Sometimes, customers decide on what to buy based solely on the food packaging design. When wandering on the food aisle, what draws attention urges them to purchase the item. In short, looks matter—at least in the world of food packaging. If you want to boost sales, learning about the tricks that make packaging design stand out is helpful.
The truth is, you need to approach packaging design with strategy and creativity. Retail stores display products on shelves, letting customers choose freely. Gaining an edge over your competitors will establish your product and brand. The more appealing your food products are, the better.
Keeping It Simple
If you look at the leading food products in the market, the packaging design looks uncluttered. The design makes use of three colours or less to keep it easy on the eyes. In the background, you will find neutral colours. The visual elements of your food packaging must not compete for attention.
Having a focal point directs the eyes. Product labels should not only inform but lead the eyes to the right places, too. The font must be clear and readable. Varying their size by ranking their importance helps create a visual hierarchy.
Limited Edition Packaging
Is Halloween coming up? Perhaps the Christmas season is setting up a festive mood? Whatever the occasion may be, limited editions convince the buyer that the packaging is more special—because it is. Aligning exclusive offers with events also creates a sense of urgency.
For example, an ingredient for your product is available for a limited time only. You can take this opportunity to create seasonal products where the food packaging design suits the mood.
Schedule the release of a product line only in certain months. Another great idea is to Include freebies or interactive design to encourage customers to collect them.
Understanding the Target Market
By now, you should have an idea of who your target market is. Designers create the packaging with the target market in mind. You should present your product to a specific age group with the same interests. Knowing for whom the product is meant gives you an idea about the appropriate design for the packaging.
Consider the scenario of a child finding the packaging of a product off-putting. Maybe there is a lack of bright colours and cartoon images? In the same way, adults look for seriousness.
Grown-ups tend to care less about images and focus more on the information. In either case, the design makes a huge impact on how your audience perceives the product.
Choosing the Right Material
The material you opt for has pros and cons. Depending on the type of food, the material can either enhance the experience of buying a product. The right material should cater to the product’s temperature needs and shelf life. Also, as a responsible company owner, you should consider the environmental consequences of packaging.
Plastic is the most common packaging material. If not handled properly, the packaging could end up on the ocean. In most cases, plastic is non-biodegradable and will take hundreds of years to decompose. Customers nowadays care more and more about the environment, so looking out for alternatives can help your packaging stand out, too.
Of course, the judgment lies in the quality of your food product. The packaging is useless if the food inside sucks. An effective food packaging design only serves as the hook. The rest depend on how the food product leaves the consumers satisfied.
