5 things to remember when designing bespoke packaging

David Banks
Authored by David Banks
Posted: Sunday, April 17, 2022 - 11:43

Bespoke packaging is becoming popular in many different industries because of the advantages it can offer your business. From enhancing the customer experience and making a good impression to decreasing the rate of returns, this is an investment that a lot of brands are glad they made.

Designing bespoke packaging is not a process that you should rush through. Of course, it is exciting to take this step with your business, but slow and steady wins the race. Here are five things you need to remember when you are designing your packaging.

First impressions matter

Why bother with bespoke packaging? The answer is always yes if you want your brand to appeal to your customers. There is a phrase that you should remember when designing - 'first impressions matter'.

While your products could be exactly what customers need, if they are delivered in boring, cheap and uneventful packaging, it could zap the energy out of your brand. In fact, it could disappoint customers altogether. There are many benefits to bespoke packaging, which you can read about here. But, you only get one chance to impress your customers and you have to take advantage of this. So, ensure that you love your packaging before you pass it onto your customers. Do your research, find out what people like and find the best way to maximise your impact.

Bold is good

Nobody gets noticed when they blend in. Perhaps this is the first time you are designing packaging and you feel like you want to play it safe, what if your customers don't like the design? Don't think like that, remember that you don't want to blend in. You want to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. This means that you have to think outside the box and be prepared to be daring.

Packaging stands out when it is bold, so it's time to get outside your comfort zone and experiment with style and colour. Being creative with packaging is going to be what grabs a person’s attention. Don't copy other brands or keep things plain.

It has to be functional

Of course, the design of your bespoke packaging has to be right. You will spend a lot of time on the look of it, buy this packaging is what's going to be protecting your products, which you want to reach your customers in tact, so don't sacrifice functionality for style.

There are many different materials you can use for packaging, including recyclable materials, which might appeal to your consumers. What’s more, if packaging is reusable this is a way to keep your marketing alive after purchase.

Don't forget the inside

One mistake that we see quite a lot when it comes to bespoke packaging is businesses concentrating on the outside. Yes, this is very important since as it's going to be the first thing your customers see, but you have to remember the inside. When customers open the packaging, you want to present them with their product in a cool and careful way. This could include mean being wrapped in branded tissue paper or the inside of the box having its own pattern. It's all part of the customer experience and it shows that your brand thinks about consumers.

Graphics work better than text

Creating something visual is the best way to make an impact. In other words, you want to stick to using graphics and logos that you can see clearly and that instantly say something about your brand. Sometimes, it can be appropriate to include phrases or certain taglines on your bespoke packaging. But, try to keep this to a minimum. Customers want to get to their products and not spend a long time reading. Again, bespoke packaging is about grabbing the person’s attention, it should not be hard work or something that is going to take a lot of effort. Stick to making your design short and snappy so you can give customers what they want.