Trends come and go—that’s a fact.

And when it comes to product packaging and branding, some trends tend to stick around. As we’re now in the middle of 2019, now’s as good a time as any to look at the trends expected to make waves in the world of product packaging.

1. Sustainable packaging

Being more environment-friendly is on everyone’s to-do list—businesses included. So, it was only really a matter of time until retailers thought of ways to make their product packaging greener. We’ve already seen retailers transition to sustainable packaging last year, and we expect it to become a more prevalent practice in 2018, with companies using recyclable materials to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize the amount of plastic that makes it to the world’s landfills and water systems

• Minimalist Designs

Say goodbye to cluttered graphic designs in product packaging. This is the year for minimalists—a trend that also extends to product packaging. We live in a fast-paced world where people can’t be bothered to read unnecessary product information. And so, you can expect to see brands simplify their packaging, conveying the most important information in a way that’s quick and easy for customers to understand.

• Large Text

The transition to minimalist graphic design in product packaging will be accompanied by larger and bolder fonts. Again, the goal is the same: to save space and convey the message in a quick and concise manner. The attention span of the average consumer, combined with an increasing aversion to advertising, means that excessive product information will only turn your customers off. The fewer words you use to send a message, the better. And that often requires doing it with large, eye-catching text.

• Experimental Designs

Over the last few months, we’ve seen more and more companies play around with unusual product packaging, especially in the food industry. This is the year to embrace experimental and revolutionary product packaging designs.

We’re not saying that you should be unusual just for the sake of unusual. After all, if you’re going to experiment with your product packaging, whatever design you come up with should still make sense and not confuse the consumer.

• Feminine Aesthetic

Finally, expect a more feminine aesthetic to dominate product shelves in supermarkets and department stores. Alongside the minimalist designs that are expected to trend in the retail sector in 2018, soft edges and cool colours that are usually associated with women are going to make their presence felt.

Remember, product packaging is the last advertisement your customers will see before they make a final purchase decision. So, make your product packaging count. To learn more about packaging updates and insights, be sure to follow this blog. If you would like to learn more about our packaging solutions, get in touch with the Smartbag team by calling us at 1300 874 559.