No matter our age, we all have a weakness for candy. Whether it's your weakness for something sweet or maybe you're just chasing nostalgia, candies are a big part of everybody's life at some point. Apart from their taste, one thing that makes candies a big part of their appeal to all is their packaging. Given their critical role, candy packaging design is one of the most essential parts of a manufacturer's process for a product launch.
With the vast number of products in the market, it is essential to enhance their visibility with creative packaging that's not only appealing enough to turn customers' heads but also memorable enough to last for years. To help with that, it is always better to go with the professional who has spent years in the market analysing customer trends. In this blog post, we will touch on the customer factors to consider when creating a creative packaging design, the key elements of packaging design, and the process of designing candy packaging.
Understanding What the Customer Wants
Before any packaging design process can begin, it is vital to understand what the customer wants. To help with this, packaging design companies analyse the market and focus on customer preferences. It is only after this due diligence that any task related to the design starts. So, what factors can cause a shift in customer trends? Let's find out.
· Trends in Packaging: As with everything, customers' tastes and preferences also change when it comes to packaging. While in the old days they would have preferred sturdy plastic packaging, there has now been a shift towards sustainability. Therefore, eco-friendly or easily recyclable candy packaging designs may be better suited.
· Customer Buying Triggers: Just as with every product, customers have a specific reason for buying candy. Understanding them is key to good packaging design. If you want to target impulse-buy customers, a logo with bright colors and fun graphics will increase your candy's visibility. On the other hand, if you're targeting customers who buy candy as gifts or as a premium treat, a classier, minimalist packaging would work well.
· Reflect Taste With Packaging: After understanding the latest trends and defining your target customers for your candy, it is essential that your packaging gives a clear preview of your product. The packaging should align with your candy's flavour. For example, a fun graphic on a sour candy will work well. However, if you add the same graphic to a premium chocolate, then it could be misleading.
Key Elements to Consider While Designing Your Candy Packaging Design
· Structural Packaging: Before creating the label, deciding on the packaging material is also essential. Factors like your candy type will be a significant factor in determining that. However, factors such as shelf life, packaging, and visuals should also be considered.
· Label Design: Once you have settled on the packaging material for your candy, the next crucial aspect is creating an appealing label. A label should be versatile enough not only to promote your candy but also to give customers a glimpse into the brand's story.
· Custom Graphics and Fonts: While the label should be versatile enough to showcase your entire brand, one key aspect of the best packaging designs for candies is the ability to customize. The custom graphics and fonts should align with the product range and tastes for maximum impact.
· Final Touches: After settling on a final design for your candy packaging, the final step before printing can begin is to select the finer printing details. Effects like embossing and foils are finalized in this process. The print effect is also a crucial part of the final look. For a candy more suited to kids, adding a shiny foil would work better. For a gift or premium product, a matte finish is preferred.
What are Some of the Key Steps in Candy Packaging Design?
· Research and Analysis: The first step in designing creative packaging is to conduct a thorough analysis of customer behaviour. In this, a professional designer will check how a customer responds to a particular packaging design. One of the best techniques is to run A/B tests comparing two products.
· Structural and Graphic Design: Once the research is complete, the design process can begin. From making the final decision on the packaging material and shape to finalizing the graphics for the package, everything is finalized in this process.
· Final Checks and Printing: Even if you have hired a professional packaging design company, it is always important to thoroughly review all final checks before giving the go-ahead for printing. Check all the colors, graphics, texts, and everything else before the printing can start.
· Launch Time: After printing, it's finally time to launch the product. But even during this, you need to coordinate with the printer to ensure everything goes smoothly. It is also important to collaborate with the printer and ensure consistency in your final approved product and the products on the shelf.
· Review and Revision: Yes, your candy has been launched with outstanding packaging. But the job is not yet done. Now is the time to review the impact of the candy packaging design on the market. Carefully review your sales numbers to determine whether the packaging is having a desirable effect, and, if not, plan revisions for next time.
Conclusion
In today's world, having a great product is just not enough. If there is a lack of awareness or the product is not appealing enough to consumers at first glance, your sales will be low. Therefore, to boost your sales, having an appealing candy packaging design is essential.
If you are looking for a reliable designer with years of experience, check out Lien Design for all your design needs.
Read More: 10 most creative candy packaging design tips to-make your brand stand out
FAQs
Why is candy packaging design important for sales?
A unique, well-designed candy package is vital to sales. Not only will they drive more customers, but they can also tell the brand's story.
Why is selecting a packaging material necessary?
Selecting a packaging material is a significant step in designing your packaging. Since the candies will remain in the package until they are consumed, a company needs to ensure there is no damage to the product while on the shelf.
What should be the considerations before selecting a font?
While choosing a font, it is essential to consider the target customers for the candy. If the candy is marketed to kids, a bold, large font is better. However, for premium products, subtle fonts are the way to go.