Packaging

Custom Packaging Trends That Elevate Modern Brands

Packaging stopped being a container years ago — it is now a marketing channel, a loyalty program, and a sustainability statement in one box. These are the five trends our packaging bench is producing most this year, and how to use each without blowing your budget.

1. The designed unboxing sequence

The best unboxings choreograph three beats: the outer mailer (bold, shippable), the tissue reveal (branded pattern, sticker seal), and the product presentation (insert, card, sample). You do not need all three at launch — but plan the sequence now so later layers slot in without redesigning the box.

2. Recycled boards that look premium

Kraft and 100%-recycled boards used to mean rustic. New clay-coated recycled stocks print vivid color while keeping visible-fiber charm on the inside. Print your sustainability story on the box bottom — customers read it, and retailers increasingly require it.

“The brands winning shelves right now print less on the outside and more on the inside — a quiet exterior with a delightful interior beats a loud box every time.”

3. Soft-touch and foil, used sparingly

• Soft-touch laminate on rigid boxes for a velvety, fingerprint-proof feel.
• One foil accent — monogram or border — rather than full-coverage metallics.
• Embossed patterns on lids and sleeves for depth that photographs well.

4. Right-sized mailers

Oversized boxes waste postage and annoy customers. Dielines cut to your exact product dimensions can cut shipping costs by a fifth — our structural designers resize existing packaging for free with any reorder.

5. Packaging that asks for the photo

A printed hashtag, a “tag us” card, or a pattern designed as a photo backdrop turns customers into content. The cheapest marketing impression you will ever buy is the one your customer posts voluntarily.