Today’s shoppers are spoilt for choice when it comes to food products. So if you want to stand a chance against the competition, you’ll need to make sure your food packaging design is on point. And that’s what I’m going to help you with today.
Food packaging design, when done right, balances style and function to help food products stand out on crowded shelves. All while giving consumers the information they need to buy with confidence.
First impressions stick. So by effectively packaging your consumer goods, you’ll be able to drive initial purchases and keep customers coming back for more. Then you’re onto a winner!
The big question is: how?
Lucky for you, this article is packed to the brim with all the best practices for your food package designs. We’ll also see exactly how it’s done with the help of some inspiring food packaging examples.
Ready to package your food products like a pro? Then let’s dig in.
1. Highlight health benefits
Consumers are increasingly conscious about the foods they put into their body, and they’re often seeking products that support their overall wellbeing.
With more and more people opting for a healthy diet, clearly showcasing the health benefits of your products could be the deciding factor between you and your competitors.
As a bonus, products that offer real health benefits (think fiber, vitamins, and low sugar) tend to be perceived as having a higher value, commanding a higher price point as a result.
It’s important to note here that accuracy is key when it comes to highlighting the health benefits of your products. It’s also one of those food labeling requirements that you don’t want to mess with.
2. Make allergens easy to spot
I have a close friend with a gluten allergy, and it’s through her experiences that I truly became aware of the importance of clear allergy information on food packaging. For her, and the rising number of people with food allergies and sensitivities, clear allergen labeling makes a world of difference in avoiding nasty reactions and enjoying meals with more peace of mind.
On the flip side, making consumers aware when your products are free from certain allergens is also a huge selling point. This will require getting your food products tested and officially certified. But the extra effort can really pay off by giving consumers a quick and reliable indicator that your product meets their dietary requirements or preferences.
3. Clearly show your shelf life
We’ve all been there, squinting and turning the package every which way, trying to find a product’s cryptic use-by date. Safe to say, it’s pretty frustrating.
Clearly displaying the use-by or expiration date on your packaging is key to helping customers quickly determine the freshness of your product. Which enhances the overall shopping experience, builds trust and (most importantly) reduces the risk of customers consuming your products past their prime.
Additionally, by prominently displaying your product’s shelf life information, you’ll be able to aid in inventory management for retailers and reduce the chance of your products going to waste.
As a rule of thumb, try to position your use-by date in a consistent, visible location on the front or top of the packaging.
4. Protect and preserve your products
This package design best practice goes hand-in-hand with clearly showing your product’s shelf life. I say this because effective food packaging needs to help ensure that your food is still fresh and safe to consume by the time it reaches its use-by date.
A robust packaging design will protect your product from environmental factors like moisture, light, and air, which can all compromise freshness and quality. This involves a few different factors including using sturdy materials and well-designed closures.
Depending on the type of product, you might also opt for extra features like vacuum-sealed pouches, UV-resistant wraps, and oxygen or moisture absorbers.
5. Include high-quality product images
Your food packaging should be designed to appeal to your target audience. And one of the best ways to do this is by giving shoppers a tasty preview of your product with some high-quality visuals.
Investing in clear, visually appealing product imagery will make you stand out on the shelves and help potential buyers quickly understand what you offer. What’s more, quality imagery will also increase the perceived value of your products.
Note: When choosing imagery for your food packaging design, it’s important to resist the temptation to overly enhance its appearance. Otherwise, you run the risk of disappointing your paying customers, which can act as a serious barrier to brand loyalty.
6. Make easy-to-follow preparation guidelines
What a bummer it would be if someone bought your product and couldn’t wait to try it, only to end up getting disappointed because they didn’t prepare it properly. The chances of them rushing back to buy it again would be pretty slim too. Bad news all ‘round.
While you can’t make sure everyone reads your preparation instructions, what you can do is make them as clear and foolproof as possible with a simple step-by-step guide. The key here is to keep the language straightforward and concise while providing enough detail to avoid confusion. You might even consider using icons or pictures to really enhance accessibility.
7. Create legible product messaging
Opting for clear, legible fonts might seem like a no-brainer when it comes to your food packaging design. But you’d be surprised how many companies treat their font choices as an afterthought in their brand strategy.
Your fonts will determine how easily consumers can engage with your product messaging. And when you consider the fact that most shoppers skim packaging quickly, readable text is essential if you want your food products to get noticed.
