Packaging Design – 3 Current Trends

Packaging has long since ceased to be treated solely as a box that protects a product from damage. Today, it plays a much larger role and can determine the “to be or not to be” of a given product.

You can only make a first impression once, and the situation is no different in sales processes. The saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” is unlikely to work in the aisles of stores, where thousands of products compete for the consumer’s attention. Manufacturers who want to distinguish their product must be familiar with current packaging trends and focus on innovation. So what are customers looking for and what do current packaging trends look like?

The fashion for eco-friendly does not fade away, and companies from all over the world want to be perceived as those that care about the environment. They are aware that an ecological message builds a positive brand image, and as a result, increases sales of the goods offered. The growth of consumer awareness is constantly growing – perhaps due to marketing activities conducted by companies that are deliberately supposed to expand this awareness, acting to their advantage.

Retro/vintage packaging is also gaining strength. It is no coincidence that designers use a style that often evokes positive associations in recipients. It emphasizes its roots and uses fashion from the past. Of course, not every product is suitable for being created in a vintage style, which is why you can often see designs in which using it misses the point.

How does the use of retro packaging work in practice? A lot depends on the industry in which a given brand operates. For example, many herbal, cosmetic or supplement companies style their packaging in this way. This suggests to potential consumers that these are products that could have existed even several decades ago. But really… Why all this? The answer is simple: it is generally believed that products manufactured “in the past” contain fewer preservatives and artificial ingredients than they do today. This builds trust with recipients, who start to associate the product with something natural, devoid of unhealthy chemicals.

The latest trend is personalization. Almost everything is personalized today – search engine results, newsletters, or packaging.

Today, mass industry does not meet the expectations of customers who increasingly choose local stores in search of something unique. The use of personalized packaging allows for an individual approach to each customer, and the introduction of this type of solution does not require huge financial outlays, which is why more and more brands decide to use them.

Packaging fulfills many functions, and today its main role is to fight for the consumer’s attention. Brand managers therefore attach great importance to distinguishing packaging on the store shelf. The psychology of consumer behavior clearly shows that the customer makes decisions about buying a given product in just a few seconds, which is why designing packaging based on the latest trends and customer needs is so important.