Product packaging designs have become more important than ever before. Experienced box manufacturers predict the upcoming packaging trends likely to dominate in the New Year.
In this article, we would share our thoughts of what can partially become void and what designs would become fashionable in 2022.
Packaging trends of the future
Some basic changes that pundits strongly predict start from the following areas.
One: Ultra-symmetric box patterns
2021 saw some serious revolution in the box patterns format. More brands switched to a simpler yet geometric design. This trend is likely to pass on in 2022 as well.
Globally leading brands are rapidly adopting this trend. It would surely rub on brands in all retail areas. Customers attach premium brand ethics to lined patterns that are easy to look at. It also reflects that consumers are likely to pick branded boxes that contain symmetric drawings.
While the trend may seem subtle at first but the increasing customer preferences tilting towards an elegant box appeal is sure to tip off many brands to follow suit and make it a norm.
Two: Focus on the brand name
One other recent update in packaging designs is that companies are now making their brand title the focal point of the boxes instead of their logos.
Imaginative fonts are slowly replacing the stylish logos that dominated the boxes previously. If you are a relatively new business and want to expand brand awareness, then this trend would surely work right for you.
This category of box design heavily relies on creative typography to describe the brand aesthetics. It is because the customers are highly likely to read your brand name when they first set eyes on your boxes. The brand name printed on a clean box base is surely going to imprint the brand image faster on customers’ minds.
Three: Color blocking
While businesses have been using color blocking in the past, it has taken a new shape recently. 2022 would further witness variations in color combos, weight, size, and textures of this trend.
Where historically color blocking designs were more focused on definite shapes and perfect grids, the modern version would be more natural by being uneven, scattered, and random.
The colors used are also tilting towards lighter tones. The futuristic color combos are likely to include soft pastel colors and less bold and neon ones.
Four: Aggressive sustainability
A packaging trend that is definitely going to keep emerging is recyclable packaging. Improved legislations would find new ways to restrict irresponsible packaging ethics and encourage sustainable ones.
The post-pandemic era would further escalate the customer expectations regarding green packaging boxes. Customer surveys reveal that as high as three-quarters of customers are willing to pay more for clean boxes.
Box manufacturers are receiving greater orders for bio-degradable boxes than ever before. Corrugated stock is touted as the present and future of shipping boxes. The material is being experimented with to find new shapes and effective functions. Innovations in the box making process are bound to come up with premium ways to present the material using attractive custom options.
Five: More illustrations
Marketers predict that customers are now more likely to respond strongly to graphics and pictures than plain texts.
2021 saw more of this trend. Brands chose to depict their values and ethics through illustrations. The pattern is going to get cemented in 2022 too. Pictures speak more than words when used aptly. Brands have begun to understand this and prefer to save on inks from printed texts.
Using graphics is also more convenient, it reduces typing errors and makes an impact almost instantly. Busier customers are more likely to notice elucidating pictures than meaningful texts. It would ensure that they get a good idea of the brand story too.
Six: Right-sizing the boxes
Over the years, this term has come to define reducing the size of the boxes to reflect a responsible brand structure.
The main components include:
- Reducing the box weight to lower shipping costs.
- Shunning the need for extra box fillers.
- Crafting creative box shapes to use the materials more efficiently
The continuing expansion in the e-commerce sector will only fuel the need for effectively produced boxes. Getting certified by reputable organizations is an important part of exhibiting positive brand aspects to customers.
Seven: Stricter implementation of healthy packaging
COVID-19 has prompted brands to be conscious of how they package their products. Customers search for details that explain the entire production process. There is going to be a norm where brands express their whole hygiene and health concerns on their custom packaging to build customer trust.
One of these measures would comprise more use of porous materials for boxes. Studies have proved that viruses stay a day on cardboard and several days on plastic but don’t survive long on porous surfaces.
It is definitely going to become a major hit amongst sellers and customers alike in the coming year and probably beyond.
Advantages of adopting these trends
History tells us that opting for the latest trends in packaging has several benefits. It works to be aligned with industry norms and gain from improved brand visibility. Let us see how the above upcoming trends are going to impact your business.
- Makes your brand trendy. Adopting new design trends is a good way to stay relevant and fresh.
- Helps to expand customer reach. For as long as the trends stay in fashion, they are more likely to entice customers.
- Cut down costs. Several new box designs focus primarily on using less materials and hence, fall lighter on pockets.
- Limited printing. Upcoming trends involve simpler designs and are bound to save effort and time in printing the boxes.
Pick designs that go with your brand image and make them part of your packaging in 2022.
Conclusion
Seeing the retail shelves change format is only natural. Trends go in and out of fashion rapidly. Using the services of box manufacturers is a wise way to ensure that your brand looks new always.
