If you think packaging is just a box or a bag, you’re underestimating one of the most powerful points of contact with the customer. It’s the redesign of a package that often triggers the transformation of branding identity, turning a product into an attention-grabber and a brand into a lifestyle.
A new package design can be your moment to send a message: “We have grown and raised our standards.” But will visuals alone have enough power to convince shoppers?
The building blocks of great packaging design
Finding your product on a shelf full of bright, eye-catching designs isn’t easy, right? There are numerous new brands that continuously increase competition levels and give consumers more options to choose from.
Most cannabis enthusiasts make the “I want this now” decision the very moment they see an appealing box on the shelf. This is known as the First Moment of Truth (FMOT) and clearly explains why your packaging should instantly hit the buyer, convey who you are, and guide them as to why your product is worth paying attention to.
Your brand’s identity transformation is your chance to make an impression within a few seconds and win the FMOT game. Here’s what you should focus on when giving your brand image a reboot with new package designs.
Strong visuals
What do your customers find when first seeing your brand? It is your visual identity: the logo, colors, and fonts. These components make your brand understandable in a matter of seconds and turn your product into something recognizable.
Yet, avoid too much visual load on your new packaging. Modern trends tend toward minimalism in terms of:
- Textures
- Color palettes
- Fonts
What can be seen on your package should be a welcoming point for customers. It’s your opportunity to introduce your identity and prove that you double down on quality and your audience’s lifestyle. It’s when you can evoke the desired emotions and spark off associations with your brand’s uniqueness.
Practical design
Do not underestimate the effect of practical packaging on the transformation of a brand’s identity. A box that’s hard to open or an unwieldy design that makes it impossible to use your product on the move can be a nuisance that keeps shoppers away. This will directly influence what they think about your brand.
Practical packaging proves that you care about the consumer experience. That alone is an effective means of strengthening your brand image.
Green materials
The number of weed lovers who are willing to spend more money on products wrapped in eco-friendly packaging is increasing. That’s why the shift toward biodegradable or recyclable designs seems reasonable. To create these designs, you should bid farewell to dangerous plastics and embrace green materials.
Using green materials can be your first step toward the transformation of your brand’s identity that elevates your product’s value while demonstrating your commitment to environmental responsibility.
3 Inspirational cases in cannabis packaging design
Even the largest companies in the cannabis industry have undergone brand identity transformations by experimenting and learning from their mistakes. However, before exploring the 3 best cases we’ve prepared for you, ask yourself whether you need to follow the same route. Likely, you don’t.
Pull off your branding reboot by adapting to your audience. People may seek different things: eco-aware consumers may only choose recyclable packaging, whereas your premium buyers may aspire to delight in an unboxing experience that’s nothing but luxury. Packaging that reflects what really matters to your audience will support and guide your branding identity transformation.
Take a look below to draw inspiration from those who have successfully made it.
Houseplant: The collectible packaging design
This brand’s identity transformation has changed the outdated perception of cannabis by turning packaging into a dashing piece of art. The new design features light and peaceful colors like vivid orange, pink, and lime green. They help you navigate the product lines quickly and easily, with a nostalgic 70s style and a fun contemporary twist.
With the Houseplant example, you can also notice changes like:
- Color-matched typography
- Durable pull-tab
- Line illustration
- Eco-foam within the packages
Besides, Houseplant has taken a step toward enticing collectors. Its reusable jars can now be stacked like Lego, which turns the packaging into a collectible and functional object. It’s hard to resist giving kudos for such a thoughtful move.
Kiva: Tins that will wow everyone
This brand started in 2010 in California when the cannabis edibles market was still very “standard” and most products had simple, unfinished packages with no clear identity. Kiva has been among the first to apply a vintage design inspired by classic chocolate boxes, revamping the concept of edibles from a simple dessert into a premium product.
Kiva’s tins are captivating, robust, and environmentally safe. The brand no longer uses non-recyclable plastics and ups the ante for reusability. This case is a great example of how you can transform your brand identity with packaging that looks higher-standard and more practical than most designs out there.
Dosist: The medical style
Dosist is one of the trailblazers to adopt a pharmaceutical approach to cannabis branding. Before this brand’s endeavors, most industry players relied on recreational or creative styles by designing colorful packages and embracing hippie-inspired aesthetics. Dosist has introduced a new approach to the dispensary segment, focusing on dosages, forms, minimalist design, and wellness and health positioning.
Its Dose Pen has become the first mass product in which the emphasis was not on the strength of the high, but on controlled microdosing. Everything, from the fonts to the information blocks on the packaging, has been designed to revolutionize the market.
Refine your identity with MYLARMEN
MYLARMEN can help revamp your identity with innovative package designs. From rigid containers and flexible bags to stylish paper boxes, we can ensure that everyone wants to have your product. Our team will help you find the perfect shapes and materials for your cannabis goods and take them to the next level with thoughtful details and functionality.
You’ll get:
- Market-backed insights
- Smart design
- Real prototypes
- Full-cycle production
If you want to replicate the success of cannabis industry leaders, contact MYLARMEN to begin the transformation of an identity for your brand.