4 Tips on Balancing Practicality and Aesthetics for Your Custom Packaging

People often say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” but that is not always the case when it comes to shopping. Branding is the cornerstone for many products and first impressions matter whether they are sold in packs or shipped in boxes. Creative design and aesthetically pleasing styles are the great allies of packaging and as business owners, you will want to balance practicality and aesthetics to create original packages that stand out from the rest. Fortunately, we have some tips to help you design your custom boxes and packaging.

The Role of Aesthetics in Packaging

Mailer boxes are one of the most popular box types used across the world. It offers strength, durability, and protection at an affordable cost. Its construction also lends well to unboxing experiences! Mailer boxes are usually used to deliver packages but because of its positive qualities, they offer so much more.

Just how versatile are mailer boxes? Here are 11 ways you can use them:

1. Make a Lasting First Impression

As mentioned earlier, first impressions matter when it comes to packaging. A visually appealing box will not just catch a customer’s attention, but it will also give them a positive perception of the product. Many businesses let their designs speak for themselves and reflect their brand. Whether they go minimalist with their simple box art or go all out with the colors and patterns of their packages, the idea still stands that these business groups have solid foundation with their brand identity.

2. Credibility is Seen Through Creative Packaging

Let’s try a thought experiment. You order a parcel from a popular and respectable brand. But when the package comes in, the item is placed inside a plain box with no identifying marks or labels on it. You’d have second thoughts if what you ordered is authentic, right?

Thoughtfully designed packaging can easily indicate if the product received is genuine. You are not just promoting your company through these boxes and labels, you are also protecting your credibility, showing that you want what’s best for your customer by delivering high-quality products in high-quality packaging.

3. Aesthetics in Packaging is Simply Fun

Going back to the previous thought experiment, what would you have felt when you receive a plain box, regardless of its contents? Now switch it up and imagine getting a colorful and creative box, containing the original item you want. What would you feel? Creativity is often seen in a positive light and for a good reason. Simply put, everything is made better by adding a bit of creativity to them. They make customers feel excited when getting the products, they want, and the creative design in packages adds to the credibility and trustworthiness customers have with your brand.

Simple Ways to Make Packaging More Presentable

Now you might be thinking, “How can I balance design and practicality with my packaging?” The good news is that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Once you know your packaging design, you can easily work functionality with your creative boxes, pouches, or labels. Here are some of the tips we can give you to boost your packaging’s aesthetics.

1. Design Based on Brand Identity

Brand identity is what you want your audience to think when they see your logo. As a business owner, you’d want your customers to think highly of your brand from the get-go. That’s why you need to establish your brand identity and design your packaging based on it. Also ask the following questions:

• What are the characteristics that stand out from my brand?
• What is my brand’s unique selling point (USP)?
• What are people’s impressions about my business?
• Can I use these impressions to my advantage?

Once you answer these questions, you can easily apply your brand identity to your packaging.

2. Minimalism is in — Keep Your Design Simple

Now, going to the design aspect itself — you’ll either want to go minimalist or maximalist with your packaging aesthetics. Going for the minimalist route with your packaging can be easier to create and it could be more impactful since there are fewer design elements in your packaging, thus minimizing distractions. Stick to the one color that exemplifies your brand and use your logo as a label that secures your package. Simplicity is key, after all.

3. Maximalism Has Its Place, Too

Now, if your brand identifies with a more alternative or fun persona, then going for the maximalist route can highlight your brand better. Make your packaging reflect the creativity and culture flourishing within the brand. Explore more patterns, more colors, unique box shapes, and beyond! Maximize your designs and originality, and customers will surely react positively to your creativity.

4. Try Shifting Your Timeless Packaging Designs

Practicality and creativity become connected when you try and go for different yet organized packaging. Try coordinating your packaging designs per category (e.g., red is for clothes, blue is for shoes, green is for accessories, etc.). You can also try seasonal packaging designs for special occasions like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. The ironic thing about changing up packaging sometimes is that you also give an air of relatability and timelessness to them. It shows that your brand also evolves with the times and keeps up with current trends.

5. Embrace Gimmicks

Many brands run their branding through gimmicks and clever marketing and believe it or not these tactics also employ a bit of aesthetics with them. Some people see the idea of collecting items as a form of hobby or reward, while others often buy one-off products for their amusement. Try incorporating these ideas in your packages by releasing limited edition luxurious packaging or designing collectible boxes. You can even turn the latter into a game, where customers can collect the different box designs, post them on social media, and receive discounts from you. You get added promotion, and you get to have fun with your aesthetically pleasing packages.

Final Thoughts

Aesthetics play an important part in packaging and they’re not mutually exclusive with an item’s functionality and practicality. When you understand how your branding works and what your business represents, you can easily make use of elegant visuals and creative designs on a budget to improve your shipping services and packaging.