NEW BOX PRINTING TRENDS IN 2021

Custom Packaging Boxes
4 min readMar 29, 2022

--

Box printing carries a great piece of value for all the brands competing in the industry. It is because the packaging design communicates a unique story to the target audience. Without effective printing or box design, it becomes difficult to convey the message and content of the items you are selling.

In the current market, where even the slightest edges over the competitors are important for the firms, the competition is harder than ever before. As a result, this has provoked the need to print the packaging creatively for businesses. Here are a few printing trends that are receiving great attention in 2021.

BOLD GRADIENTS AND PASTELS

One of the newest trends in the boxes printing is the incorporation of bold gradients and powerful pastels in the overall design. A gradient is usually the gradual blending of the colors, enabling the designers to create a new fascinating color. The packaging designers are adopting gradients widely to make the packaging look more creative and appealing.

They add depth to the design, making the boxes shine on the retail shelves instantly catch customers’ attention. Whether it is a beverage or some candy boxes, the use of calm yet attractive pastels is becoming common in 2021. The designers specifically combine the pastels with intricate patterns to print an aesthetically appealing box design.

TARGET-ORIENTED FONTS

In the packaging printing process, the selection of fonts is being considered more seriously this year. We have seen that the designers are now not opt for fonts that are way too stylish that they impact the readability of the printed text. Likewise, closely spaced typography or fonts are not considered. The selection of target-oriented fonts is on the rise these days.

Everything about the fonts, ranging from style to color and size, receives special attention. The designers first evaluate the study of the customers they are going to target. By understanding their target audience, they make strategic use of the typography. For example, fonts of large sizes and dull colors are given priority when the target audience is relatively older. For the kids, exquisite and high-saturation font colors are favored.

BLACK AND WHITE COLOR PALETTES

One of the most burgeoning trends in the packaging industry is printing color palettes with only two elements, i.e., black and white. No doubt, other colors are important too, but combining these two in the packaging design is becoming a trend. The mixture of these two hues creates a versatile and inspiring visually appealing packaging that is hard to resist by the customers.

They also prove quite useful in creating some in-depth illustrations and complex shades in the overall design. The fusion of these two beautiful colors helps the manufacturers present the products more effectively on the retail shelves. Specifically, the use of black and white color palettes in the packaging design holds great significance when launching a relatively newer product in the market.

ECO-FRIENDLY INKS

Going eco-friendly is a new style or trend that we should all embrace. During this year, a number of fantastic progressions have been made to utilize eco-friendly inks during the printing process. Previously, designers mostly employed the use of plastisol inks. Now, they have to know the detrimental effects of these inks on the environment. These inks release some toxic chemicals that are ultimately harmful to the well-being of humans and the environment.

Moreover, these inks are also not a wise choice from an aesthetic point of view since they sit on top of the box. It means that they are prone to the effect of scratching and other types of damage. This year, almost all designers employ the use of water-based inks that are perfectly eco-friendly. Aside from being good for the surroundings, these inks seep well on the surface of printed boxes and dry very quickly.

VINTAGE-INSPIRED ILLUSTRATIONS

The addition of vintage-inspired illustrations in the printing box can be seen nowadays. Vintage refers to the old-fashioned labels. It also refers to the darker colors and some hand-written fonts that impress people of all ages. Incorporating these vintage elements in the packaging design reminds the people of the good old days that they enjoyed.

It helps establish a personal connection between the customers, and the brands and businesses can capitalize on this by making the customers more loyal. The vintage illustrations include some cartoonists, and the brands utilize fictional brand characters to inspire the target audience and gain their attention.

SIMPLICITY IS ON THE RISE

Minimalism is the best option when it comes to enticing printing on the packaging boxes. Adopting a minimalistic approach while printing the boxes is a new trend this year and is here to stay for a long time. The successful firms are focused on minimal hues, textures, fonts, and printed text on the packaging.

This type of trend is influential in displaying the honest and authentic elements of the brands. While printing the packages, simple shades, colors, gradients, and pastels are mixed in a way that promises the manufacturers that their product will stand out from the crowd.

Various box-printing trends are taking over the packaging industry, and almost every designer is recommending these innovative printing designs. Printing bold gradients and target-oriented fonts is now common when printing the box. Similarly, the use of eco-friendly inks during printing and the incorporation of vintage-inspired illustrations are favored during the printing process.

--

--