Innovative Ideas for Custom Packaging Printing

Often it’s the packaging, not the product, that first catches a consumer’s eye. A beautiful, unique box will stop shoppers in their tracks. It will get called out by reviewers as a sign of quality. And it will communicate volumes about a brand’s identity and values. However, it can also pose a lot of missed opportunities for brands that don’t take the time to get their packaging right.

With a world-class professional printer like Wallace Carlson Printing, brands have access to an incredible variety of packaging customization options. To illustrate, let’s take a look at some of the innovative approaches the industry is currently taking to increase customization options. Read on to learn more about what a top-quality printing partner can do to transform your packaging. But first, let’s explain a little more about what custom package printing consists of.

What is Custom Package Printing?

Custom package printing refers to the process of crafting completely unique packaging, bespoke for your brand. Every aspect including art, layout, dimensions, structure, and finishing details can be adjusted according to your exact requirements. Your custom package printer will work with you, step by step, to create a one-of-a-kind design that maximizes presentation, without sacrificing on protection for the contents within.

4 Key Areas of Innovation for Custom Packaging Design

True custom package design goes much further than just slapping a couple graphics on a box and calling it a day. To show how just about every aspect of packaging can be adjusted, let’s consider four key aspects of custom packaging design.

1. Structural Innovation

The most basic packaging structures are simple boxes. They’re straightforward, accommodate a wide variety of products, and generally get the job done. However, on their own, these structures don’t do much to move the needle on either protection or presentation. That’s where structural innovation comes in handy. 

Packaging designers can turn rudimentary packaging into efficiency-improving, eye-catching, brand-building enclosures with enhanced protective features in a number of ways, including:

• Collapsible Designs – Collapsible packaging is designed for easy flat-shipping or storage. The pieces can then be quickly assembled as needed.
• Multi-functional Designs – Multifunctional packaging provides added value to the consumer through features like re-usability, long-term storage, and product display.
• Interactive Elements – Interactive packaging incorporates features like QR codes, games, and even crafts to encourage elevated brand engagement.

2. Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions

As consumers and regulations have become increasingly eco-conscious, eco-friendly packaging solutions have rapidly advanced. Of course, industry-leading packaging professionals like Wallace Carlson, have already implemented extensive materials recycling programs. More important to packaging customization, though, are the innovations in the materials themselves.

Biodegradable and recyclable options are available for all types of packaging solutions, and their durability, strength, and quality are top-notch. They’ll stand up to shipping and handling, while helping to reinforce a brand’s green bona fides and customer reputation.

3. Personalization and Customization

Personalization takes many forms in custom package printing and designing. Perhaps the most prominent is printed artwork, which can be displayed across every surface of the packaging, inside and out. However, these two dimensional design elements are only the start.

The overall shape of the packaging can also be robustly customized. Dimensions can be adjusted to ensure a perfect fit for the products inside, while details like product windows can be shaped to reflect your brand and display products to their best advantage.

A third opportunity for customization comes with inserts and dividers. These components can help organize the space within a larger package and protect products during transit.

These options are just the start. There’s an ever-expanding world of personalization and customization available to business looking to stand out with their packaging. The best way to know what’s possible for your brand is to work with an expert custom packaging partner, like Wallace Carlson Printing, where new ideas are constantly being tested and refined.

4. Creative Coatings and Design Elements

Finally, the fine details can’t be overlooked. Take the layout of the artwork, for example. Its placement and positioning on the packaging must be carefully considered. Done too hastily, the final product is likely to suffer from poor alignment of the design elements, inconsistent branding, and a general sloppy impression.

Other fine details to consider are coatings and finishes. Different coatings impart different qualities to the packaging, elevating its perceived value. For example:

• Cold Foil can be used to create bright metallic images and text.
• Glossy Coating can be applied to add clear shine to all or part of the packaging.
• PMS Inks can be used for ultra-precise color matching on packaging elements.
• Soft Touch imparts a velvety texture that enhances the tactility of the printing.

Wallace Carlson Printing’s Custom Packaging Process

With so many options available for custom packaging printing, it’s understandable that most businesses aren’t 100% sure how to achieve the results they want. Fortunately, a professional’s expert guidance can help you turn big ideas into beautiful results.

The process of designing and printing custom packaging tends to follow four basic steps:

First, the client will sit down with their packaging expert to discuss the specifications of the packaging. This includes the required dimensions, what materials the packaging will be made of, and how the client envisions it opening, hanging, being displayed, etc.

Second, the packaging professionals will map out the most efficient production process possible. The goal is to limit or eliminate hand assembly entirely hand, to boost production times and lower production costs.

The third step is to build a mockup of the packaging. Once created, all parties will review the design and determine what adjustments need to be made to the shape, print design, construction, etc.

Lastly, embellishments like cold foil and soft touch can be selected to enhance the finalized design. The packaging creator will work with the client to determine where and how these embellishments will be placed in relation to the approved artwork.