The Big 2023 Packaging Design Trends Are Here

What trends are coming for package design in 2023? Boldness is back on the e-commerce scene. As the market becomes even more crowded, retailers and brands are using strong visuals, endearing experiences, and smart designs to make lasting impressions on customers. In addition, ongoing trends focused on sustainability and efficiency are expected to move forward at full speed in 2023. Should your brand consider updating e-commerce packaging in 2023? Here's your first look at the hot e-commerce packaging design trends to watch out for in 2023!

1. "Cottage" Packaging

Customers are hungry for connection. That's why generic packaging is out for 2023. Run-of-the-mill packaging is being replaced by handmade, "sweet" packaging that delivers love and attention to go with every purchase. The big trend moving in for the year is the "handcrafted" look. Of course, retailers don't actually have the time, budget, or resources to truly create every package by hand. They instead rely on smart packaging features that allow them to produce a handmade, handcrafted look that's easily replicated using standardized packaging materials. Cottage packaging enhances the value of every package that's delivered because it shows customers that a retailer has put extreme attention to detail into preparing a shipment. It can only be assumed that the item inside offers the quality level to match such detailed, thoughtful packaging!

2. Minimalism

Drop the clutter when designing your e-commerce packaging for 2023. This year's package design trends are all about clean, clear looks that aren't filled with distractions and noise. Minimalist packaging makes the statement that the product is so good that it doesn't require frills. The focus is on the content instead of the hype. Of course, perfectly executed minimalistic packaging can't actually be achieved with minimal effort. Pulling off the "natural" look in packaging requires a careful selection of well-crafted materials offering a mix of durability and gracefulness. Simple can never mean flimsy when trying to accomplish minimalism in e-commerce packaging.

3. Psychedelic Looks

Yes, you read that correctly! Hungry for the glorious nostalgia of past decades, customers are finding comfort in throwback looks. No era is more idealized at the moment than the psychedelic 1960s. Psychedelic designs work in packaging because they excite the senses with colorful patterns full of movement. These designs make people think of love, free-thinking, exploration, and growth. Wavy, groovy designs instantly create a good mood for the customer as they take in their first impressions of products.

4. Tranquility

What if opening your packaging could make a customer feel like they are entering a serene, cloud-like space? Packaging can achieve the goal of delivering a wellness retreat in a box when it's designed properly. Like minimalist product packaging, tranquil packaging cuts out the clutter. It uses soft colors, bare spaces, and soothing phrasing to draw customers into a subdued, effortless experience. Smooth, shiny, and understated packaging provides welcomed refreshments for people who have been stuck staring at busy, media-filled screens all day.

5. Busy Packaging

There's always an opposite reaction whenever big trends move into the picture. This is exactly what we're seeing with the growth of "busy packaging" in e-commerce packaging. As minimal and tranquil packaging both grow in popularity, some brands will take the opportunity to get attention by going in a completely opposite direction. Packaging with "shouting" fonts is going to be big this year. In addition, asymmetrical designs, primary colors, and contrasting color combinations are going to be used heavily by brands seeking to establish themselves as rebel brands.

6. Abstract Art

In an era of emojis, abstract logo art is more relevant than ever. Expect to see many brands create packaging logos that use the same concise language used by emojis to convey their brand stories. In fact, logos may actually evolve toward looking more like hieroglyphics than logos as the year goes on. While this trend is going to pick up steam in 2023, it's actually a forward-looking trend that is sure to continue into 2024, 2025, and beyond.

7. Strong Gradients

Gradients add excitement to packaging. For brands, adding bright gradients is the closest thing to adding neon signs to products. A big reason why brands are attracted to strong gradients at the moment is that they display beautifully on social media. Gradient color trends practically pop off the page. While gradient packaging is an attention-getting option, the little-known secret about this technique is that it actually provides a very simple way to add color and texture to packaging without much fuss. There's no easier way to create trendy e-commerce packaging. It's also important to point out that gradient packaging does bring up some vibes from the 1980s. This is a good thing at the moment because the desire for nostalgia has never been stronger. Many shoppers approaching age 40 at the moment are using their buying power to scoop up anything that reminds them of the era of their childhood. Let's call it the "Stranger Things" phenomenon.

