Packaging design that sells on the shelf and at the door
Gjethe designs packaging and labels: concept and shelf-impact design, artwork on your manufacturer's dielines, space for legally required information, colour and finish specifications, 3D mock-ups for approval and e-commerce, and print-ready files. We work on boxes, labels, pouches, bottles, mailer boxes and inserts, with two rounds of revisions.
- Free first consultation
- Written quote for your project
- Flexible payment milestones
At a glance
- Formats
- Boxes, labels, pouches, mailers
- Includes
- Concept, artwork, mock-ups
- Files
- Print-ready on your dielines
- Revisions
- Two rounds included
Definition
What is packaging design?
Packaging design is the visual and structural design of the containers, labels and wrappers that hold and present a product, balancing brand appeal, information, protection, regulations and production constraints.
Packaging has a few seconds to be noticed on a shelf or in a thumbnail, and then it must answer simple questions: what is this, who is it for, why this one? For online brands, the unboxing is often the first physical contact with the brand. Good packaging design combines that persuasion with practical realities, printer specifications, materials, mandatory information and cost.
Who is it for?
Consumer product brands
Retail packaging that stands out against competitors.
E-commerce brands
Mailer boxes, inserts and unboxing experiences.
Food and drink producers
Labels with space for ingredients and nutrition information.
Gift and seasonal ranges
Limited editions and gift packs.
What's included, and what you keep
What's included
- Competitor shelf review
- Packaging concepts
- Information hierarchy on each panel
- Artwork on manufacturer dielines
- Layouts for required information supplied by you
- Barcode and symbol placement
- Colour specifications (CMYK and spot)
- Finish specifications: foil, embossing, varnish
- Range and variant system
- 3D mock-ups
- Print-ready files
- Two rounds of revisions
What you receive
Handed over at the end. Yours to keep.
- Print-ready artwork per SKU
- 3D mock-ups for approval and e-commerce
- Variant templates for future products
- Colour and finish specifications
- Source files
Designing a range, not just a pack
Most brands sell several variants: flavours, sizes, scents, strengths. A good packaging system keeps the brand instantly recognisable while making each variant easy to tell apart, usually through a consistent layout with colour, illustration or a single changing element.
Designing the system up front also makes adding future products quicker and cheaper, because new variants follow the established template.
Required information is your responsibility, and part of the design
Many products must carry specific information: ingredients and allergens for food in the EU, cosmetics labelling, warnings, recycling marks, net quantity, producer details and barcodes. The exact requirements depend on the product and market.
You or your regulatory adviser supply the required text; we make room for it from the first concept so it's legible and properly placed rather than squeezed in at the end. We don't provide regulatory advice, but we flag anything that looks missing.
What we need from your manufacturer
- Dielines with bleed and safe areas
- Material and printing method
- Colour limits and spot colour options
- Minimum text size and line weights
- Finish options and their artwork requirements
- File format preferences
Packaging priorities by channel
| Channel | What matters most |
|---|---|
| Retail shelf | Visibility from distance, clear category and variant cues |
| E-commerce listing | Reads well as a small image, looks good in 3D renders |
| Delivery | Protection, unboxing moment, inserts with next steps |
| Gifting | Premium feel, finishes and presentation |
Standing out without shouting
A shelf full of loud packaging makes calm, confident design stand out, and the reverse is also true. We review the actual shelf or marketplace category your product competes in, then choose a direction that's distinct within it rather than following the category's default look.
Distinctiveness still needs clarity: shoppers must recognise the product type immediately, or they won't stop to look.
Designing for e-commerce images
Many products are first seen as a small image on a marketplace or shop page. Packaging that relies on fine print or subtle textures can turn into a blurry rectangle at that size.
We test designs as small product images and 3D renders from several angles, and make sure the brand and product name stay readable in a thumbnail.
Working with printers
Every printer and material has limits: how small text can be, how close colours can sit, which finishes are possible and how they affect cost. Involving your printer early prevents redesigns at the end.
