9 Essential design Elements for Professional Food Packaging

Being a Creative design agency, we encounter from budding passionate entrepreneurs to traditionally experienced businessmen in our offices. We see that zest in everyone to make their product as a brand, and we always love to know that trust they invest in us.

But one thing is most crucial on which irrespective of the size of the company and which is mandate are major essential elements in food packaging. So I thought why don’t we elaborate on this topic so that many of you can enrich your knowledge and utilize it when planning for designing.

Even customer has become very smart now due to COVID-19 they want to know precisely everything before consuming. Hence they scrutinize the packaging, and then they make a buying decision.

While the food industry is a future-oriented field where I am sure many of you are planning to invest, so make sure you are aligned with below elements to create lasting impact.

1) Nutrition Facts ( Facts Up Front)

As the name states, the facts that should display on the front of packaging which talks about the essential nutrients in the food it can be how many calories, saturated fat, fibre, sodium and sugar many more in each serving.

The purpose of FUF is to allow consumers to understand, observe and use critical nutrient information to develop informed food choices for themselves and their families.

The icons displayed on the front of the pack should identify in regulations as the principal display panel of the food package.

• Vertical or Horizontal layout of facts up Front icons as per servings
• Icons as per the need of information
• Percentage description for each nutrient

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2) Vegetarian and non-vegetarian Icons

Especially places like India this matters a lot of people are always keen to check if they are vegetarians. The effect is following the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Act of 2006 and got a mandatory status after the framing of the respective regulations [Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation] in 2011.

Green dot symbol at left identifies as Lacto-vegetarian food and the brown dot symbol on the right will identify as non-Lacto-vegetarian food.

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3) True Facts and Health benefits

The list of information mentioned on food packaging design should have an accurate representation of your product packaging and must not be false or misleading. Health benefits act as USP of products these days and hence don’t forget to focus on them.

Be precise and let the customer know its value to buy your work which can be 0% cholesterol/fat/maida 100% whole wheat with high fibre many more. This information on the front will grab the eyesight at one glance.

4) Recycling, Reuse and Disposable Icons

There is a universal plastic resin symbol of three chasing arrows forming a triangle, the numbers displaying from one to seven inside make a significant difference. A product has the chasing arrows symbol, which not always mean recyclable it’s just an indicator of the type of plastic it can be disposed or recycled.

The original recycling symbol consists of three chasing arrows. These different arrows symbolize the three critical stages, like a trilogy, of the circular economy. Namely reduce, reuse and recycle.

5) Creative Barcodes

Not many experiments with barcode designs, and this lead to an excellent opportunity for you to venture. If barcodes are made creative, then they will act as a promotional tool for your brand, which will keep customers engaged.

Advertisers can take advantage of barcodes by using them to reach out to customers in a more interactive, engaging, and unique way.

6) Professional Product shot/illustration

As it is said, Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media than any other content. Good product photography indeed plays a huge role in determining sales.

As per a famous Hindi proverb ‘jodiktahai, vohbiktahai’, (whatever is seen is sold) it is essential to present products well to scoot the sales higher and faster.

7) Brand Story

Gen Z and Millennial are playing crucial roles in the marketplace as they seek many things from packaging design. They value authenticity and want brands striving to make a genuine connection.

The food packaging design should highlight their value proposition which will also help to recall customers your brand and stay connected. It can be family run business, farm-fresh, organic, purpose or anything which will keep you engaged.

8) Some of the common badges/seal

– Premium Quality

The aesthetical look matter a lot in case of the premium badge they need to look royal and luxurious. Usually, a golden colour badge does justice to its personality. The kings crown or a ribbon of celebration are few icons which are used inside the badge.

 – New Improved

Mostly seen with red and white combination grabs the eyesight of customers with the bold IMPROVED word one can easily connect with the brand message here.

 

– Organic Product

The overall badge feels, and emotion should justify the earthy yet natural brand personality. Icons such as a leaf, farm, 100% will reflect the organic values on bade design. Green and brown are earthy shades hence seen very often in case of such badges.

 

– Allergy Information

The unique information about product ingredients can also be mentioned through creative badges where its mentioned as “Gluten-free”, Vegan, Dairy-free and many more so that people can take a notice who are allergic or many health enthusiasts also.

9) Recipe to engage the customers

Packaging design will engage customers if you mention easy, exciting and mouthwatering product recipes which will entice them to buy a product to try out the recipe.

Also Read: Fast Food Branding & Packaging Design Inspiration 2020

Other Basic Requirements

1. Brand Logo

Logo on food packaging design plays an essential role as it’s the promise to customers. It is your asset, so make sure it’s the best, the colours should represent the brand personality of your company.

Logo icon should either be the actual product or something which will represent the brand through the meaningful brand story.

2. Creative Fonts for Product name

The type of product and its personality will decide the kind of font style will go better. If the product is for kids, then the fun element can be added, if it is mature, then it’s different same goes for modern, affordable font styles.

 

3. Nutrition information

People are now conscious before buying anything; hence they read, check, scrutinize before buying anything, so make sure everything is mention. Nutritional facts should be correct, and no fake numbers will work, so make sure you be real on this.

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 4. Manufacturing and Marketing Address

The MRP, Manufacturing date, expiry date, address, barcode, FSSAI number, marketed by should be mentioned on packaging as per norm of food packaging guidelines.

 5. Food and safety information, e.g. USDA, FSSAI, NZFS

Each country has its food packaging guidelines, and one should ensure to follow them when planning to start a food business in that origin.

It is mandatory to render all this information as per their safety norms they are known as USDA in the USA, NZFS for products sold in New-Zealand, FSSAI for India and many more as such.

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Conclusion:

The food industry will have never-ending demand hence make sure when you are investing in this business, you invest smartly ensure your branding and packaging design done correctly.

Food packaging should entice and develop craving among customers at first glance, ensuring below some trends intact. The latest trends are minimalistic designs, bold colours which will make the shelf ready to stand out, go for a beautiful story with extraordinary photography.

Keep track of the latest updates in the food industry plan productively as per the requirements and product type in the food industry. You can connect us if you need any assistance in food packaging design we will ensure to bring smile on your face.

Author: Megha Malik

As a passionate entrepreneur and creative brand consultant with experience of 14 years in digital, branding and packaging industry, it is my honest effort to put my experiences and knowledge of industry towards readers. A chartered accountant by degree but a marketing personality in blood has motivated her to take in designing industry as a career. With her fun-loving personality and sharp branding skills, she is a great motivational speaker on her YouTube channel, an active member in various business channels offline as well as online. Do connect me personally via my LinkedIn and I love to share my expertise with you.