As we enter 2024, packaging design trends are evolving to reflect changing consumer expectations around sustainability, usability, and brand storytelling. The latest packaging trends for 2024 focus on durable materials, interactive elements, and designs that offer value beyond first use. Whether you’re searching for inspiration for a new packaging design trend, exploring product packaging trends, or looking to understand the best packaging design in 2024 across food, beauty, and retail sectors, this guide highlights the latest packaging design trends shaping the year ahead.
At Tinplate, we know that effective packaging design plays a crucial role in reflecting both the product and the brand, while supporting protection, reuse, and long-term value. We keep up to date with the latest packaging trends 2024 and developments to best help your custom packaging stand out on the shelf.
Top Packaging Design Trends to Watch in 2024
The following packaging design trends for 2024 highlight how brands are combining creativity with practicality across multiple industries. From minimalist textures to multi-functional designs, here are the top packaging design trends defining 2024:
• Textured packaging inspired by natural materials
• Cut-outs and windows to engage through transparency
• Number-focused branding that tells a product story
• Sustainable tin packaging with reusable or collectable features
• Interactive designs that include movement or digital layers
• Bold colours and fun packaging concepts for Gen Z appeal
These 2024 packaging design trends reflect a wider shift towards reusable materials, engaging design, and packaging that continues to serve a purpose after purchase.
Packaging Design Trends in 2024: Telling a Brand Story Through Packaging
Design isn’t only about looks and function; it can also be used to promote a message. This approach reflects wider packaging design trends in 2024, where packaging is expected to communicate values as clearly as it protects the product. Whether this is about sustainability, or fair prices for farm workers, or a brand’s core values.
The shape and use of secondary packaging can also have an impact. More and more consumers are questioning packaging designs in terms of sustainability. Is this packaging to be reused in the future? What does the packaging say about the company’s core values? Delphis Eco put these packaging industry trends and concepts to good use when they designed their bespoke storage tins, designed to be reused again and again; showcasing the tinplate material, an infinitely recyclable choice to highlight the brands sustainable ethos.
Cut-Out and Window Packaging: A Key Packaging Trend for 2024
Cut-out and window designs are one of the most recognisable packaging trends in 2024, particularly within food and beauty packaging, where visibility builds trust.
A cut out or window to a product can achieve multiple uses: the consumer gets a tantalising glimpse of the product, the cut out itself creates interest and texture, and depending on the design and placement, it can allow the packaging to live on with a second life. We love these Liz Earle tins, designed to be reused as lanterns, the cut outs around the heart glow like fireflies when a candle is placed inside the tin. The beautiful design and dual use sets the pace for beauty packaging trends and mean that the customer is sure to keep this on display in the home for a long time to come.
Beauty Packaging Trends 2024: Sustainable and Reusable Design
In 2024, beauty packaging trends in the UK are focusing on sustainability, innovation, and multifunctionality. Tin packaging is gaining popularity due to its durability, recyclability, and vintage charm. Brands are also incorporating cut-outs and windows, allowing consumers a glimpse of the product while adding texture and interest. Reusable designs, like tins that transform into lanterns, highlight the trend towards eco-friendly and versatile packaging. These beauty packaging trends for 2024 reflect a wider move towards packaging that is both visually appealing and designed for reuse.
Textured Packaging Design Trends 2024: Tactile and Natural Finishes
When designing packaging it is helpful to appeal to all the senses, particularly sight and touch. Tactile finishes are becoming a defining feature of packaging design trends in 2024, particularly for premium and gift-focused packaging. At Tinplate we know an exquisitely designed tin is impossible not to pick up and touch. Interesting use of debossing, and embossing can further add to the tactile sensation of holding a premium tin in your hands.
Current packaging trends are to create rock and earth textures in packaging. These can relate directly to the product and become a reminder to take care of the natural environment all around us.
The texture doesn’t have to be complicated, by using clever colour and design choices a simple crack can create the look and feel of earth or rock.
Pentawards Trends 2023-2024 – Istriana
Data-Driven Packaging Design Trends in 2024
Many packaging designs are using numbers as a key part of their branding, whether this relates to a specific anniversary, or the best time to enjoy the product, or focussing on the weight or portion size.
We love Island Chocolate’s tin designs, which have the chocolate percentage front and centre on their bespoke packaging. The numbers are eye catching, and the percentage tells the customer that the product is authentic. They have also used well placed print and emboss to showcase the actual size of their chocolate buttons, further reassuring the customers of the product inside and making opening the wonderful tin even more tempting.
Data-led design is becoming an important part of packaging design trends in 2024, particularly for brands focused on transparency and authenticity.
“In a data-driven world, integrating numbers on packaging enables brands to engage with modern consumers in a relevant way, supporting their storytelling with facts. It transforms data into an artful expression, enriching narratives about origins, craftsmanship, and achievements.”
Olivia Estrella,
Omnichannel design strategy manager, Nestlé Purina
Quoted in the Pentawards Trends report – 2023 -2024
Interactive Packaging Trends 2024: Engaging and Collectable Designs
Interactive packaging has become a major feature in the packaging industry and you should expect to see this trend continue in 2024. This can be from QR codes on artwork, to movement created in the packaging itself.
B.U ensured the secondary packaging for their trendy fragrance brand stood out in a busy beauty industry by developing moving, interactive packaging.
Cleverly utilising the ‘cut out’ trend, a cut out in the lid reveals a statement and the customer twists the base to reveal alternative hidden statements, according to each girls mood and attitude!
Marketed towards the GenZ generation this allows the customer to alter the packaging to reflect themselves, promoting individuality.
Not only does the secondary package designs reflect the brands manifesto ‘be yourself’, it’s also fun and playful; encouraging the consumer to touch and interact with the packaging.
Creating a packaging trend that is collectable and encourages multiple purchases there are many different designs and fragrances to choose from, and each tin is exquisitely printed internally and externally, and embossed for a further tactile experience.
The best packaging design trends in 2024 focus on durability, reuse, and meaningful interaction, ensuring packaging delivers value long after purchase.
We’ve covered packaging design trends for 2023 and 2024 but keep your eyes peeled for our packaging trends of 2025.
From bold new textures to collectable, fun packaging concepts, 2024’s packaging design trends are all about elevating the user experience while remaining sustainable and brand-aligned. Whether you’re developing your next line of bespoke tins or need inspiration from the best package designs this year, Tinplate is here to help.
Contact us today to explore how 2024’s leading packaging trends can shape your next project.
