The visual appeal of packaging can be key to attracting attention to your brand on store shelves. Designing packaging that stands out from competitors may entice consumers to try your product, getting them in the door to explore more of your brand’s offerings. However, sensory experience is not limited to visual, packaging can also have unique tactile experiences.
By engaging both visual and tactile senses, you can create a multisensory unboxing experience that can therefore feel more engaging. There are a variety of eyecatching packaging enhancements that can allow you to add a new level of dimension to your packaging and add a sense of luxury and prestige to your brand.
Foil Stamping
One of the most common enhancements that we see done by brands is foil stamping. Foil stamping is when heat is used to apply a foil film to your packaging therefore creating a metallic and shiny look. The reflective appearance helps to add texture and depth to your packaging giving it a luxurious high-end feel. Brands often opt to add foil stamping to highlight their branding or add unique details.
&HER is a brand that creates personalized intimate garments and provides natural fiber bras with varying levels of support. They use foil stamping to add dimension to their packaging by highlighting delicate flower-themed background designs. The foil stamping allows for high contrast between the designs and the kraft material used for the packaging. The shiny reflective detail helps to reflect the luxurious nature of their bras, which provide a high level of comfort to their customers.
On the other hand, Shamsi uses foil stamping at the forefront of their packaging design. Shamsi is a brand providing various Ancient Egypt-inspired consumer products. Foil stamping here is used over the top of their rigid box to outline the name of their product as well as company logo. As the light hits the packaging at different angles, the packaging will reflect and therefore be quite eye-catching. The use of foil stamping here draws consumer’s attention to the front of their packaging reflecting the luxurious perfume housed within.
Embossing/Debossing
Embossing and debossing are enhancements that involve creating raised or sunken designs on packaging materials. Since they do not add any additional coloring and reflectiveness, they can be a more subtle enhancement perfect for minimalistic packaging. Their indistinct appearance leans into the quiet luxury trend and adds a physical dimension to the packaging for a unique tactile experience. They can be done to help highlight printed designs or on white space to create subtle designs.
Due to the physical process of embossing and debossing, there are several limitations to the process. For optimal effect, they are best done on 300-400gsm cardstock materials. They are not ideal for corrugated materials and for rigid boxes, there may be limitations to the depth of the embossing depending on the design. To read more about our recommendations for embossing and debossing, read here.
This packaging design for Baseline Matcha done by Merel Studio consists of a blind deboss design. Blind embossing/debossing is where embossing/debossing is done on a material in which there is no design it has to line up with. The use of blind deboss here covers the entire packaging and therefore helps to create a unique texture to be experienced immediately when consumers come into contact with the box. The disc-like concentric circles help to draw attention to the printed text on the packaging whilst effectively filling in white space.
Recanto, on the other hand, uses debossing only on their logo. With their neutral color palette and minimal design, the debossing taps into the trend of quiet luxury for subtle branding forcing you to look closely at their packaging and thus drawing you in. This detail truly elevates the packaging allowing it to utilize various dimensions as opposed to simply leaning on printed designs.
Spot UV
Another packaging enhancement that can be used to highlight printed designs or done on white space for a more subtle effect is spot UV. Spot UV is when a UV coating is applied to packaging material giving it a shiny effect. Spot UV often brings a reflective nature to packaging allowing it to capture attention as it shines in different lighting settings. Again, leaning toward the quiet luxury trend, this visually appealing enhancement shows an increased attention to detail and helps to increase the perception of the product.
Galamb Tailoring uses spot UV on their minimal packaging to subtly add designs to their packaging while maintaining an overall clean look. The spot UV feather on the lid helps to draw the attention of consumers without adding additional color and printed designs thus still keeping the packaging to essential details only. The reflectiveness of the spot UV helps to create a memorable design and lasting impression on consumers.
Die-Cutting
Though die-cutting isn’t exactly an additional enhancement that is added to packaging, it can still be done to packaging to differentiate your packaging from competitors. Die cutting involves cutting out designs of the packaging itself. This not only helps to draw attention, it can also sometimes allow buyers a little sneak peek at the product within so that they can see for themselves what they are purchasing.
Since it doesn’t involve adding additional films or coatings to the packaging materials and involves removing packaging material, die-cutting can be a great option for brands looking to be more sustainable without sacrificing creating unique packaging.
Palms, a personal care brand centered around transparency and using natural ingredients, opts to create an extremely minimal packaging design that speaks volumes. The die-cut logo on the front not only grabs the attention of consumers but also allows you to peek into the soap bar below. While the packaging does not get more barebones than this, the packaging is still able to draw the attention of consumers.
Closing Thoughts
There is a wide range of enhancements that you can look to include on your packaging to help create dimension. By incorporating these enhancements, brands can elevate their packaging and increase the perceived value of their products. Not only do these add-ons feel more elegant, but they also illustrate a brand’s attention to detail and time investment spent on every aspect of their product.
These enhancements can also be paired with different varnishes, laminations, or finishes to create the ultimate visual and tactile unboxing experience. Not only do you want your products to look luxurious but you want them to feel luxurious as well.
If you’re looking to see what these enhancements or finishes may look and feel like, PackMojo offers a sample kit with 17 sample slabs of different enhancements, paper thicknesses, and finishes that you can find here. Grab one today to first-hand experience what they may look and feel like in person before choosing to incorporate them into your packaging design.