How to prepare a packaging design project

1. Product and audience

Start with the basics: what the product is, who buys it, where it is sold and what price level it sits at. Describe the competitors it will sit next to, whether on a store shelf or in a list of online search results. Packaging for a premium gift, a supermarket staple and a product sold only online will look very different. Share photos of competitors' packaging and note what you want your product to communicate in comparison: more natural, more premium, more playful or more technical.

2. Structure and dieline

Decide the packaging type with your manufacturer before design starts: a box, pouch, bottle label, tube, sleeve or bag. Ask the manufacturer for the dieline, which is the flat template showing exact dimensions, folds, cuts, glue areas and any windows. The designer must work on this exact template. Designs made without a confirmed dieline often have to be rebuilt when the real measurements arrive. If you need a new structure, a product or structural designer can help, but the manufacturer should confirm it can be produced.

3. Required information and text

Gather all text that must appear on the package. Depending on the product and country, this can include the product name, net quantity, ingredients or materials, usage and safety instructions, warnings, the manufacturer or importer address, country of origin, barcodes, batch and date areas, and recycling symbols. Rules vary by product category and market, so check the requirements for your situation or ask a specialist. Designers lay out this information, but they are not responsible for its legal accuracy. Marketing text, such as benefit statements and short descriptions, can be written by a product copywriter.

4. Brand assets

Provide your logo in vector format, brand colors with print references, fonts and any brand guidelines. If you have a product range, explain how variants should be distinguished, such as by color, illustration or a flavor band. Planning a system for the whole range from the start keeps future products consistent and saves design time later.

5. Print method and materials

Ask your manufacturer which printing method, materials and finishes they will use, and pass this to the designer. Different materials, such as kraft paper, white board, clear film or metal, change how colors look. Special finishes like foil, embossing or spot varnish need separate files. The number of colors can affect cost for some print methods. A designer who knows these details can create artwork that looks good and stays within budget.

6. Mockups and online images

Ask for realistic 3D mockups so you can judge the design from all sides. Mockups are also useful for online stores and crowdfunding pages before production samples are ready. Once you have real packaging, a product photographer can shoot it for your listings, which usually looks more trustworthy than mockups alone.

7. Proofs and samples

Before mass production, check a printed proof or sample. Look at colors under normal lighting, read all text at actual size, test folds and closures, and scan the barcode. Check that the most important information is visible from the front and from a distance. Small text that looked fine on screen can be unreadable on a real package. Approve the final files only when you are happy with the physical sample.

Preparation checklist

• Product, audience, price level and competitors described.
• Packaging type agreed and dieline from the manufacturer.
• All required information and marketing text gathered and checked.
• Vector logo, colors, fonts and range plan.
• Print method, materials and finishes confirmed.
• 3D mockups for review and online use.
• Printed sample checked before mass production.

Keep the final files, dielines and printer specifications together so reorders and new variants are quick. Our packaging and label design guide explains how to compare designers, and our print-ready files article covers more about preparing artwork for print.