Some ways to prioritize readability include:
- Choosing simple fonts with a large font size
- Ensuring high contrast between text and background colors
- Using adequate line spacing to make the text easy to follow
- Establishing a clear hierarchy, using different font sizes and weights for headings, subheadings, and body messaging
- Getting feedback from potential customers to ensure your font choices are up to scratch
There’s a lot to consider when creating legible messaging for your food packaging design, so give yourself and your team the time to get it just right. Trust me, it will be worth it!
8. Maintain a strong brand identity
Creating and using your brand identity is hands-down the best way to differentiate your food product packaging from competitors. Plus, when shoppers can easily identify your products, it fosters a sense of familiarity and reliability for a more memorable brand experience.
Here are a few tips to help your brand shine through in your food packaging:
- Start by using your brand’s primary colors prominently on the packaging
- Make sure your logo is clearly displayed and looks the same every time
- Stick to the same fonts and design elements that reflect your brand’s vibe
- Add unique patterns or shapes that are distinctive to your brand
- Regularly look at your packaging design to keep it in line with your brand as it grows
By keeping your brand consistent across all your food product packaging, you’ll make it easier for consumers to spot and choose your brand, even in a crowded market.
9. Offer convenient packaging solutions
Your food packaging is a powerful marketing tool to help you stand out in stores. But it also gives you a chance to create more memorable and enjoyable consumer experiences. That’s why you should aim to design convenience into your food packaging.
There’s a bunch of innovative ways to make your products more consumer-friendly with convenient packaging solutions.
Here are a few examples to get you started:
- Tear notches — Include tear notches for easy opening without the need for scissors (or teeth)
- Peel-back lids — Use peel-back lids or tabs that are simple to open and reseal
- Snap lids — Use snap lids on containers for easy opening and closing
- Single-serve options — Offer single-serving packages for quick snacking and on-the-go convenience
- Ergonomic design — Design packaging that is easy to hold and handle, minimizing spills and messes
These packaging tricks are all about making life easier for your consumers. By putting their convenience at the heart of your packaging design, you’re showing that you understand and care about their experiences beyond the food item itself. Of course, this will naturally encourage repeat purchases, so everyone wins.
10. Use less packaging materials
The way you package your food products speaks volumes about your brand and its values. Which is why using too much paper, plastic, or any other packaging material isn’t a good look. It’s also just unhandy, taking up unnecessary space in bins and recycling spaces. Not to mention the fact that it drives up your packaging costs!
With all this considered, making sustainable packaging by cutting back on materials should really be a no-brainer. Maybe you create more compact packaging, remove that unnecessary plastic layer, or use biodegradable packaging materials that break down more easily. However you choose to reduce your packaging waste, you can take pride in knowing that your efforts are doing some good for your brand as well as the planet.
11. Get creative with your packaging
We’ve covered all the practical things that go into effective food packaging designs. But when it comes to standing out and catching your customers’ attention, your best move is to get creative with your packaging design process.
Taking inspiration from current packaging design trends is a great way to kick your creativity into gear. Then you can start thinking about unique shapes, vibrant colors, textured materials, and interactive elements to make your packaging more memorable for customers.
You don’t need to break your production budget either. Instead, you can get creative with the messaging and product names on your food packaging. Witty copy can add an engaging twist to your brand that sets it apart from others in your category. A quick online search will show you lots of amazing examples.
12. Review your food packaging designs with Filestage
Now that you’ve got a checklist of food packaging best practices, you’ll need to make sure you can bring it all to life in your design execution. This calls for lots of creative collaboration, clear communication, and a solid review process. And we’ve got just the tool for the job.
Filestage is an approval software that’s been designed to make it easy for food businesses to review files and collect clearer, faster feedback in one place. With this packaging design software, you can seamlessly work with your team to design food packaging you can be proud of.
Here are a few ways Filestage can help you review your packaging design for the best results:
- Create custom workflows to help you manage each stage of your packaging design project
- Track progress across projects with instant access to all past versions, comments, and changes
- Zoom in and rotate your designs to give the most detailed and accurate feedback
- Compare versions side by side to make sure everyone’s feedback has been addressed
- Approve designs with a single click as soon as all your collaborators are happy
By the way, you can use it to review all your files too — we’re talking documents, videos, HTML files, audio files, live websites, the lot.
Final thoughts
Great packaging needs to serve a variety of different functions, from marketing your product in stores to protecting your consumers’ health and safety. But really, it all boils down to creating a meaningful connection and building trust with your target audience.
By putting the time and effort into crafting high-quality packaging designs, you’ll be able to drive more first time sales and turn them into loyal customers that love your food brand.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article about the best practices of food packaging design. And if you’d like to see how Filestage can help you review and approve your packaging files, start your free trial today.
