As we get ready to say goodbye to 2021 (good riddance if you ask me), 2022 looms on the horizon. And with the arrival of a new year comes the opportunity to once again reinvent who we are. “New Year, New Me” posts have become oh-so-common over the years, and it seems to be a trend that brands and businesses have come to adopt as well. Something about the Earth completing one more lap around the sun seems like the perfect time to start something new.

And if you’re one of those people thinking about completely overhauling your brand vibes, or even just making small tweaks, these 5 tips are the perfect jumping off point to get you to where you want to be.

Quiet Designs Speak Volumes

While you may be tempted to slap on all the information you feel is important onto the packaging in an effort to try and convince your customer you’re worth their money, there’s a chance your 50 selling points are hurting you rather than helping.

Packaging that cleverly utilizes negative space may be the way to go if you’re confident in your product as it does away with any visual clutter that most brands opt for, and stands out beautifully on a shelf with competing products.

And more often than not, a simple packaging design may even lend to a more high-end feel, emulating luxury brands that know the value of good negative space.

Designing for the Internet

For better or worse, it’s safe to say that the internet has become irrevocably intertwined with our lives, especially in a post-Covid world where the majority of the planet’s population has become accustomed to the ease of online shopping. This means that it’s more important than ever to make sure your packaging design looks as nice onscreen as it does in-store.

No one in their right mind can deny the fact that ecommerce is now an aspect every business should start considering (if not actively building it already). On top of that, you’ll also be able to create quality content for your social media accounts, be it Instagram, TikTok, or even YouTube. Even if the people seeing your posts aren’t exactly the ones who will be buying the product, the engagement you get is just as important, and will drive more potential buyers your way.

This means creating packaging that is appealing even when your potential customers are not able to hold it in their hands. One great way of achieving this is by utilizing a clever combination of aesthetically-pleasing colours and bold, simple font to make up for the lack of physical contact. As most humans are largely visual creatures, taking advantage of this means you could quickly see an increase in sales.

Rework Your Copywriting

While it may be hard for some to kick the habit of “marketing speak” (and once again slap a whole essay of selling points onto the packaging), recent industry changes have shown that getting straight to the point is something we might see a lot more of in the future.

An increasing number of products have opted for a no-nonsense approach when it comes to their marketing copy, simply stating what a product does on the packaging with no overtly fancy language or pretentiousness. And if you haven’t been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you would also know that a more casual tone is now the way to go, as shoppers everywhere begin seeking a more personal, friendly connection with the world around them.

Time to Make Connections

We understand that sometimes you really want to tell everyone about the myriad things your products can do, and you’re excited to share just how amazing they are. Well, we live in the 21st century and you have the option to tell everyone about your awesome product without sacrificing the aesthetics of your packaging. The answer: QR codes.

In the event your customers want to find out more about your product, all it takes is for them to pull out their phone and give your QR code a quick scan to be brought to a page specifically designed to host all your information, beautifully laid out. Right here they can peruse as they please, finding out as much or as little as they want.

On the other side of the tech spectrum, you also have the option of exploring the AR space. Some businesses have experimented with packaging and labels that can be scanned using custom apps that can bring the packaging to life, either animating the illustrations on your label, or perhaps opening a little bubble that provides information. If you have the resources, this could be a fun way to get people talking.

Colour Blocking Organically

Colour blocking is one design trend that we have seen a lot of and don’t think is going away anytime soon. However! There may be a little bit of an evolution going on here. Instead of colour blocking with the usual geometric shapes and angular lines, it would seem that organic lines are the next big thing.

Try going for jagged lines on the edges of your shapes to get a look reminiscent of a rocky mountain range, or maybe blobby cow patterns in a variety of pastel colours.

We recommend sitting down and thinking about what kind of brand you are and the image you’re hoping to project before experimenting with the colours you’re going to use. Just make sure they complement each other and you should end up with something that’s pleasing to the eye.

Ask A Consultant

If any of these trends have sent you into a creative frenzy and you’re just dying to know how you can execute them for your next packaging order, remember that your Excard consultant can help you with just that! Simply send them a WhatsApp message and they’ll be ready to help at the earliest possible moment.