It’s an exciting time to be in the design industry.
Technology and evolving consumer habits have forced brands to look for new, ever-more creative ways to appeal to their audience, which means there is an abundance of new intriguing design solutions produced by one graphic design agency after another.
But while there are plenty of opportunities, you have to keep your hand on the pulse of the industry at all times if you don’t want to quickly fall behind your competition.
That’s why we present you some of the most impactful packaging and graphic design trends that you should look out for in the year 2018.
Clarity is Essential
In a marketing world where everyone’s trying to be the loudest, the soundest strategy in 2018 will be to be as clear as possible.
That means that instead of trying to capture your prospect’s attention with big slogans or flashy colours, you should instead focus on delivering your message as clearly as possible when creating your packaging or custom boxes.
Designs that are able to conveniently display the essential info and use any visual elements in a subtle and elegant way will have a much better chance of appealing to their audience.
It’s All about Honesty
Educated consumers are reshaping whole industries.
People no longer fall for businesses or corporations trying to scam them, or even withhold information.
And even if they manage to fool their customers for a while, when the truth comes out, the consequences are even worse.
That’s why your best bet is to be as transparent as possible, and design is a great tool to do just that.
Instead of trying to hide certain ingredients or means of production, you should be clear about how your product is produced so that people perceive your brand as trustworthy.
But that doesn’t have to be negative.
If you have a positive story to tell about your product, tell it!
Whether it’s eco-friendly or organic qualities, or your brand’s social responsibility effort and fair trade practices, you should make it known to your customers on your packaging and graphic designs, as it can often become the most important aspect that separates your brand from the competition.
Make Use of Patterns
Patterns, when used correctly, can instantly elevate a bland design into an intriguing one.
Our brains are naturally wired to look for patterns in everything we see, so if your digital printing agency is able to find the right pattern to fit your product’s design, it can go a long way in making it stand out from the crowd.
What’s more, if you find the pattern that suits your product, over time, that particular pattern may even become associated with your brand in the eyes of your customer, which helps build a strong identity that immediately grabs attention.
Make It Transparent (literally!)
I know we already talked about being transparent with your designs, but this time it’s meant in a more literal sense – making your packaging see-through in clever and interesting ways can not only grab attention but also make it seem more trustworthy.
When you’re not afraid to show the actual contents of your packaging, you’re sending signals to your audience that you’re confident your product looks feels appealing.
What’s more, if you’re able to find creative ways to use the transparent packaging, or even implement die cutting techniques, your product might receive recognition for sheer creativity, which is always a huge plus for any brand.
Make Your Brand Logo Visible
While making the graphics and packaging about the product is essential, you still have to make sure that it’s associated with your brand.
Even though today’s buying decisions are swayed by influencers of the industry more than ever, brand recognition, if done right, will remain a key aspect of any design strategy.
After all, one thing remains steady – people are more inclined to buy from brands that they know and trust, so you have to show off your brand and make it memorable, without being too pushy.
That’s why so many big companies are reinventing their logos, making them simple, bold and memorable.
That way, you can maintain the clear and elegant designs, making the brand logo a natural part of the whole design.
Go Vintage
2018 promises to have more throwback designs than ever.
The trend has been clear during the past few years – people have a natural inclination to trust ‘classic’ looking brands that carry a vintage look, and more and more businesses will try to use that to their advantage.
Whether it’s because vintage designs bring back memories or simply stand out from the competition, they continue to have success. But it’s very important to remember to always keep it in line with your brand’s look and identity.
Author Bio:
Richard Kearsey is a digital designer at a leading digital design agency in London, specialising in digital branding and creative design services. He loves creativity and enjoys experimenting with various design techniques for both web and print. He also enjoys sharing his thoughts on Web Design Blog.
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