When was the last time you were guilty of buying a product completely based on its packaging?

Before you raise your hand and put your head down in shame, know that you are not alone in “package-adoration-itis.” Sometimes, a well-designed package will win us over. It transcends its Purpose and worth thanks to the outside container. To demonstrate this effect, here are four examples of “neat” package design that illustrate the principle behind why they end up in our shopping cart.

1. Incorporating the Product with the Package

This was a UQAM student-designed package for the Paintbrush company Poilu. The designer made the brilliant discovery that the end of paintbrush could resemble a mustache and even a goatee when packaged in this clever and humorous fashion. The paintbrushes even reflect the common hair color types: blonde, brown, black, redhead, etc. The clever illustrations also give this package a lot of character and personality that might hit home with an artistic young painter picking out their next brush.

2. More Than Just a Package…

The next example is a bit of a shout out to all the tree huggers out there. A package, no matter how cool it may be, will most likely end up in a landfill someday. But if it can be designed to have a purpose beyond that, then that’s an all-around win. This design student’s example serves the dual purpose of delivering its contents while also providing a hanger for the enclosed shirt.

3. The Experience of Opening

If you dream of trying food from places all over the world but realize you may not ever have the funds to do so, then keep reading. Try the World is an awesome company that ships goodies from different locations every other month for you to enjoy. But part of what makes these boxes exciting and special is the experience of opening them. The box itself is simple, but when opened, the first thing that greets the opener is a booklet describing the country of origin. Then all the objects are perfectly arranged in the box filled that’s with crinkled confetti paper and allows for an element of surprise as you pull each item out and discover what you got.

4. The Collectibles

This principle applies more to how a set of products can be displayed in a store, but that isn’t to say it may not influence a buyer to have the desire to collect a set. In another effort to make less waste in this world, there’s something about making a collectible that extends a package’s life. Coca-Cola, for instance, has been using this principle for years and are constantly finding ways to re-design the bottle over and over again. Some collectible products serve as mementos from events like the Olympics, while others like prints at an art store are just meant to intrigue someone’s sense of aesthetics.

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