Product Labeling: 9 Design Tips You Need to Know

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Do you worry about your new product failing miserably? Many new lines and products come to a grinding halt every year, and the sad fact is that many times it has nothing to do with the actual product itself. It is always about labeling and branding.

You need your product to stand out in the shops and on the shelf. Below we go through 9 must-know tricks when it comes to product labeling.

1. Focus On Readability

When creating product labels, you need to employ a hierarchy in the text. The name of the brand needs to be the largest and clearest of the texts, followed by any short taglines or descriptions. Blocks of information like ingredients and company information should be kept on the back, and all of them should remain clear and legible.

The font color should contrast with the background color so that it is readable from a distance. Font should be sized at above 6 points minimum, with many of the larger ones coming in at around 10 or above.

2. Select the Right Font

A font can say a lot about a brand or product. You need it to reflect the company aesthetic, but you also have to balance this against readability. Go too simple, and the product will be overlooked by consumers.

When creating a label, stick to the use of two fonts. Any more and your label will become confusing. If you have already branded your company with a particular font, then always use that as one of your choices.

3. Clean and Contrast Product Labeling

Having a clean, clutter-free label increases the readability but can it look generic. Too much going on can make it confusing and put people off the product. The solution is to clean and contrast.

Make sure any busy areas, contrast with areas of cleanness. Cleanliness can come from incorporating space. Any large areas of text, such as nutritional information, should always use space and openness to enhance the readability.

4. Get the Color Right

The color you choose is vital to the success of your product label. It can tell a customer about the product just as much as the font or images can. In fact, there have been numerous studies done into the psychology of color on the perceptions of a customer.

For example, using red will signify danger and excitement, where blue will give thoughts of trust and reliability. In addition, it pays to limit your color palette. Just like the overuse of fonts, too many colors can have the same confusing impact.

The combination of colors you choose can have just as much of an impact. Primary colors may give a simple, youthful vibe while clashing, bright tones will have a pop-art sensibility. You can check online for lots of pre-made color combinations to help you out.

5. Emphasize Originality

Never forget what makes your product or brand original, and don’t be afraid to show it. If your craft beer has orange peel in it, then why wouldn’t you incorporate oranges into the graphics of the product packaging? If your founder has an amazing, historic story, then why not show it?

All of this helps customers build emotional connections. It will also help you stand out on the shelf, amongst the hundreds of other similar products. If you can get your individuality across, then you should take the opportunity to do it.

6. Choose the Right Materials

As well as designing the actual label, you must give careful consideration to what that label is going on, and how it is printed. There are a number of different choices, from thick papers to plastic. All of them can impart different perceptions in the consumer.

For example, if you create a wine brand with cheap, thin labeling that smudges and tears in transit, then the perception of that product will be that it is a cheap wine. However, if it had a thick, textured label, perhaps with a tag around the top of the bottle, it would impart a look of class and luxury.

7. Consider the Label Size

When creating product packaging, always keep in mind the size of the label. If you are transferring it to different sized volumes of the same product (for example large and small packs or bottles) then you may need to scale the logo or fonts to fit. How big your label is, also goes some way towards the design aesthetic.

Some logos wrap all the way around the product and take up the whole space. Some may sit in a corner, endorsing an image. Think about how it will be used so it can remain clear and visible.

8. Keep Brand Consistency

When designing a product label for something that fits under a wider brand, keep it consistent with the overall aesthetic. This ties it into brand awareness and carries with it the trust and connection that the umbrella brand has built up. It can also be confusing if you do not do this.

For example, if you were selling a brand of old English offer, with swirling fonts and pastoral pictures, why would you opt for punk type, scribbled pop art fonts on your new product? It would be confusing and alienate the fanbase you have already built.

9. Tell Them Who You Are

Don’t forget to include all the necessary details on the back of the packaging. As well as health guidelines and nutrition, this includes all important contact information.

Have both an address and links to social media. This allows people to interact with you quickly. Having a physical address humanizes your company, and wherever in the world you come from, someone will find it exotic.

Experiment With Ideas

Never just settle for the first set of product labels that come your way. Always try a number of ideas, refining and redesigning them as you go. Finally, you will arrive at your perfect product labeling.

If you enjoyed our handy article, then visit the rest of our blog. We have guides on everything from technology to design, to help you build a thriving business, starting today!