Print Design Formats

Fluid packaging a bridge to GenZ. Curved, organic shapes are associated with safety and natural environments, no wonder they capturing GenZ attention. This approach transforms ordinary products into coveted objects of desire, fluid irregular and sinuous object maybe the key you are looking for. >>A bridge to GenZ brain<< The brain is naturally drawn to curved, organic shapes because they are associated with safety and natural environments (unlike sharp, angular shapes, which can signal danger). Gen Z's heightened awareness of mental health and emotional well-being influences their purchasing decisions. Brands that acknowledge these concerns and incorporate elements of comfort and reassurance into their packaging can establish a profound connection with this audience. +90% of Gen Z experience significant stress, with many seeking products that offer emotional support and relief. Unconventional, irregular and fluid innovative packaging defies traditional norms attract GenZ consumers. The brain prefers ergonomically designed, smooth, organic forms because they feel more natural and intuitive to hold and use. And results in aesthetic pleasure, emotional comfort, and an intuitive connection. >>Social amplification: The role of virality<< Social media platforms serve as powerful amplifiers for brands, especially among Gen Z, who are prolific content creators and sharers. Packaging that is visually striking or uniquely designed encourages users to share their experiences online, organically promoting the product. +The sinuous packaging trend amplifies this phenomenon. Products with unconventional packaging often become viral sensations, as consumers are eager to showcase these unique finds on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This user-generated content not only increases brand visibility but also enhances its desirability among peers +Virality is often sparked by the new, unexpected, and disruptive. When a product's packaging challenges conventional expectations, it creates a buzz that can rapidly spread across social networks. This "outbreak virality" occurs when a product becomes a cultural phenomenon, fueled by media coverage, influencer endorsements, and organic consumer interest In conclusion, Fluid and innovative packaging is not merely a vessel for a product but a powerful tool for building emotional connections with Gen Z. Find my curated selection of examples I whish they inspire your following Hit. Featured Brands: Baude Bottega Beneta Byredo Folie Gisou Glowery Heme Hoyu3210 Muzigae Naked Philow #beautybusiness #beautypackaging #beautyprofessionals #genz

Peel and Reveal. From the vibrant hues of an apple to the intricate patterns on a mango, the skin of fruits tells a story of growth and ripening. Ever noticed the unique patterns and blemishes on a piece of fruit? From the speckled skin of a banana to the dimpled surface of an orange, nature's artwork is full of imperfections that add character and charm. Imagine if your packaging could capture that essence, mimicking the fruit's natural markings and aging process? That's exactly what designers are exploring with the innovative concept of packaging that mirrors fruit skins, complete with embossed brown spots. By mirroring these natural markings in packaging design, brands are celebrating the beauty of imperfection, challenging the notion of flawless aesthetics and embracing the authenticity of the natural world. And it's not just about aesthetics. In a society where a flawless appearance often reigns supreme, embracing the quirks and irregularities of fruit skin sends a powerful message—reminds us that beauty comes in all forms, including the unique patterns and variations found in the natural world. Secondly, it enhances the sensory experience. By incorporating texture into packaging design, brands can engage multiple senses, creating a more immersive and memorable interaction with their products. Moreover, it fosters a deeper connection to the source. When packaging mirrors the appearance of fresh produce, it reinforces the idea of authenticity and transparency. Consumers can visually connect the product to its origins, fostering trust and confidence in the brand's commitment to quality and sustainability. Consider Loukas Chondros' packaging for Bananostafido. Inspired by banana peels, it mimics their markings and aging process with embossed spots. Designed for easy opening, it even features a perforated area that mimics the act of peeling a banana. The inner surface of the box resembles the pale yellow of a banana peel, again a nod to the fruit. These small details, transform a simple act like opening a box into a delightful moment of discovery—it's packaging that invites you to engage with it, creating a connection between you and the product inside. From farm to table, the journey of the fruit is reflected in every detail of the packaging, creating a narrative that resonates with consumers. In stores inundated with mass-produced goods and cookie-cutter packaging, designs inspired by nature offer a breath of fresh air. They remind us of the beauty that surrounds us, celebrate the charm of imperfection, and invite us to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. So, the next time you grab that piece of fruit, take a moment to really look and feel its skin—and consider how that same sense of wonder can be captured in the packaging that surrounds it. Think this packaging is spot-on? #packagingdesign #design #productdesign #graphicdesign 📷Loukas Chondros

