What Does a Packaging Design Agency Do?
Would you believe us if we told you your packaging is your silent salesperson? Your packaging is more than just a container; it is the first impression your customers get of your brand. It protects your product and acts as a powerful brand ambassador when it comes to captivating your target audience and making sales.
Given the importance, it is only fitting that there are professional packaging design agencies that help you build packaging properties, which are in line with your brand strategy. Here’s everything that a good packaging design agency can do for you.
Starting from Scratch
First and foremost, a packaging design agency understands your visual identity. To build on your existing visual identity, they step back to understand the essence of what your brand looks like and how your customers perceive it.
The good thing is that a packaging agency doesn’t design in isolation. It delves into your brand story and understands your target audience and brand personality. The agency uses this information to create a cohesive visual identity that will resonate with your audience.
This means working on choosing the right colors, fonts, imagery, and overall style that will be reflected across all your packaging if you don’t already have a strong visual identity.
Concept Development and Brainstorming
Once you have the basics, your agency will move to the concept development stage. This is where creativity takes center stage. The packaging design agency brainstorms visual concepts that capture the essence of your brand. It experiments with different layouts, color schemes, and visual elements.
For instance, you can spot the neon-colored packaging containing Half Magic Beauty’s blushes from a mile away. They are incredibly eye-catching. But the boxes are actually compostable, which gives them substance along with the style. This is a crucial part of packaging design.
Your designers will sketch out ideas, explore mood boards, and try to push boundaries to figure out a unique angle. Their goal is to create designs that are both visually captivating and functionally sound.
Form and Function
Speaking of visuals and function, imagine having a visually stunning box that can’t survive the trip home. There are many small but significant decisions that make a great packaging. And as a brand owner, you may not know these intricacies like the back of your hand.
That’s where a packaging design agency comes in. It focuses on creating designs that are not only visually appealing but also functional, which align with your overarching brand strategy. For instance, Tata Harper uses green and gold in their packaging to highlight their commitment to luxury and sustainability.
Experienced packaging designers understand that your packaging needs to catch the eye on a crowded shelf but also be practical and consumer-centric. Hence, they also work on the shape, size, and materials of your packaging to ensure it protects the product and provides a great unboxing and brand experience for your customers.
Utilizing Design Trends
The design landscape is constantly evolving, and you can’t focus on design trends while running your business. A packaging design agency stays on top of the latest trends. The designers bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table that can set your product apart from the competition. Whether it is minimalist designs, eco-friendly materials, or interactive packaging, the agency will incorporate the latest trends to keep your brand relevant and appealing.
Prototype Development
Once you have promising concepts, it is time to translate them into physical prototypes. This allows you to visualize the design in 3D, assess its functionality, and make any necessary adjustments. It allows the agency to ensure they are on the right track before you finalize anything. In this stage, the agency will refine the size, shape, and structure of the packaging to ensure it effectively protects the product and offers a user-friendly experience.
Information Hierarchy and Legibility
By now, you know that packaging is not just about aesthetics; it serves a critical informational purpose. This is where the packaging design agency’s knowledge of typography and information hierarchy comes into play. After all, a product label is an indispensable part of product packaging design.
The designers will sketch out a clear and concise layout that effectively communicates essential details like product benefits, ingredients, and any necessary legal disclaimers. They will ensure your USPs are displayed clearly and their placement is just right. But of course, they will do all of this while ensuring the information is presented in a visually appealing way that’s easy to read and understand.
Technical Aspects
As mentioned before, packaging design involves many small decisions, mostly related to the technical aspects. A packaging design agency has the expertise to handle these details.
For example, today’s consumers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious. Your packaging design agency will help you explore sustainable packaging materials like recycled cardboard, bamboo, or biodegradable options – something that aligns your brand with environmental responsibility while potentially influencing purchasing decisions.
Pre-press Preparation and Final Touches
Once the design is finalized, you move on to something called ‘pre-press preparation.’ This is a process of creating detailed die lines, ensuring accurate printing, and addressing any potential printing limitations. This stage also involves final color adjustments.
Truth be told, this is the phase where you are most likely to waste lots of resources if you don’t work with a good packaging design agency. The reworks can take up your time fairly quickly. So, it is always wise to work with an agency that works with you.
Production and Quality Control
The final step is production. This is where it all comes together. The agency will scout a reputable printing company for you to ensure your packaging is produced according to your specifications. Since this vetting process can be time-consuming, it is always best to leave this part to the professionals at your packaging design agency.
Quality control is crucial at this stage, which will guarantee the final product meets your design vision and functional requirements. The agency will also ensure that the design meets all regulatory requirements, is feasible for production, and stays within your budget. It will work closely with manufacturers to make sure the design translates well from concept to reality.
Packaging design is a strategic combination of visual storytelling and functionality. The packaging design experts at Aventive Studio have years of experience working with countless health and wellness brands to establish their packaging identity. And we can help you, too, design packaging that will make your brand stand out in a crowd. Get in touch with us to get started.