When it comes to packaging, first impressions are everything. It’s estimated that the average customer today has an attention span of only eight seconds. It has been decreasing every year too, mainly because of the increasing number of products flooding the market. Your packaging should play a central role in building a brand and spreading awareness, but that’s something not all manufacturers can grasp. Let’s take a look at a few tips for building a brand with product design.
Craft a Brand Story
Before you start designing the packaging, you first have to create a story for your brand. Your business will be faceless and generic without values, a history, personality, vision, and a mission.
You will need to ask yourself a few questions. What values drive your company? What makes your products or business unique? Where do you see your business a few years from now? How can your product enhance the life of your customers? Once you’ve answered all of these questions, you’ll have a clearer idea of which direction you should go in.
Don’t Only Focus on Primary Packaging
Branding should extend beyond primary packaging. Secondary packaging will matter as well. Secondary packaging can give your product more visibility, especially if it will be used as a display. Another thing you will have to pay special attention to is coding. You will need to make sure that your product can be traced so that it’s sold at the best time. Barcodes are the best way to do that. In addition to increasing quality control, they will allow you and retailers to control inventory better and prevent shortages, which can reflect poorly on your brand.
If you don’t know where to start, we suggest you give Diagraph’s solutions a look. Diagraph has been in the business for more than a century and has all sorts of coding tools and management solutions you can choose from depending on your needed applications.
Think of Your Product as a Person
If you truly want to convey your message you have to see your product as a person. Creating a persona for your product will make it easier to “dress”. It will help you create packaging that will reflect your brand better and connect with your core audience.
Don’t Overdo it
Most businesses want their product to stand out but end up going overboard with the design as a result. One of the biggest mistakes they make is trying to add as many style elements as they can. Another mistake is trying to be too trendy. While completely ignoring trends is not a good idea, following industry norms too closely could end up making your product invisible.
Instead of going over the top, keep things as clear and concise as possible. Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that work the best, as long as they’re well thought out and executed.
This is all you need to know to start building your brand through packaging. This is one of the most important parts of branding, so take your time and don’t be afraid to test multiple ideas at the beginning.