2023 Package Trends BEST 9: From Retro Design to Smart Packaging

thedieline

As with all other design fields, package design is also highly sensitive to trends. Design trends are not just visual fads; they reflect the many cultural and social changes taking place around the world. For that reason, keeping up with the latest design trends means more than simply chasing what’s popular. If you are a business owner or a designer, you need to know what consumers want right now in order to sell products effectively. Take a look at the latest package design trends for 2023, shaped by issues such as global inflation, war, and the climate crisis.

1. Bold Use of Color

thedieline

Bright, eye-catching packaging is useful because it can easily draw consumers’ attention. Recently, these vivid colors have been used more frequently in packaging. However, bold color use always requires restraint. Simply piling on flashy colors can easily backfire. It is essential to make sure the design aligns with the company’s overall branding.

What colors suit a brand? Color psychology

2. Wrap-Around Pattern

thedieline

A wrap-around pattern refers to a design where the pattern continues seamlessly around the outside of the product on all sides. When a pattern extends across multiple panels like this, it can naturally encourage consumers to look over different parts of the product. It also helps packaging stand out more than designs with a single color. Overall, it is a point that emphasizes dynamism and variation.

Learn about 4-color printing and spot colors

3. Natural Fonts with a Handwritten Feel

thedieline

Typography is one of the key elements in package design. Depending on which font is used, at what size, in what color, and where it is placed, different effects can be created. Recently, typefaces that look as if they were written freely by hand have become popular. In this kind of design, the human “touch” is felt, helping reduce the emotional distance between a brand and its customers.

Creating successful packaging and slogans

4. Sustainable Packaging

thedieline

Environmental issues are still an ongoing concern and have now become part of many people’s daily lives. As a result, many consumers want to practice environmental protection within a realistically manageable range. Accordingly, plastic packaging is being avoided in favor of packaging made with eco-friendly materials. As eco-friendly packaging technology continues to advance, the visible difference between conventional packaging materials and eco-friendly ones has mostly disappeared, so if you choose the latter, it is a good idea to provide information that helps consumers recognize it.

How to achieve both eco-friendliness and great packaging

5. The Aesthetics of Minimalism

thedieline

The saying “simple is the best,” meaning “simplicity is the greatest value,” is often mentioned in design. In package design, minimalism remains popular. There are times when flashy, complex packaging is needed, but depending on the brand and product image, simple and clean design is often the better choice. Try focusing on “taking away” rather than “adding.” You may end up delivering even more of your message.

6. Cartoon-Like Charm

foodbusinessnews

These days, fantasy-driven stories are popular across genres, whether in films, dramas, or novels. This trend, which also goes hand in hand with the “newtro” craze that looks back fondly on the relatively recent past of the 1990s and 2000s, appears in package design through the use of cute cartoon characters that evoke childhood innocence. In fact, many major companies are launching products and packaging through collaborations with cartoon characters that stir consumer nostalgia, and each time they attract significant attention.

7. Creative Twists

thedieline

In today’s “content” era, package design also functions as a form of content. Packaging that is not only visually appealing but also contains a creative idea or story is something consumers enjoy. And this kind of “fun” packaging is more likely to be shared on social media instead of simply being thrown away after purchase. Like teasing a close friend, try adding a playful twist to your package design.

8. Vintage Packaging

thedieline

As mentioned earlier, “newtro” or “retro” styles that evoke nostalgia for the past are still in fashion. In particular, brands with a long history can emphasize their heritage by reusing the original designs from their early products. If your product is aimed at younger consumers, you may worry that they won’t understand it because they are too young, but there is no need to. Vintage design alone can be charming enough.

9. Smart Packaging

thedieline

Smart packaging refers to packaging combined with a bit of modern technology. One of the simplest and most effective methods is using QR codes. The purpose of smart packaging is to go beyond simply wrapping a product and enable close communication between customers and the brand. It is a packaging trend that aligns with today’s emphasis on communication.

To Create Packaging That Fits the Latest Trends

As we have seen above, even the package trends of 2023 involve a wide range of elements. It is impossible to reflect everything in a single design. What matters is creating packaging that suits the brand’s character while still feeling trendy. If you ask packaging experts Packative for help, you can solve both the design and production challenges of creating boxes that fit the trends of 2023 in one go.