How to stand out AND stand for something at the same time 🎉 Mandatory Spirit Co delivers packaging innovation that embraces sustainability but still makes an impact on shelf. Switching from glass bottles to a ‘bag in a box’ is a better solution for the environment: 🍃 Glass is heavy, cardboard is lightweight. Lighter packaging creates fewer emissions in transit. 🍃 Square shapes are generally more space efficient than round bottles. This helps to further reduce emissions, as you can fit more on a pallet, more in a truck, and ultimately, have fewer trucks on the road. 🍃 Less waste to landfill. Glass and cardboard are recycled at a similar rate in Australia. Even including a light layer of plastic, this solution weighs less and ultimately puts less packaging material into landfill. The box design stands out on shelf for three reasons: 👇 ✨ Against a wall of glass, a cardboard box acts as a pattern disruptor ✨ Glass reflects light, sometimes obscuring labels or making them difficult to read. Cardboard absorbs light, ensuring clear and legible information ✨ The box design has a larger surface area for print, allowing for bright colours to form a ‘block’ on shelf and provide a strong presence. However, there is one major ⛔ challenge ⛔ in this packaging approach! A cognitive phenomenon known as ‘shape bias’. 🔻 Shoppers go into store searching for a particular shape of an object and may overlook items that do not match that shape. This bias is a result of the brains tendency to rely on familiar cues and mental models to streamline information processing. 🧠 In this example, Mandatory Spirit Co has countered this bias with clear labelling. There’s no second guessing what’s inside the box. “Be clear, not cute” is always a good rule to stand by in your messaging. Well done to Mark C. and the team. 👏 This is a case study of innovation that you could apply to almost every FMCG category and I hope more entrepreneurs keep delivering in this area. ~~~ Follow me @ Brent Vrdoljak for regular FMCG marketing tips & insights.

The biggest packaging trend in India right now is not a graphic style. It's fonts. Typography-led packaging is taking over FMCG shelves. Bold, simple fonts. Limited colour palettes. Clean layouts with minimal illustration. One data point that explains why: Shelf visibility improves by 40% with minimalist design combined with subtle visual breaks. That's not a design opinion. That's cognitive science. Here's how it works. A consumer spends 1.5 seconds scanning a shelf. In that window, their brain needs to process: What is this product? Is it for me? Is it premium? Busy illustrations and complex colour schemes slow processing. The brain has to decode too much information. Strong typography with limited colour answers all three questions instantly. The product name is immediately legible. The design simplicity signals premium. The constraint signals confidence. "If a brand uses only type and colour, they must be confident in their product." That's the subconscious read. Indian brands doing it well: Paper Boat with hand-drawn typography that feels artisanal. Himalaya Herbals with their pharmaceutical-clean aesthetic. Newer D2C brands that lead with bold, oversized product names. But here's the nuance for the Indian market. Western minimalism means white space, sans-serif, muted tones. Indian premium minimalism is different. It needs bold typography. Confident colour. Restrained detail, not absent detail. Because in India, "minimal" can be confused with "cheap." The challenge is making less feel like more. Earth tones alone won't do it. You need at least one element of visual confidence. A colour choice that holds the shelf. Typography that commands attention. For packaging designers: Typography is the highest-leverage skill you can develop right now. For brand managers: If your packaging redesign starts with "what illustration should we use," you're starting with the wrong question. Start with the words.

