The market is incredibly saturated with similar products. To maximize their chances of standing out and making a sale, many brands are turning to more innovative packaging ideas that focus on sustainability, engagement, and functionality.
In that regard, here are some of the top packaging trends to watch out for in 2024.
Minimalist Packaging
Packaging techniques have come a long way from traditional and straightforward options to the sophisticated, graphics-saturated options most brands employ.
However, in a bid to stand out among otherwise generic competitors, some brands are taking a back-to-basics approach to creating a direct connection with their consumers. To this effect, brands are utilizing minimalistic packaging design options with simple graphics, clean lines, and a focus on functionality, ultimately doing away with the more popular flashy designs.
Flat Graphics
Flat graphics pair quite well with the minimalist packaging approach. The two-dimensional design style utilizes clean lines and builds colors to convey a brand’s message more clearly, enabling you to maintain your brand identity in a straightforward manner.
This popular approach also offers unmatched versatility, enabling brands to adopt their packaging designs to suit multiple brand personalities and styles. With a little foresight and design expertise, flat graphics can be used to convey everything from a playful personality to a more sophisticated, professional image.
Interactive Packaging
The ideal packaging solution shouldn’t focus solely on holding the product – it should also create a memorable experience for the consumer. That’s what you get with interactive packaging. This versatile packaging trend incorporates innovative features like QR codes, pull-out recipe cards, and even augmented reality elements.
When done right, interactive packaging creates a unique and lasting impression of the product, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
Sustainable Packaging
Plastic, the most popular packaging material, accounts for nearly 8 trillion tons of waste dumped in the ocean every year. What’s even more concerning is that plastic waste can take up to 500 years to decompose.
As consumers and brands are becoming more environmentally conscious, many businesses are shifting to sustainable packaging materials like kraft paper and cardboard. These easily recyclable materials can help cut down waste, reduce your brand’s environmental impact, and make your products more appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
Saturated Pastels
Most traditional packaging designs featured softer pastel tones. Unfortunately, that approach won’t cut it in a highly competitive business environment.
In a bid to remain competitive by capturing consumer attention, many brands are now utilizing saturated pastels. Saturated pastels create a nuanced blend of the more traditional sense of lightness with the bold, impactive depth of color, resulting in unique, eye-catching designs.
Take ‘dopamine dressing’, for instance. This popular trend involves using bright shades to compliment bold and maximalist visual styles, resulting in a happy, joyful look. This trend is especially notable among brands whose products need to stand out in a crowded space, such as the shelves in a retail store.
Don’t Be Left Out in 2024
Constantly evaluating what your competitors are doing is one of the most effective ways to stay ahead. This notion also applies to packaging, where most traditional design options don’t resonate quite well with consumers, especially younger demographics.
While you may not be able to incorporate all the techniques discussed above into your packaging design, hiring a reliable packaging designer can prove beneficial in deciding which style best suits your brand.
