OUR EXPERTISE (NEATLY PACKAGED)

The first few months of 2021 have come and gone, and much like 2020, this year has presented challenges for many industries. The good news in the packaging industry, though, is that as packagers and designers continue to acclimate, their solutions have gotten more creative. In our report at the

In both literal and figurative senses, laminates add a new layer to any packaging design project. When it comes to creating reflective packaging that glints like a diamond in the sun, you can count on holographic and metallized polyester. Metallic laminates allow products to shine in fun, luxurious ways, but

SPEAK FOR YOUR SHELF It’s no secret that consumers aren’t looking at store shelves as much due to the pandemic, but brands that have neglected the importance of shelf appeal will be much slower to recover as the market recalibrates—and recent studies are supporting this. An October 2020 survey found

As it stands, packaging design companies face an evolving landscape in 2021. Between (rapidly) evolving consumer tastes, a heightened awareness of environmental concerns, and significant advances to packaging-related technology, designers will be challenged to come up with some truly innovative packaging ideas. The e-commerce boom brought on by COVID-19 has

For packaging designers, every new project presents new challenges. These unique challenges drive innovation in design, and materials play a crucial part. Even the most familiar materials have inherent properties that are often under-recognized or under-utilized, and careful consideration and thoughtful selection can give rise to amazing packaging design innovations

Technological advancement has touched virtually every aspect of the retail experience, and the packaging world is catching up. Specifically, augmented reality (AR) functionalities are helping some companies design packaging that offers additional value through digitization (without adding clutter). Plus, “smart” packaging elements like AR can be fun and exceptionally memorable.

When it comes to branding, packaging matters. Amazing packaging designs play a critical role in increasing brand awareness and loyalty—especially when that packaging tells the story of the product inside. It immediately attunes potential customers to the brand’s qualities and values, and it helps them remember the brand in the

Craft distilling in the US is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with somewhere close to 2,000 operating distilleries across the country. This number speaks to the consumer’s willingness, and at times, desire, to try new drinks. One of the key battlegrounds where distillers compete for consumer attention is on liquor store shelves,

In 2018, Americans consumed over 3.8 billion gallons of tea. For reference, that’s roughly the same volume as 6 Great Pyramids of Giza. In such an expansive market filled with thousands of options across a range of flavors and health benefits, competing companies need to convince consumers to buy their

HOW COSMETICS COMPANIES ARE DESIGNING BEAUTIFUL RETAIL PACKAGING The cosmetics industry is exceptionally attuned to the subtle art of engaging, aesthetically appealing design. Given that most makeup products promise beautification and cosmetic enhancement, it stands to reason that makeup packaging design elements should also embody this promise. Put simply, it

The humble coffee bean packs a powerful punch. According to a National Coffee Association poll, 6 in 10 Americans drink coffee every day, and about 80% drink coffee at home. With countless household and artisan brands to choose from, coffee package design is a brand’s best chance to grab the

Minimalism has long been an important principle for designers looking for understated elegance, but it’s become an especially useful approach in recent years for young brands looking to make a statement. On crowded shelves with an extensive palette of colors, logos, and branded designs, clean design with lots of negative

In any industry, containers and packaging play a surprisingly integral role in a brand’s success. That said, there are industries where outward facing packaging can be especially important, namely when the marketplace is relatively young, when consumers are looking to form new brand loyalties, and when folks are still learning

As the budding cannabis industry continues to evolve, so does its packaging design. In the early days of legalized recreational use, cannabis brands were quick to embrace cannabis packaging designs covered in psychedelic images of marijuana leaves and smiley faces. At the time, the “street style” trend for a recently

Businesses need to ensure that their packaging supplier is able to fulfill their each and every need. As our sister company Case Paper describes it, packaging suppliers need to be “On the Case,” with off-the-shelf materials that brands need at a moment’s notice, but also with more inventive enhancements that

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) are, essentially, any items that average consumers use frequently. If that sounds like a broad category, that’s because it is, encompassing products ranging from cosmetics, to clothing, to food and beverages. Despite its size, the category is still growing; 2020 has thus far seen CPG sales

Across virtually every industry, consumers are demanding sustainability, and these numbers are continuing to grow. This presents a massive opportunity for packaging companies and for the packaging industry as a whole.  A recent survey found that 65% of consumers want to buy purpose-driven brands that advocate for sustainability. However, only

Sustainability is a driving trend in packaging across all industries and products. Paper-based packaging can help the industry meet this demand, although plastic remains an obstacle. In the US alone, recovery rates for packaging and food-service plastics are at about 28%, but recent upticks in paper-based packaging show that the

Packaging has to protect products, but it also has to sell them. Seems like a tall task for a bit of paperboard, right? That’s why designers have to get creative. Sometimes, creativity looks like innovative folding or cutting techniques, other times it can be achieved through methods like lenticular printing