Brands and businesses in 2021 have understood that the consumer mindset completely revolves around the visual aesthetics of a product first, then comes the actual service or product itself. The very first thing everyone notices is the packaging of an item. If it is minimal, it is assumed it is an expensive and polished brand, whereas if it is very colourful and quirky, it is thought of as a fun and young brand. Thus, packaging design has become an integral part of most consumer goods brands and businesses. Due to that, there has been an increase in demand for graphic and packaging designers, opening opportunities for a larger demographic.
This is a question for brand owners, before hiring a good designer or commissioning a project with a good design firm or brand, what are the questions? If there is a question concerning that, do not worry, as this article is curated to answer those questions and allow these new business owners to ask all the right questions before working with a good design firm/ team.
Things to look for in a good design team:
It is no hidden knowledge that designers are very talented and highly skilled at what they do, especially to cater to the needs of their clients. If a business representative has the responsibility to hire a good designer, they must first understand the factors that go into assessing a good packaging designing firm.
Following are some good ideas to keep in mind before working with a designer:
- Asking all the right questions: A good team of designers will first have a meeting with the marketing representative of the product business and ask all the right questions first before finalizing the project or not.
Questions like “what is the product?”, “What is the consumer audience for the service/ product?” and “What is the mode of shopping for these products?” are very crucial for them to ask or understand. If they are unwilling to understand the basic needs of the business and try to understand the product consumer mindset, then it is best to look for another firm. You should also keep in mind the shipping of the products, if they are being shipped to a different location, you would need reliable boxes for shipping.
- Understanding basic design concepts: The very next factor for a business to learn is the basics of design, such as colour theory, fonts, and logos, etc., that are crucial in making attractive and quirky packaging. The marketing representative must understand these factors to be able to speak and negotiate a fair and reasonable price with the design firm, which has highly skilled professionals working to make the perfect design for the product package. For example, there are amazing design companies, like Jam & Co., who are aware of every design jargon under the sun.
- Price Structure: Last but not the least, pricing and breakdown of costs is a great factor to look out for, especially for newer businesses looking to brand their packaging design for the first time. Plenty of amazing firms have good pricing structures for their services but might be a bit too expensive for smaller businesses. These businesses can certainly look online and visit design websites that have stunning packaging templates and affordable services.
Generally, there are two types of charging structures: one-time or each-item charges, which depend entirely on the service provider and their business guidelines.
Be smart before investing in a business; think about the needs and goals of the packaging and what kind of message the consumer should receive when they receive the product.
