Stage 3 of 7
Brand identity and packaging design made for the shelf and the factory
Packaging has to sell at a distance, carry the mandatory text and run on a real production line at your order size. We design for all three.
Brand identity and packaging design for physical products
Brand identity and packaging design for a product means creating the logo, the visual system and the print-ready pack artwork that make the product recognisable, legally labelled and producible at the order quantity you can afford. For most product brands, packaging is the main advertising, so it gets more attention here than brand books do.
Design decisions have cost consequences that designers rarely see. A special finish can raise the minimum order for the box. A custom bottle needs a mould. Too little label space leaves no room for the languages and mandatory content a market demands. So we review artwork with the printer or factory before finalising it, and we align it with the manufacturing plan and the label requirements.
You get all source files. If you later change printers, the brand moves with you.
What you receive
- Logo and identity system with usage rules that fit on a few pages
- Packaging structure recommendation per product, with its minimum order implications
- Print-ready artwork with dielines and colour specifications
- Label layout with space for mandatory content and translations
- Marketplace main images and templates, if you sell online
- Editable source files, handed over to you
How the stage runs
-
1
Shelf and thumbnail audit
How competitors appear in the store or on a phone screen, and where the brand can stand apart.
-
2
Design directions
Two or three routes applied to your actual lead product, not to an abstract logo sheet.
-
3
Technical check
Format, material, colours and finishes reviewed against what the producer can do at your quantity.
-
4
Label content
Mandatory text placed and sized, with translations reserved.
-
5
Artwork and proof
Final files, printed proof or sample, and your written approval before production.
Packaging options: what they do to your budget
A general guide. Actual minimums depend on the printer, the format and the quantity.
| Option | Relative setup cost | Minimum order tendency | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock pack with printed label | Low | Low | First batches and tests | Limited stand-out on a crowded shelf |
| Stock pack with direct print | Low to medium | Medium | Bottles, jars, mailers after a test | Print setup per colour |
| Custom-printed carton or box | Medium | Medium to high | Retail shelf presence | Storage volume, damage in transit |
| Custom flexible pouch | Medium | Medium to high | Food, pet and refills | Barrier and food-contact requirements |
| Custom-shaped container | High, mould needed | High | Premium ranges with proven demand | Mould ownership and a long lead time |
| Plain transit pack with sticker | Very low | Very low | Test sales, B2B | Weak presentation in consumer retail |
Design mistakes that reach the warehouse
Designing before knowing the format
Artwork made before the pack is chosen must be redrawn, and sometimes the idea no longer fits.
No room for mandatory text
Addresses, warnings, translations and symbols take space. Adding them late spoils the design.
Finishes that set the minimum order
Foil, embossing or special board may push the printing minimum beyond your batch.
Frequently asked questions
How much does product packaging design cost?
It depends on the number of products and variants, languages, structural design and print checks. Printing and moulds are paid separately to producers. We fix our fee for the stage in the written proposal once the scope is clear.
Do I need a full brand book for a new product brand?
Rarely. A logo, colours, type, pack templates and short usage rules are enough to launch. A long manual is worth writing once several people and suppliers are using the identity.
Can you work with my existing logo?
Yes. We check whether it holds up at pack and thumbnail size, and whether it is protectable. Then we build the packaging system around it or suggest limited changes.
Who owns the design?
You do, once the contract’s transfer conditions are met, including the source files. Moulds and tooling are a separate point: the factory contract must state that you own them. See OEM and ODM for why this matters.
Have a product idea? Check it before you buy stock.
Send a short brief. We tell you what we think, including when we think you should not do it.
Tell us about your brand
A few lines are enough: what you want to sell, where and to whom. We reply with an honest view of feasibility, the stages you need and the next step.
- No obligation: the first review of your idea is free
- If we think the idea will not pay back, we say so
- Your idea stays confidential; we can sign an NDA
Prefer email? corp@brandgeniq.com · WhatsApp