your art files from the graphic designer of your logo? Do you have an official logo and set of brand standards? Sit down with your team and discuss all these things, and compile everything, neatly. If you have an in-house or out sourced graphic designer, great. They will be your biggest asset in organizing all the files needed for the manufacturing companies. organize by item, and in those itemized folders by file type. Heres an example: Primary Logo Folder. Inside that folder have folders for AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, Transparent PNG, and any other file you feel like you might need. have it all ready to go, so when it's asked for you can send it right on over.

Next, do some research. Are there any local corrugated manufacturing plants in your town/state? Reach out to them. Get a sales representative from that company and discuss what you want, your budget, your goal and see what their facility has to offer. Don't be discouraged if they can't do exactly what you want, realize compromising will most likely have to happen. Find the facility that can help your packaging dreams come true.

Does that still not help? Not a problem. Grab your computer, and type in https://aicc.onlinemarketbase.org/. This website is a resource that connect you with hundreds of suppliers for packaging across the united states, and even into Canada. All the companies are different and offer their own perks and packaging options and capabilities.

Packaging doesn't have to be scary. It can be just as fun as when you make the products. Even if you are dreading the packaging process, eventually it will still have to be done. So grab some caffeine, grab your notebook/Digital device, schedule a meeting, and work out all your goals for packaging. Then you'll have that extra 'WOW' factor the customer was looking for, and you've created an amazing experience for them.

Don't worry, I know there are probably tons of other questions you have for design, branding, packaging, marketing, social media and more. I'll give my opinion and thoughts on those for you too! We can work through this together, as a team.

Sincerely,

Just Your Average Graphic Designer in totally Digital World

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