subject: A Beginners Guide To Packaging Design [print this page] When packaging originally came into being, it involved using natural materials available in the environment and the type of natural resource used would depend on the purpose. Wooden boxes, baskets made from reeds, pottery for vases and bowls, or wooden barrels, are just some of the earliest forms of packaging materials used. Later came the tin plating and iron that went into the construction of cans, this was early in the nineteenth century. That same century saw the introduction of corrugated fibreboard and paperboard cartons in packaging, designed to facilitate quick and easy storage containers. Moving into the twentieth century, we discovered the benefits of cellophane, and even aluminium, for safer, more stable packaging materials.
Packaging refers to the process of evaluation, design, and the production of packaging materials used for safe transfer or storage of products. It involves art, science, and technology, and additionally, the protection of products, so they can be stored, distributed, and or used and sold. Today most packaging is integrated into all forms of business, including government, institutional, personal, and industrial usage.
Packaging includes labelling in one form or another, depending on the product and intended use. Labels are used in various forms to assist with identification, dates, and the addition of any pertinent information such as expiration dates on packages. Labels also guide the product, giving shipping information, as well as origin.
Some of the most commonly used packaging materials are cardboard or corrugated fibreboard. These products are often used in moving and storage. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Some fibreboard materials can even be lined with water resistant paper or plastic materials so liquids may be safely stored (milk cartons, orange juice, and soups as examples).
The technology and art of protective packaging design is scientific and serves to preserve and safely store many items that could otherwise not be transported or stored, without the harmful effects of contamination. Medications, foods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and the like would be unsafe to consume or handle without some form of safe storage.
The design of packaging materials is dependant upon its plan of use. Large cardboard boxes are desired for most moving and storage purposes. Smaller, square, rectangular, or even round packaging has many uses. What the package or box is made of is important and what it may be lined with will determine what can be stored inside. If the product to be stored requires protection against temperature changes, vibration, shock, or compression, the packaging material must be sturdy enough to handle those types of situations.
Barrier protection is another factor in storage containers. If the product to be stored needs to be kept dry, sterile, dust free, or preserved from oxygen contamination, the packaging must be vapour safe and free from permeation. Any liquids or powders must also be contained, so they will not spill out.
Another consideration when it comes to selecting the type of packaging design that is best suited for your product is convenience. Making it stackable, easy to open, and easy to dispense from, will insure its popularity and use in the future.
