At Tinplate, we strive to be at the forefront of packaging industry trends and innovation and stay ahead of the latest trends in design, so that we can help our clients to develop the most eye-catching packaging for their brand.
Here’s a selection of packaging trends 2023 that we’ve highlighted to look out:
Maximalism
While minimalism has been popular for several years, a ‘more is more’ approach is starting to feature more widely, showcasing bright & punchy colours that stand out on the shelf. Playful, striking hues are having a resurgence and designers are not shying away from contrasting, ecstatic colours, invoking a sense of adventure that has been welcomed since the pandemic. With visual attention more important than ever in a society of instant-gratification, the consumers first impression needs to be memorable.
Bold candy tones are perfect for confectionery branding, and using creative cartoon-like 3D imagery can help to build a unique and recognisable design style. Attention-grabbing large fonts and handwritten typography are a youthful way to differentiate between products and flavours.
Retro-style packaging trends 2023
Along-side the daring maximalist shades, a warmer colour scheme has returned from the 70’s for a vintage effect. Wavy, rounded, and wraparound patterns have been mixed with contemporary elements for an outcome of modern nostalgia. Familiar styles such as retro line-art and sans-serif fonts are used across a wide range of industries and are proving their everlasting popularity.
Transparent packaging
Transparency is vital for the customer-brand relationship to thrive, with the continual demand from consumers to know exactly what they’re buying. Packaging is now often adorned with illustrated ingredients in juicy pops of colour or product visuals with a creative twist, to make it clear what is inside. There is an increase in physically transparent packaging too, with windows and open sections that display the products in all their glory.
Interactive Packaging industry trends
The next packaging trend 2023 we’re going to discuss is the use of tactile textures. Metallic colours and varnishes add visual dimension to a design, and techniques like embossing/debossing and die cuts all add texture to boost the touch and feel of a product. Additional materials like ribbon, rope, leather, and fabric all give a special quality to the packaging.
The presence of musical and moving tins is going nowhere, with added features like games that enhance the customer experience and increase the perceived value of the product.
Many brands are starting to use printed QR codes to level-up packaging and give the opportunity to link to social media pages, interactive videos, coupons and ultimately upsell further purchases. They also allow the design to take control of the packaging, and keep the necessary practical information for online, which helps to make the packaging more of a keepsake item that can have other uses.
Sustainability packaging trends 2023
There’s an ongoing emphasis on sustainability that has joined the mainstream and therefore a key packaging industry trend for 2023, and thanks to customer scrutiny, it is no longer just a trend, but a packaging expectation. Materials should be made from recycled or recyclable and non-single-use materials, of which tinplate is a great example. Brands that have this as their focus are using more subtle branding, with 1 or 2 colours, to strip back print and emphasise the natural colour of the materials they have chosen to use.
The responsibility to the environment has driven a focus on reducing packaging waste and optimising the size of packaging. This reduces the amount of material produced, the emissions released in transit and the unit cost, the latter of which is more vital than ever in the current economic climate. Reusable packaging is another key sustainable priority, with multi-use packaging that facilitates the ongoing storage of items or can be repurposed for other things.
