Packaging Design Mistakes to Avoid

Overcomplicating Design

Excessive Detail

This is a common issue of contention between designers and clients. There might be a lot of information that needs to be included on the packaging. The urge to use up precious space to add more detail comes at a price and can really negatively impact the design. This isn’t going to change in the future of packaging design. It’s the responsibility of the designer to make sure there’s a balance so all the important information is present and complemented by the right amount of visual information.

🔍 Mistakes in excessive detail…

• Overuse of colours and graphics: too many graphics and colours can overwhelm the consumer and cease to complement each other, consider something more minimal or simplified.

• Cluttered information layout: excessive text and signage on packaging can be counterproductive and make it more difficult to understand.

• Ignoring white space: white space is an important element of design, and failing to include sufficient white space will always make a design look cluttered.

• Complicated unboxing procedures: the packaging should be easy and intuitive to open, using complex mechanisms or too many steps can make the experience frustrating.

Balancing Aesthetics with Function

In a perfect world, we’d be able to hit all the requirements of functionality and aesthetics (and we do, of course 😉), but sometimes, as a designer, you must choose between the two. How do you make this decision? It really depends on the expectations of the project. Here are some factors that will affect your choice.

🎨 Mistakes balancing aesthetics with function…

1. Misunderstanding the target market

Prioritising aesthetics or function in packaging really depends on who you expect to be unwrapping the product. There are some audiences which would forfeit functionality for a higher-value aesthetic, especially if that is an aspect of the brand they enjoy. On the other hand, there are audiences that demand functionality over form. If it’s a children’s product, for example, children and adults will have a more positive reaction to the product if it makes life easier.

2. Missing opportunities to double up design elements as functional features

Resealable closures, flexible materials, measuring indicators—there are many ways you can create a design that enhances the overall aesthetic, including practical, functional elements that are fun to use. By combining these elements into one, you’re blending the experience for consumers into something that is intuitive and enjoyable.

3. Over-emphasising aesthetics at the expense of functionality

While the look and feel of your packaging design can be the essential defining characteristics that get it noticed, excessively focusing on aesthetics and compromising on usability results in a product that simply fails to meet needs; and if it’s bought once, it won’t be bought again.

4. Ignoring the impact of texture and colour in design

Colour and texture can have a significant impact on the way a product looks, but they can also seriously impact how it is perceived. Disregarding this is a surefire way to lose the interest of consumers who find the packaging difficult to understand.

For example, a gloss finish on cardboard packaging can be slippery and some customers could find it difficult to get a purchase on the packaging to open it. Dark colours may create a certain effect in line with the brand design but prevent consumers from seeing vital safety information.

5. Failing to communicate functional benefits

You could incorporate some of the most ingenious functionality elements in your design, but if they’re not clearly visible, users could misunderstand the value of your product. There are some crucial design elements that make the difference between good packaging and great packaging and, by proxy, elevate the product.

If your packaging is made with materials that extend freshness, make that clear in the design so your customers are aware of the extra value they’re getting. This makes a huge difference if your’re designing for food and beverage products or beauty cosmetics. There are, of course, also laws on health and safety information that need to be on some packaging, such as consumables, so it’s important your packaging demonstrates that these are met clearly.

Not Considering the Unboxing Experience

What do you want customers to get out of the unboxing experience? Do you want to take them on a brand journey? Inform them about the product? Or just make sure they can get into it conveniently? Whatever your objective, there are some unboxing cues that can easily lead to failure.

📦 Mistake in unboxing…

• Non-interactive design: whether that’s missing the opportunity to build a bond with the user or failing to identify the easiest ways of using the packaging, losing out on the best interactive opportunities means losing crucial value.

• No tactile experience: while so much of a packaging design is visually driven, the unboxing of a product is an entirely sensory product. This includes the feel of the materials, how they are manipulated, ease of opening, and protective/preserving features.

• Lack of thoughtful detail: small touches are often where people find the quality in things, and this is no different in packaging, especially when trends in packaging point towards consumers favouring personalisation. Whether it’s personalised touches that communicate the brand story or memorable interactive elements in opening the package, these propel your product from good to exceptional.

These details are especially important when designing packaging for eCommerce, where your customer will have the visual impact well before the entire sensory experience.

Memorable Unboxing vs Forgettable Unboxing

The personal touches on packaging can go a long way to ensuring users pay attention to the product and remember the experience of using it. Take a look at our packaging for Methodology, a shampoo brand with brand messaging that focuses on the uniqueness of the consumer’s own hair and identity. We used tone and message together with minimal design to pull off a packaging product that speaks directly to the customer.