Most CPG brands obsess over color, image, and type—but many overlook one of the most powerful tools: #Pattern. Fashion brands have known this for decades: Burberry’s plaid. Louis Vuitton’s print. Versace pattern. Dior’s repeat monogram. Goyard’s chevron. These luxury houses have built entire empires on that repetition. No logo necessary. You see the pattern, you know the brand. Instant recognition. Instant equity. Yet in CPG, pattern is mostly treated like background noise—often decorative, delicate and forgettable. But that’s beginning to change. Pattern is emerging as a new way to disrupt the aisle and build long-term memory. Here’s why it works and how some brands are wielding it well: 🔁 Repetition Builds Recognition Consumers don’t read, they recognize. Our brains have evolved to seek out patterns across sound, sight, and structure, which makes rhythmic pattern one of the most efficient and subconscious memory builders in branding. Just ask LaCroix. The brand’s wild brush strokes, applied to every can and box, have become a cultural hallmark and pop culture icon recognized even out of context. ⚡Contrast Creates Disruption Most of today’s packaging leans on soft gradients, ingredient photography, or muted minimalism. Pattern provides a welcome jolt—offering texture, contrast, and structure that interrupts the visual noise of the aisle. MASA’s bold and graphic vertical stripes on a neutral backdrop create a rhythmic signature that grabs attention and demands consideration. Likewise Sound’s sound-wave patter create a gravitational pull in a cluttered beverage shelf. 🌀Flexibility with Structure Pattern systems don’t have to be rigid or monolithic.  Brands that build on a flexible framework—balancing consistency with creative expression—can move seamlessly across different packaging types, product lines, and campaign elements while still staying true to their identity. ROAR uses bold geometric patterns that differentiate by flavor yet remain unmistakably the brand. And Siete adapts its cultural motifs across products, pack sizes, and merchandising without ever diluting the brand. 🌎 Culture & Story Patterns tell stories, they express identity, they signal place. As more and more BIPOC founders enter the CPG space, pattern is becoming a tool to not only stand out, but also to communicate values and a sense of community. From Ayeya’s african-inspired icons to Chuza’s mexican-inspired stairstep geometry, brands are using their cultural roots to inspire their design. 🏁 Scalable Equity Good pattern systems don’t just live on the pack. From digital ads to shipping boxes, merch to motion—patterns give brand worlds texture and cohesion. They’re one of the few assets that can expand without explanation, and signal brand even in the absence of logos or copy. Pattern, used strategically, is more than just design. It’s brand equity, it’s story, it’s disruption. And it’s long overdue for a comeback in CPG. #designstrategy #cpg #fashion

Considering the variety of dairy products and their abundance on retail shelves nowadays, eye-catching designs and unique selling propositions must stand out. Imagine seeing an entirely BLACK bottle on the all-WHITE milk shelf in the store. Introducing: “Unblackit”. “Unblackit” is a milk product in a transparent glass bottle wrapped in black paper. A black-packaged bottle standing on a shelf next to the other dairy products sparks intrigue and pushes the customer to discover the mystery of a black bottle on the commonly all-white milk shelf. The intrigue continues when people take the product home and start unwrapping the bottle. The stylized black spots appearing along the glass are intended to depict the same spots on a milking cow. Its technology is perforated paper with sticky spots. The process of unwrapping or “unblackiting” is the last step of the packaging design that also becomes the naming idea of the product. The typography of the logo has also been developed to fit the same cow pattern style. A glass bottle was chosen as the most suitable option for containing milk. This is due to its superior ability to keep the product fresh and its aesthetic appeal of transparency and crystal cleanliness. As a result, an interactive product with a unique customer experience has been created. A design solution with a vital merchandising feature, game factor, and exceptional presentation gives the product a competitive advantage for a successful introduction to the market. https://lnkd.in/ddGucXG8

I spent the last few days under fluorescent lighting and on top of ugly carpeting and still left feeling utterly inspired. Today I shared the top trend takeaways from Expo West for Dieline's Shelf Life, but catch a sneak peek of each below: Sustainable Packaging Innovation Brands are rethinking packaging with eco-conscious solutions. Neo Tea’s biodegradable bamboo tea bags and milkadamia’s flat-pack oat milk sheets—created via a 2D printing process—are leading the charge in reducing waste and emissions. The Rise of the Edgy Adjective CPG brands are embracing bold, provocative names to stand out. From The Killer Brownie® Company and Killer Spice to Uglies Kettle Chips, brands are using intensity, indulgence, and irony to capture attention—sometimes even turning their own names into merch. Maybe the Liquid Death and Dave's Killer Bread effect? Trad Masc Goes Mainstream Masculine #branding is on the rise, with Guinness launching hyper-masculine beef jerky and Agro plant-based jerky featuring a buff farmer on its packaging. Even Nic Nac nicotine pouches are targeting high-performance men, reinforcing the rugged, no-frills aesthetic that’s gaining momentum. Swirly Type Takes Over Groovy, high-contrast typography dominated Expo West, showing up across categories from GOODLES and Graza to Beny Yogurt and Simply Protein. This retro-inspired look thrives on social media, aligning with maximalist, Y2K, and personality-driven branding. Cocoa’s Crisis & the Chocolate Evolution With cocoa prices soaring, brands are adapting. Midday Squares leaned into transparency with “Cocoa stole the budget” messaging, while Mez Chocolates is exploring mesquite as a cocoa alternative. Wild West Chocolate is tackling sugar concerns with fruit-based sweeteners, reflecting the broader shift toward ethical, innovative chocolate alternatives. Link to article in the comments!

