You've Designed A Product, Now How Are You Going To Package It?

Posted on 3/4/2026, 12:19:07 AM

Packaging a new product is an exciting time! You’ve come up with a good product you’re happy to introduce to the market, and now you need to make sure the packaging says everything you need it to. 

That’s why packaging needs to be a top priority at a time like this. Your time in the research and development phase of product design isn’t quite over! 

Packaging should never be a rushed afterthought. It shouldn't be something you hustle together at the last minute and think is good enough. And it definitely shouldn’t be just a plain old cardboard box!

Product packaging has the hefty task of introducing your product to the customer who bought it - as well as any customers passing it on shelves or scrolling through a web page. 

And if it’s going to make a good impression, you need to go through the planning stages with the ideas below in mind. 

Deciding on the Design

Packaging design can be just as thorough, fun, and frustrating as putting your actual product together! But you do need to decide on the right design for the packaging, and not simply leave it up to chance or necessity. 

And if we’re honest, all of the same design elements go into the process. That makes it just as simple to get on with once you’re finished with the bulk of your product development. 

So, when you’re coming up with some stellar product packaging, what do you need to focus on? 

Your color choices

Packaging needs to have the right color palette, featuring complementary shades and tones, and a bit of clear contrast where it’s essential. Black on white, for example, always works well together. 

The brightness of the background provides the perfect source of illumination for the black font featured on top. Plus, white and black are stark tones that bounce off of each other. 

This makes information very easy to read, with little to no distracting elements placed around the product’s name, your own name, or your messaging. 

Picking your visual elements

Of course, if everyone just made their packaging black and white and called it a day, the world of product packaging would be very boring! 

Nothing would look different or unique, and no one would be able to say whether or not their packaging was really drawing the eye. 

You’re going to need some visual elements to help your product stand out. And depending on the product you’re selling, as well as the business you are and how you prefer to brand yourself, these elements really can be anything. 

However, they need to make sense for the tone you’re going for. Selling a protein mix for serious gym-goers looking to make big muscle gains? You’re probably not going to win anyone over by covering your packaging in cutesy sunflower stickers! 

What Needs to Go on Your Packaging?

Once you’ve got an idea for the design, you’ll need to look into the essential information that should be featured in pride of place as well. And yes, there’s always going to be something you have to write on the box! 

For example:

Your name and logo

Otherwise it’s going to be hard to create some brand recognition in the long run! People simply won’t know they’re buying your items. 

The issue is making sure these visual elements are scaled properly, with the right definition, and are set in places that make sense for the overall aesthetic. 

Your logo slap bang in the middle is a great idea, but if you also want to filter in a long message around the logo, it might get distorted and become hard to read. 

Your message

Speaking of your message, every bit of packaging should have something to say! What do you want your customers to know about the product inside? 

Or alternatively, what kind of emotion do you want to create when they look at or receive your product? 

Messages should be aligned with your brand’s tone of voice, so while they don’t need to be short, they should always be snappy. 

Tracking numbers

Every product needs to be marked with its own product number and/or tracking number. 

Everyone needs to know they’ve got the right item, first off. But they also need to know how they can check on the delivery as it makes their way out of your warehouse. 

So if you’ve not done so already, you may need to look into high-grade marking solutions, as part of your sturdy and reliable packaging promise. Beats just sticking some paper on the side and hoping it stays there! 

Opt for Sturdy and Reliable Packaging 

There’s no point wrapping your product in a box that’s going to break down with the slightest touch. 

You want the box to not only serve as a marketing message, but as a form of protection when your items are out there in the real world. 

Think about this carefully. You don’t want handles breaking off, or a million different dents to be found around the box. You want the packaging to showcase quality just as much as the item inside. 

Test your prototypes

Yes, you’re going to need a few different packaging prototypes! And be vigorous when testing them, to check if they really are sturdy and reliable! 

Proper Product Packaging Needs a Proper Design

If you want your product to create as good an impression as you’ve always wanted it to, you’re going to need to invest in your package design just as much. 

Go back and forth on the design as many times as you feel the need to. Sharpen it up, tweak it, and change it completely. Then test the way it looks and feels, and if it provides proper protection during transit. 

And remember, always include as much information as you can on the outside of the box. Your customers need to know they’ve got the right item, and where they could send it back if they have a problem.