When designing your product’s packaging, understanding the terminology is crucial for effective communication and collaboration. Whether you’re a designer, marketer, or entrepreneur, familiarizing yourself with these terms will help you during the design process.

You can ensure your packaging meets your brand’s aesthetic and functional requirements. Let’s explore some common product packaging design terms you should know during the design and implementation phase.

Primary Packaging

Primary packaging refers to the layer of packaging that comes into direct contact with the product. It should protect the product from external elements, enhance its visual appeal, and convey important information to consumers.

Secondary Packaging

Secondary packaging, also known as outer packaging, houses the primary packaging layer. It provides additional protection during shipping and handling and often includes branding elements and promotional messages.

Structural Packaging

Structural packaging refers to the physical form and design of the packaging, including its shape, size, and functions. It plays a crucial role in protecting the product and attracting consumer attention on retail shelves.

Dieline

A dieline is a template designers use to create the structure of packaging. It outlines the dimensions and layout of the package, including fold lines and cut lines.

Prototype

A prototype is a physical sample of the packaging design that allows designers and stakeholders to visualize how the final product will look and function. It gives you and your team an opportunity to make final adjustments before mass production begins.

Substrate

Substrate refers to the packaging material, such as paperboard, cardboard, plastic, or glass. Your choice of substrate depends on factors such as product requirements, budget, and environmental considerations.

Universal Product Code (UPC)

The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a unique barcode assigned to each product in order to facilitate inventory management and retail checkout. It plays a crucial role in tracking products throughout the supply chain and maintaining accurate pricing and stock levels.

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique identifier assigned to each product and its corresponding packaging variant. It helps retailers track inventory and manage stock levels more efficiently.

Understanding these common product packaging design terms will empower you to communicate effectively with designers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders involved in the packaging design process. This knowledge is valuable whether you’re designing packaging for a new product or revamping an existing one.

If you need help designing your product’s packaging, leverage the wealth of resources at Virtual Packaging. Our online packaging design services will help your product stand out on the retail shelf and attract customers through online advertisements.