We prepare artwork to their specifications, mark finishes on separate layers and recommend physical proofs before full production runs, especially for new colours or materials.
Unboxing for online brands
For direct-to-consumer brands, the delivery box is often the first physical contact with the customer. A printed mailer, simple tissue, a thank-you card and an insert with care instructions or a next-purchase offer can make the moment feel considered without much extra cost.
We design these pieces as a set, matched to your brand and to what your fulfilment partner can pack efficiently.
How packaging design works, step by step
Every step has a clear output you can review. Timing is agreed in your quote.
- 1
Brief
Product, audience, channels, competitors and constraints.
- 2
Concepts
Design directions shown as mock-ups.
- 3
Develop
Chosen concept applied to all panels and variants.
- 4
Information
Required text and symbols placed and checked.
- 5
Artwork
Files prepared on dielines to printer specifications.
- 6
Proof
Final check, ideally against a printed proof.
Tools, and what shapes your quote
Pricing is based on your project and agreed in your quote. These are the things that move it.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number of SKUs | Each variant needs its own artwork. |
| Structural complexity | Unusual shapes and inserts add work. |
| Information density | Packs with lots of required text take more layout work. |
| Finishes | Foils, embossing and varnishes need extra artwork layers. |
| Mock-ups | Photorealistic 3D renders add time. |
| Area | Tools |
|---|---|
| Design | Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop |
| Mock-ups | Adobe Dimension or Substance, Blender |
| Print prep | Acrobat preflight, spot colour libraries |
| Collaboration | Figma for concepts |
Common mistakes to avoid
What we see go wrong most often, and how a good project avoids it.
Designing without dielines
Artwork that doesn't fit the real structure must be redone.
Leaving legal text until last
Squeezed-in information becomes unreadable or non-compliant.
Ignoring the shelf
A pack that looks great alone can disappear next to competitors.
Skipping a printed proof
Colours and finishes look different in print.
Frequently asked questions
Do you produce the packaging?
No. We design print-ready artwork for your manufacturer or printer. Production is arranged and paid separately.
Can you check our labels are legally compliant?
We place the required information you provide and flag obvious gaps, but compliance should be confirmed by a regulatory adviser for your product and market.
Can you create 3D mock-ups?
Yes, for approval, presentations and e-commerce product images.
How do revisions work?
Two rounds of revisions are included.
Can you design sustainable packaging?
We can design for recyclable materials and fewer inks or finishes, and place recycling information correctly. Material choices are made with your manufacturer.
Can you design multilingual packaging?
Yes. We design layouts that fit several languages, checking text expansion and characters.
Can you redesign existing packaging?
Yes, from a light refresh to a full redesign.
Do you design labels for bottles and jars?
Yes, accounting for curvature, wrap and how labels are applied.
Do you design mailer boxes and inserts?
Yes, printed mailers, tissue, stickers, thank-you cards and inserts.
Do I own the artwork?
Yes. All artwork and source files are yours.
Can you design packaging for a crowdfunding campaign?
Yes. We can design packaging and mock-ups before production, which are useful for campaign pages and early feedback.
Can you design labels for a print-on-demand or small run?
Yes. Digital printing makes small runs affordable; we prepare artwork to the printer's digital press specifications.
What do you need to start?
Your product details, brand assets, manufacturer dielines and specifications, the required text for each panel, and examples of packaging you like.
Can you design a gift box or limited edition?
Yes. Limited editions are a good place for special finishes and seasonal artwork, built on your existing packaging system.
Related services
Brand Identity Design
Logo, colour, type and guidelines as one system.
Logo Design
Distinctive logos with every file you need.
3D Modeling & Rendering
Product renders and architectural visuals.
Product Photo Editing
Clean, consistent, marketplace-ready images.
Graphic Design
Marketing material, print and everyday graphics.
Packaging Design by industry
Design packaging that sells.
Tell us what you need. You get an honest assessment, a clear plan and a written quote. The first consultation is always free.
- What happens next
- 1You tell us what you need
- 2We aim to reply within 24 hours with questions
- 3You get a written quote for your project