Last year has been a very exciting year in packaging design, and this year is set to be no different. Boundaries in the general world of design are also affecting packaging, and unless you stay on top of these changes, you might not be able to keep up with the competition. There will be a lot of surprises in the coming year, and unless designers learn how to adapt and use these trends, they’ll be left in the dust. Here are some packaging design trends to keep an eye on.

 

 
 

Flexible Custom Packaging

Custom packaging used to be difficult and costly, but companies are now making it easier than ever to design custom packaging and have them delivered fast. Some services like allow businesses to create designs in minutes and have them delivered in as fast as 24 hours. This should be a great equalizer for small batch businesses and those who want to make a mark on the market with a limited budget.

 

 

 

 
 

Retro-Futurism

At first glance, the term might look like an oxymoron, but futuristic design and retro ideas can fuse together very well, and we can expect more brands to embrace the look. We can expect to see more bold gradients and neons to make a comeback as well. Retro fonts should also be big.

Maximalism

We often hear about minimalism, and it does still have its place in packaging design. However, we are also witnessing a shift towards more opulence in packaging, and maximalism in design is a great way to convey a sense of luxury. This actually coincides with uncertainty in the economy, and this could be a way for consumers to bring a sense of luxury into their lives, even in hard times.

 
 

Ecologically Responsible Packaging

This is a trend that has been forming for many years, and is not likely to go anywhere anytime soon. Climate change is recognized as one of the major challenges of the next century, and packaging that isn’t ecologically responsible is bound to get attention for all the wrong reasons. Brands will do everything to make their packaging as sustainable as possible, and make it known too. We could also see more organic materials being used, or materials that mimic them.

We can even expect certain brands to ditch packaging all together. We’ve already seen these with products like Lush’s line of shampoo bars, which makes the product itself attractive enough to not need packaging.

This will also force designers to find ways to do more with less. They will need to be able to make simple materials like recyclable cardboard and other flat surfaces pop without using excessive material. Either way, the use of non-recyclable plastics will be a no-no, and something brands will need to give special attention to in the next coming year.

 

 

 

 

 
 

The nearest future will bring a lot of changes for the industry, and they can’t be ignored. If you’re a designer or a business, make sure that you look at these trends in detail and find ways that you can capitalize on them.