A retail brand redesigned their packaging last month. Same product. Same price point. Same distribution channels. Sales increased 340% within six weeks. What changed? Visual storytelling that connected with customer needs. I understand how overwhelming packaging redesign feels when balancing aesthetic appeal with functional requirements. Your brand identity matters deeply, and effective packaging communicates value before customers read a single word. The breakthrough came from understanding customer decision-making at the shelf. Four design principles that transform packaging into sales drivers: First, establish clear product hierarchy through visual weight. Bold graphics highlight premium offerings. Lighter designs signal entry-level options. Weight distribution guides customers toward products matching their budget expectations. Second, use texture patterns that communicate product benefits. Smooth surfaces suggest refined formulations. Textured elements indicate strength or durability. Tactile cues reinforce product positioning through physical interaction. Third, position key information within the customer's natural scanning pattern. Eyes move left-to-right across packages. Place critical benefits in high-visibility zones. Information placement determines what customers notice first. Fourth, create unboxing sequences that build anticipation. Layer reveals generate emotional engagement. Progressive disclosure maintains interest throughout the opening experience. Structured unboxing transforms routine purchases into memorable moments. The brand applied these principles to redesign their entire product line. Customer retention improved 85% alongside the sales increase. Design choices directly influenced purchasing behavior and brand loyalty. Your packaging speaks before your product performs. From my perspective, successful packaging design requires understanding customer psychology at the point of purchase. What packaging element most influences your buying decisions when comparing similar products?

Packaging is no longer an afterthought. It’s a lever for growth, consumer trust, and competitive edge. Over the years advising and investing in CPG brands, I’ve seen packaging shift from being a cost center to becoming a growth driver. The latest wave of launches show us that when packaging innovation is done right, it addresses three core needs at once: consumer usability, sustainability, and regulatory/safety expectations. Here are a few recent examples worth analyzing: 1️⃣ Target’s Collective Good Wine Packaging wine in lightweight paper bottles made from recycled materials isn’t just a sustainability story, it’s a supply chain play. Lower weight reduces shipping costs and emissions, and the format is approachable for consumers who are increasingly eco-conscious. 2️⃣ AeroFlexx By developing a flexible format that performs like a rigid bottle, AeroFlexx is redefining the “middle ground” between convenience and sustainability. For investors, it shows how material innovation can unlock entirely new categories. 3️⃣ Radienz Living x Graphic Packaging International Their recyclable child-resistant box for laundry pods demonstrates how safety and compliance can coexist with curbside recyclability. This is a blueprint for how regulation and consumer trust can accelerate adoption of new formats. 4️⃣ Xampla Using plant proteins to create biodegradable packaging isn’t just a scientific breakthrough, it’s a potential paradigm shift. If scaled successfully, it reduces dependency on single-use plastics while tapping into agricultural byproducts that might otherwise be wasted. Lesson: In CPG, packaging innovation is no longer just a function of design. It’s a strategy that blends supply chain efficiency, consumer trust, and long-term resilience. Brands that recognize this early will set the standard for the next decade. 👉 My question to fellow investors, operators, and founders: Which of these forces will reshape our industry fastest, consumer demand, regulatory pressure, or breakthrough materials? #trevorhague #CPG #packaginginnovation #sustainability

In this episode of Packaging Today Show, we unwrap two mind-blowing innovations reshaping the future of packaging—from AI-powered color accuracy to cheese that literally packages itself. No, this isn't sci-fi—it's the packaging industry in 2025. 🧀 Self-Packing Cheese? Nestlé Says Yes. We dive into Nestlé Central America's revolutionary cheese wrapper made from cheese. Collaborating with Ogilvy Colombia, they've turned leftover whey protein into a biodegradable bioplastic that decomposes in under a year. It’s edible-adjacent innovation with the potential to redefine food waste and eliminate single-use plastic from dairy aisles. Could this be the gateway to a new era of food-product symbiosis? 🎛️ Color Matching Gets an AI Upgrade At Esko World 2025, X-Rite and Esko dropped a game-changer. Their new duo—eXact 2 spectrophotometer + Print Clone AI—is turning color matching into a frictionless, press-ready science. We explore how this tech partnership is helping digital printers replicate brand colors perfectly, cut down on press make-readies, and slash packaging waste across global supply chains. 💡 Whether you geek out on sustainable substrates or love seeing AI tighten up the print floor, this episode is for you. 🛠 Topics We Cover: Bioplastics made from food byproducts Smart color profiling for digital presses AI in the print production workflow The future of circular packaging design How brands like Nestlé are pushing material innovation 📦 If you care about the future of sustainable packaging, brand integrity, or just love nerding out over smart design—this episode’s got your name on it. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share with your packaging-obsessed crew.