Weighing The Concerns Of Form And Function With Your New Product Packaging
The two main factors that determine how packaging is designed is form and function. The form of the packaging refers to how it looks and how appealing it is to consumers. Appealing packaging is designed to grab the consumer's attention and to also help the consumer remember the product. By using unique colors and designs, a small business can generate brand recognition and increase the likelihood that consumers will remember and purchase a product.
Form And Function
However, the best package designs need to also consider function. The package must protect the product and keep it in a single location. For example, if the product contains many small parts, it shouldn't have openings that allow for these small parts to escape. The product should be protected from the elements, with the level of protection corresponding with the vulnerability of the product. For example, many hardware stores sell metal bolts that come with minimum protection because it is believed that they will be resistant to the elements. Conversely, a beverage that could lose its carbonation would need an airtight seal.
Protecting Your Product
Another consideration is how much the product will be protected from damage resulting from how the product is handled. The more padding, the less likely that the product will shatter if it is dropped by a careless handler. Even bottles made out of tougher glass can be preferable because some bottles may not shatter even if they are dropped.
Balancing Protection With Marketing Needs
While protecting the package is essential, wrapping a product in bubble wrap and placing it on the shelf will drastically reduce the number of sales. Not only will the product be harder to identify, but there is something unappealing about a product wrapped in bubble wrap. While such protective measures might be useful when getting the product to the retail outlet, it is then necessary to rely on more attractive packaging.
The Advantages Of Clear Packaging
One of the best ways to clarify what the product is can be to show the customer exactly what the product is. This is accomplished through clear packages that allow the product to speak for itself. Clear packaging also gives your product a level of authenticity by allowing customers to know that the product is exactly as it is presented. These are a lot of difficult concerns to juggle, but when you understand the unique concerns of your product, it will be much easier to juggle them.