8. Glitch Effect

We can credit this marketing trend to the popularity of TikTok. TikTok's inescapable logo shows off what designers call the glitch effect. The glitch simply adds interest and appeal to a logo by blurring it to be slightly out of focus. The effect is often subtle enough to be overlooked by the conscious mind. However, the subconscious mind can't resist the appeal of this attention-grabbing logo technique that adds a tech-inspired, futuristic twist. The glitch effect works especially well when paired with bright colors. A bonus of using the glitch effect on packaging is that the style transfers beautifully to screens. That means that e-commerce brands can consider "glitching" their logos to make them more memorable for online shoppers.

9. Getting Back to Basics

There's a huge interest in honesty and authenticity among customers right now. Many feel that brands simply want to "influence" them using flashy packaging, paid sponsorships, and other impersonal practices. Brands that can tap into the "honest" market can build lasting relationships with customers. How do you achieve packaging that gets back to the basics? Here's a checklist for packaging that appears honest:

• Use unfinished materials over polished materials.
• Emphasize a single "embellishment" that is the focal point of the packaging.
• Make the packaging the perfect size for the product.
• Stick to only core branding colors without adding superfluous colors.

Another tactic is to provide reusable packaging. This can look like everything from a keepsake box to a reusable bag. Packaging that creates an authentic, connected experience achieves "honest" marketing.

10. Texture

Texture in e-commerce packaging has largely been ignored up until now. Rest assured that 2023 promises to be the year that reverses this serious neglect. Many online retailers overlook textured packaging because they assume that focusing on the experience of "touch" simply isn't worth the investment. It turns out that these retailers have been missing out on a very important connection point with customers.

In an increasingly digital world, customers appreciate tactile details on packaging more than ever. Encountering packaging with beautiful, alluring textures can be a grounding experience. For a person who is tired of staring at screens, textured packaging can represent a meditative experience that grounds them in the real world in a way that makes them remember what it means to be human. Texture can be especially important for brands in the luxury market because it allows customers to be pampered with smoothness and elegance. What's more, soft textures are often associated on the subconscious level with positive emotions. This has a strong potential to increase a customer's positive perceptions of a product. That can mean repeat business, positive online reviews, and customers who give their new favorite finds to others.

11. Y2K Packaging

There's a big Y2K aesthetic movement happening right now. Looks from Y2K are dominating the makeup scene. In fact, thousands of online accounts are dedicated to recreating popular looks from the era. What makes the Y2K aesthetic so appealing is that it represents a generation obsessed with futurism. However, the designs that represented what people at the time thought the future would look like now appear nostalgic and quaint. Y2K packaging is especially strong in the beauty and makeup e-commerce sectors right now. Brands are grabbing eyes with help from geometric shapes, pale blues, silvers, neon colors, and iridescent finishes.

12. Sustainability

The desire for sustainable packaging isn't going anywhere. As people become more concerned about the future of the planet, consumer decisions will continue to be influenced by the sustainable choices made by brands. According to research, over 84% of consumers are more loyal to a brand that aligns with their values. Here are some simple ways to incorporate sustainability into e-commerce packaging:

• Create packaging using 100% recycled materials.
• Make packaging recyclable.
• Cut out plastics whenever possible.
• Design packaging to use fewer materials.
• When using minimalist packaging for eco-friendly purposes, include a note with the packaging that lets customers know about your mission.

Of course, it's important to balance sustainability with durability. Flimsy won't do. A packaging redesign that's intended to cut down on waste should be done in collaboration with experienced packaging engineers capable of helping your brand to create structurally sound, durable packaging that can sustain wear and tear to arrive at a customer's home fully intact.

Is It Time to Redesign Your Packaging Plan for 2023?

If your e-commerce company has big plans for 2023, it might be time to make big changes to your packaging. Consumer trends have seen dramatic changes in recent years. That means that packaging that's lingering from 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022 simply isn't going to appeal to the updated tastes of customers. If your current packaging designs go back even further than 2019, they are already grossly outdated.

The new e-commerce packaging design trends for 2023 can attract new customers, fortify your relationships with existing customers, and make 2023 your brand's best year ever. Get noticed in a crowded category! Mid-Atlantic Packaging can help your e-commerce brand upgrade packaging in 2023 using our cutting-edge, cost-effective packaging options. Get your free packaging quote for 2023 today!