{"id":1738,"date":"2018-06-18T19:27:41","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T19:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/packaging-design-customization\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T21:31:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:31:26","slug":"packaging-design-customization","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/packaging-design-customization\/","title":{"rendered":"Packaging Design and Customisation: How Much Is Too Much?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Table of Contents<\/p>

** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

5 tips for designing custom t-shirt packaging<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping custom packaging<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Looking for some tips on what to consider when designing custom packaging for your orders? You\u2019re in the right place. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: When we say packaging, we\u2019re talking about the boxes, paper tubes, bags, tissue, package inserts, and stickers that you use for your orders, not about greek yogurt containers or beer bottles, although there are some pretty amazing designs for those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 tips for designing custom t-shirt packaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top considerations when designing custom packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Think about how the package is received<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most likely, if you\u2019re shipping a package to someone, it will be left on their doorstep. So you should be thinking about what you can do to make the visual impact appealing while making sure that the box still sits well on a front porch. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would certainly be exciting to receive something packaged in an octagonal box, but what the heck is your customer going to do with all of that cardboard, and wouldn\u2019t it have been better to just ship your goods in a bio-mailer? With packaging design, you have to think first and foremost about the needs of the person receiving it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that vein, think about what is going to be put on your package: you need to include space for shipping details, the label that gets slapped on to track the package, and possibly a few more things (hello, fragile stickers!). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making sure that you invest your design resources at the right level is as important as making sure your designs look good. It doesn\u2019t matter if you have the most beautiful artwork on your box; we can guarantee a shipping barcode<\/a> and shipping label<\/a> will cover up some of the best bits!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Keep it practical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This brings us to the practicality of your packaging. Every architect knows that, with design, there is always a battle between form and function. Form is the aesthetic appeal of what you\u2019re creating, and function is how well it does its job. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did the package arrive undamaged? That should be priority numero uno because let\u2019s face it, the prettiest, most eye-catching design in the world isn\u2019t going to make up for the fact that the candle you shipped was stomped to pieces because the delivery driver had to stack 13 other boxes on top of yours. So think about function first, form second. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can sneak in a cheeky little piece of design work that adds flair to your distinctive packaging, go for it! As a prime example, the shoe company Allbirds created a rectangular box that unfolds to have two smaller boxes attached \u2014 one for each shoe! If that isn\u2019t the perfect balance of form and function then we don\u2019t know what is.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Over-designing minimises impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This point is crucial. You want to make an impact, but sometimes over-designing can end up hurting, not helping. You know you\u2019ve done too much when at the end of the day you look at the tissue wrapped around the custom t-shirt<\/a> you\u2019re shipping, and have no idea what kind of brand you are. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stick to strong visual elements that carry your message through, and use pieces of flair like a wacky sticker or a cool postcard inside the package to accentuate your goods. Over-designing is cluttered. Under-designing is boring. But the perfect design will be just right. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Typography vs. image-based design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the design side of things, what are you going to use to represent your brand? Some advice for keeping it simple: use typography<\/a> to your advantage. We\u2019re not saying that imagery is a bad thing; quite the contrary, in fact! But imagery is difficult to get right. And when it comes to your brand identity, keeping your logo front and centre is important. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To start with, make sure your logo can translate well to black and white, as well as be easily readable at multiple sizes so that it can be used across mediums. For example, printing it on your box and your wrapping, then emboss it on the letterhead that you use for a custom note thanking your customers. Remind them where this great stuff came from!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Using colour effectively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we\u2019ll speak a bit to colour. As any good designer will tell you, colour can be tricky<\/a> and doesn\u2019t always turn out exactly how you imagined. Take it from us at <\/span>noissue<\/span><\/a>: we print using a colour-matching system that guarantees that the colour you use for your design is the exact colour that gets custom printed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That aside, you will typically be restricted in what colours you can use in your design, which makes them all the more important to get right! Use colours that match your brand or promote your concept. Once you\u2019ve nailed down your brand image, it\u2019s time to start getting creative with your packaging designs \u2014 why not go with pastels for your Easter shipments or red, white, and green for your holiday ones? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using colour effectively is a great way to impress customers and leave something a little more exciting on their doorstep.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, keep your t-shirt packaging simple, keep your logo front and centre, and make sure you\u2019re thinking practically. These tips should set you up well for your design and help make sure that you\u2019re not cluttering your messaging by doing too much. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all of the packaging customisation options that exist nowadays, you have a lot to choose from. So while getting it right can prove difficult, it will be all the more rewarding when you do!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping custom packaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re shipping orders at scale, you need a reliable fulfilment partner. ShipBob helps fast-growing ecommerce brands store inventory, kit orders, and ship items in custom branded boxes. Learn if we are a good fit for your brand and requesting a pricing quote at the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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