Packaging and Marketing

Packaging and Marketing

The Functions of Packaging

There are many purposes of packaging and they can all be sumarised and memorised with 'I PICT PD' which you can translate to 'I PICKED PRODUCT DESIGN'.

• 'P' - Protection - Pacakging protects the product/item while it is being transported
• 'I' - Informing - Companies put a picture or a diagram on the side of their product packaging to inform customers what is inside the package. Some of the information on the packaging has to be included by law.
• 'C' - Containing - Some types of packaging consist of lots little peices for example breakfast cereals. Flat-Packed products also include many individual components.
• 'T' - Transportion - Manufacterers and designers must take into to consideration the shape of the packaging and how easily it can be transported and stored.
• 'P' - Preservation - While packaging products especially foods designers have to think about preserving the food and prevent it from deterioration and bacteria.
• 'D' - Display - Not only do designers have to take all this into consideration they have to also make it look good. Attractive packaging can help a customers locate the product easier or draw new customers in.

Types of Packaging

There are alot of different types of packaging and all suited to a certain type/catgory of product. I am goign to tell you about three different types of packaging; Blister packaging, Skin packaging and Security packaging. 

Blister Packaging

Blister packaging is not very expensive and durable. Clear plastic blisters are used on carboard backboard  or inlay to allow the consumer or customer to examine the product. The blister cavity is vacuum-formed to fit the product.

Skin Packaging

Skin packaging involves sealing a product between a layer of heated plastic and a layer of adhesive coated paper. The plastic is trapped in a frame that travles between the oven and the vacuum area. once the plastic is secured and the frame lifted out of the way, the board is loaded into the vacuum machine and the product placed on the top of the paper. The oven heats the plastic for a pre-set time, the frame lowers and the vacuum is activated, pulling the plastic down over the product against the paper. The hot plastic melts the adhesive, and the paper and the plastic are bonded together. 

Security Packaging

Security packaging is made to stop theft and make the product secure, they do this with plenty of variations; security seals, clamshell packaging, induction sealing and holographic stickers.

Product Marketing - The Power of Branding

Brand development means creating a potentially valuale asset for a company. When creating a brand there is alot that is involved; Using a name, Term, Colour, A symbol/logo, Design. Doing all this can help ones brand stand and for many customers to recognize over others. Brands often humanise products and give ot a personality of its own. The power of branding is so strong that we often buy a product because of the way: it has been advertised or because you generally like the brand, Or you like the look of the company logo, the way it has been packaged and the website promotion.