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Packaging design - AQACreating effective packaging designs

The art and design of packaging is an important element for most products. It considers branding, as well as the practical issues. Learn about effective packaging design for the GCSE Art & Design course.

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Creating effective packaging designs

Consideration of pattern, shape, space, colour and texture

Hand sketching box designs in pencil. Cardboard boxes on the table

Packaging starts with designing and sketching ideas.

Consider what the primary packaging will look like. This will depend on the product and the best way of storing it for example a plastic or glass bottle, a box, a sachet or a tube.

The secondary packaging can then be considered. This might complement or contrast the primary packaging.

A could help to the packaging.

Packaging templates with fresh tasty salad leaves and spice herbs on black background
Image caption,
The black background adds contrast making the green seem more vibrant and fresh

It鈥檚 important to consider the colour scheme. Think about what colours best reflect the product or the mood you want to create and experiment with different colour combinations.

Consider imagery. Packaging usually has an image of the product and often other images such as characters or pictures.

You might wish to include a pattern to decorate areas of the packaging that don't have any writing or images.

Vary the number of features to change the effect that a package design has on the buyer. Some designs will benefit from lots of information and imagery, but some will work best by using as little as possible. A sleek design with little detail and a few subtle colours can be an effective option.

Visual impact

Click through the slideshow to see how simple alterations can make one design fit a range of products:

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 4, 4 sides of a packaging design for a pear juice carton,

Practise various designs in different ways by changing the product. Think about how the packaging will impact on the consumer and make them want to buy it.

Ornate gold designs on black packaging reading luxury and premium
Image caption,
This design is effective despite using only two colours

Sometimes a clean and simple design can be effective and make the product appear more sophisticated than packaging with lots of colours, characters and designs.

Using the right typography

Choosing the right typography is just as important as choosing the right material, the right colours and the right graphics.

The text can also communicate and connect with the consumer. So, a playful, rounded and 3D font might attract the attention of a younger consumer, whereas a more traditional style of lettering might appeal more to an older age range.

It is therefore important to remember that every detail which goes into packaging design must be well considered because everything serves a purpose.

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