Top Five Packaging Trends in 2024
TREND 1 - INTERACTIVE PACKAGING
Interactive, or smart, packaging is multifunctional and lets your customers interact in novel ways with your brand.
Smart designs can shine here with add-ons like stickers that keep a package closed between uses, or box that can be turned into a child’s toy or fun board game.
Other examples are sensory – like scratch and sniff labels, or boxes with embedded seeds that can be planted after use.
This brilliant design for a take-out sandwich package opens up into a paper plate, providing a sanitary spot to enjoy it’s contents.
This award-winning* design by Emma Smart for UK supermarket chain ASDA, answers the call for interactivity with impressive utlity AND successfully communicates product benefits.
The drive for purposeful, interactive packaging experiences is stronger today than ever, and modern digital printing techniques with food-safe coatings have become more accessible.
*Emma Smart’s design was a British Design & Art Direction Yellow Pencil award winner for Packaging Design way back in 2011
TREND 2 - AUGMENTED PACKAGING
Image Source: Insdie FMCG 2019
Today’s augmented packaging weaves together the tactile experience with a digital, multi-sensorial experience. QR codes have evolved into art and are easily integrated into creative packaging designs.
Once only used by behemoths like McDonald’s and Heinz, it is now possible for up-and-coming brands to take advantage of AR-enabled packaging without breaking the bank.
AR technology enables brands to deliver a richer and more unique packaging experience that can drive retail sales and leave a lasting impression.
TREND 3 - ICONIC COLOR PALETTES
Times China Hyper contrast packaging design; Source: Packaging of the World Havaianas Hyper contrast packaging design; Source: AdForum
From hyper contrasting brights to super saturated pastels, color is making a huge comeback in packaging.
Drawing on the fashion fad of “dopamine dressing” (the practice of finding joy in your choice of clothing), it’s designed to both uplift and draw attention.
Tamped down just a little is the saturated pastels palette that’s equally arresting and fresh. By tweaking conventional pastel shades, and recombining them in more unexpected ways, you get a vibrancy that’s both playful, youthful and potent.
Loving Earth saturated pastels packaging design by Soul Studio; Source: Packaging of the World
TREND 4 - BRUTALIST TYPOGRAPHY
Brutalist design takes its cues from the 70’s architecture trend.
While it may not have aged well in such a permanent form, when it comes to packaging, it’s got plenty of staying power to remain relevant today.
It often uses a limited color palette and makes it easy to keep brand front and center.
Nice Cream brutalist type packaging design by Han Gao via Packaging of the World
TREND 5 - DISCRETE LUXE
Like the allure of the secret door into a private club, this packaging style bucks the social media-driven oversharing and invites customers to relish the anticipation of peeling back layers to reveal a precious jewel.
Multiple layers, heavier stock, understated design, speciality inks and coatings, and even a more complex opening mechanism can bring this luxe to life.
Image Source: https://dribbble.com/studio-miyabi
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