Design can go a long way in making a product successful. Think of Pez candy dispensers, tree-shaped car fresheners, and the Amazon Kindle reader– all these products that are remembered for their designs as much as for the actual functionality. So what does it take to get the perfect product design?
Competing products are essentially selling the same promises. So to win the attention of the customer or client, it all comes down to the presentation, marketing and pricing. Presentation and design is the basis of all strategies and if your product design is unique and functional, it has a better chance to be bought. Here are some boxes to tick in your endeavor to find the ideal design.
Functionality and Feasibility
Functionality is based on what users of the product want. What are the biggest challenges that users have to accomplish the task your product is supposed to do? Your product design needs to fix these physical and ergonomic challenges as best as possible. If you are designing packaging, then you need to first ensure that it protects the product.
When you have a design in mind, it should also be feasible to produce. From the material and texture to the scalability of the design, these are things that need to be considered carefully. You do not want an elaborate or difficult design that may be eye-catching but extremely expensive to reproduce in the thousands.
Design with Heart
Micro economies and small businesses now have access to a lot of high-quality product design resources, something which was the domain of bigger brands just a generation ago. From craft beers to organic produce, the packaging is becoming more unique. Generic designs are now frowned upon and templates discarded. A packaging design is about identity and a message rather than just having a flat aesthetic appeal. Some of the most recognizable designs are those that express the geography and culture of a product. They have a bit of history and many times people trust brands because of this visual familiarity. This has been a long-standing tradition with many famous food products.
Choosing the Best Designers
When you use good product design, you will create a good first impression with potential customers. So when you choose a design consultant, pick a team that showcases diversity in its portfolio. The best designers are those who have experiences with big brands and niche businesses alike so they can understand your expectations and give relevant, contextual suggestions.
Packaging Principles
Packaging is the first glimpse that consumers will get of any product so it naturally takes a major share of effort in product design studios. There are certain guidelines that apply when you are in your product design stages.
The first main rule of packaging designing is to start early. There will be a lot of trial and error as you get closer to the final concept so enough time is needed. Sometimes trial packaging and marketing can help you determine the one that works most. Invest some research time on the colors and textures for your packaging. Your design consultants can give you a lot of good leads on these points. The packaging design should also not come in the way of the branding. The logo and letters should be clear and consumers should make a clear association of the design with your brand.
How your product will be exhibited to consumers is also an important factor in product design. If it is going to be sold physically as well as online it needs to stand out of the shelf where it will be placed with similar products. Sustainability is another key factor, one that is increasingly in the minds of informed and environmentally conscious customers. If your packaging can add a green aspect to it, it goes a long way into creating a positive association with your brand. Wasteful, excessive packaging is frowned upon.
Easy portability is another important packaging fundamental. Nothing too big, the size is another factor. People think of space used when they pick up products. It also helps when your packaging design gives the product an aura of exclusivity. Electronic majors like Apple are a perfect example of how sophisticated, simple designs add to the allure of the product.
The Bottom Line
To sum it up, your packaging needs to be distinct from the others. It needs to use the colors that people positively associate with the application – e.g. White or blue works better for cleaning products than black or brown. Packaging needs to showcase the brand, and its unique design should be used as a visual marketing tool.
