Things to Know Before Designing Your Product Packaging

Packaging design checklist, product packaging tips, packaging design process, packaging mistakes to avoid.

Packaging isn’t just a wrapper. It’s your product’s first impression.

Before jumping into colors, fonts, or mockups, it's important to lay the groundwork. Great packaging design doesn’t start with Illustrator It starts with understanding what your product needs to say and how it needs to function.

Here are the key things you must know before designing your next product package.

✦ 1. Understand Your Product & Market

Before you sketch a single line, know exactly what you’re packaging and who it’s for. Is it fragile? Organic? Premium?

Understanding your target audience, competition, and shelf presence gives you the clarity you need.

💡 Visual Image Suggestion:

▶ Flat lay photo of different product categories (cosmetics, snacks, wellness, luxury)

▶ A simple graphic of: Product Type → Ideal Packaging Style

✦ 2. Know the Structure & Shape First (Not Last!)

Packaging isn’t 2D. It's physical.

Before diving into aesthetics, finalize your box type, bottle shape, pouch dimensions, or die-line layout. A beautiful design won’t work if it doesn’t fit the product or survive shipping.

💡 Visual Image Suggestion:

▶ 3D mockups of different box types (folding carton, stand-up pouch, glass jar)

▶ Sketch → die-line → 3D mockup progression visual

✦ 3. Material & Print Methods Matter

Your design will look different on matte vs. gloss, kraft paper vs. metallic foil. Also, the number of colors, finishes (UV, embossing), and packaging layers can affect cost and quality.

💡 Visual Image Suggestion:

▶ Texture-focused photo of different print finishes (foil stamp, embossing, spot UV)

▶ Chart of: Material Types vs. Best Use Cases

✦ 4. Color Psychology & Shelf Impact

Your color choices say a lot. Earthy tones suggest organic, bold colors shout youth, and neutrals signal luxury. But also consider how your pack will look among competitors on shelf.

💡 Visual Image Suggestion:

▶ Shelf mockup showing a brand’s package popping among competitors

▶ Color palette chart showing emotions linked to different colors

✦ 5. Don’t Skip Legal & Labeling Requirements

From ingredients and barcodes to expiry dates and recycling icons. Your packaging needs to be compliant with local and international laws. Double-check before printing!

💡 Visual Image Suggestion:

▶ Close-up photo of back-of-pack elements (FSSAI, barcode, nutritional info)

▶ Checklist graphic: Legal Requirements for Packaging

✦ 6. Design for Unboxing & Experience

In the age of reels and unboxing videos, packaging should feel like a reveal. Think: how it opens, texture, inner prints, or a surprise message. It's brand theatre.

💡 Visual Image Suggestion:

▶ A reel-style photo sequence of someone opening a premium box

▶ Graphic flow of: Outer → Inner → Emotional Hook

✦ Final Thoughts:

Packaging is where design meets function, and first impressions become lasting impressions.

Don’t rush the pretty. Take time to understand the purpose. When you know your product, audience, materials, and printing, you’re not just designing packaging, you’re designing an experience.

Need packaging that performs as beautifully as it looks?

Let’s design something worth picking up — and never putting down.