Packaging Strategies logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Packaging Strategies logo
  • FEATURED
    • Brand Packaging
    • Extended Producer Responsibility
    • New Products & Materials
      • Featured Products
    • Packaging News
    • Packaging Perspectives Podcasts
    • Steve Fairfield Innovation Award
    • Supply Side
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Packaging Companies
      • Submit Your Company
  • FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
  • VERTICAL MARKETS
    • Beer / Wine / Spirits Packaging
    • Beverage Packaging
    • Candy / Confectionery
    • Dairy Food Packaging
    • FoodService Packaging
    • Household Packaging
    • Meat / Seafood Packaging
    • Personal Care Packaging
    • Pet Food Packaging
    • Pharma / Medical Packaging
    • Produce Packaging
    • Snack Food Packaging
  • MATERIALS
    • Adhesives / Sealants
    • Beverage Multipacks
    • Blister Packaging
    • Cans & Bottles
    • Closures/Lids
    • Films & Coatings
    • Labels
    • Material Converting
    • Paperboard / Corrugated / Cartons
    • Rigid Containers
    • Sustainable Packaging
  • MACHINERY
    • Automation / Controls
    • Case Forming / Packing / Sealing
    • Cartoning
    • Coding / Marking / Printing
    • Conveyors
    • Form-Fill-Seal / Filling & Closing
    • Inspection / Detection / Vision
    • Labeling
    • Unitizing / Palletizing
    • Robotics
    • Track & Trace / Serialization
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Packaging Strategies Resource Guide
    • Flexible Packaging Buyer's Guide
  • EVENTS
    • Converters Expo
    • Converters Expo South
    • Global Pouch Forum
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
  • MORE
    • Videos
    • Book Store
    • Classifieds
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • eXTRA Newsletter
    • Market Research
    • PACKSTRAT Wordplay
    • PS Resource Guide
    • Sponsor Insights
  • EMAG
    • eMagazines
    • Archived Issues
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Brand Packaging

How to Balance Function and Design in Liquid Packaging

By Krys Beal
How to Balance Function and Design in Liquid Packaging
How to Balance Function and Design in Liquid Packaging
How to Balance Function and Design in Liquid Packaging
How to Balance Function and Design in Liquid Packaging
June 5, 2018

Successful packaging is a balance of both functionality and appealing design. Compromising one for the other could create an imbalance that impacts sales, which is why it’s crucial that every aspect of your packaging is ideal and recognizable to consumers. While each liquid packaging project will come with its own specific challenges, the end result should work to attract consumers and maintain ease, while meeting safety standards.


Keep Functional Features a Priority

Packaging needs to maintain practicality in design, as it is used to effectively transport, market, and contain consumer products. Every product has its own unique packaging requirements regarding preservation and protection, which means there is a wide range of options available when approaching the packaging process. Consumable beverage items have some of the most stringent requirements when it comes to safe handling and must meet the latest industry standards.

Innovative packaging will utilize everything from automated production methods to the latest durable packaging materials. Packaging must also reflect value without any compromise in functionality. High quality packaging will keep products protected while maintaining convenience of transportation and appeal for displaying.


Use Design That Stands Out

While functionality is important to consider when designing liquid packaging, it’s also necessary to think about how your packaging will attract consumers and increase sales. Without packaging that effectively conveys your brand message and the quality of your product, people who aren’t familiar with your brand are likely to look elsewhere for the products they want.

There are several elements to implement in packaging designs to make them both visually appealing and unique to your brand:

  • Color ‒ One of the unique identifiers for a brand is the color scheme it uses in its packaging, which makes consistent use of color important to your overall design.
  • Graphics ‒ Today’s printing capabilities allow companies to include nearly any type of graphic imaginable to any surface.
  • Images ‒ Instead of graphics, or in addition to them, you can use images for certain packaging when appropriate, including true-life photography.
  • Shape ‒ Apart from the visuals contained in the materials themselves, the aesthetic of the packaging’s shape is also a crucial element in appealing to your customer base and appearing unique.
  • Texture ‒ Texture is often overlooked compared to the other packaging design elements, but it can also be useful in attracting new and existing customers.

Each of these elements can make your packaging more original and influence consumers who are otherwise unfamiliar with your products. You can also experiment with different types of designs to see which give you the results you want, with the help of packaging experts that use the best materials and features.


Satisfy Consumers with Effective Packaging

Combining both functionality and visual appeal in your packaging designs can ultimately meet your prospective customers’ expectations, selling your products more effectively than inferior packaging designs. Whether you need high-quality packaging for non-food items such as cleaning chemicals or consumable beverage products, you can make your brand more recognizable among the competition for both its uniqueness and quality.

Through the use of convenient and functional packaging designs that adhere to existing safety requirements while establishing your brand as a source of quality, you can improve your bottom line while making your company more recognizable. Customers will be able to trust your brand, with packaging that protects its contents while promoting a high-quality product that the packaging complements through visual appeal and functionality.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Krys Beal is VP of sales and marketing at E-PAK Machinery (epakmachinery.com), an industry leading manufacturer of in-line liquid packaging machinery that offers a wide variety of manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic machines for filling, capping, plugging, labeling, date coding and bottle handling solutions.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Golden award trophy in the shape of a star. Text: 2026 Top 100 Food and Beverage Companies

    Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

    Celebrating 30 years as a B2B journalist, I’ve revisited...
    Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies
    By: Brad Addington
  • Women In Packaging 2025 homepage hero

    Women in Packaging: Seizing Opportunities, Pushing Boundaries

    Seven women share their personal journeys in the...
    Materials
    By: Brad Addington
  • Image of the Spyder Pick and Place Joint Robot sorting pre-rolls.

    Cannabis Packaging Goes High-Tech

    Packaging Strategies doesn't often cover cannabis...
    Machinery
    By: Brad Addington
Subscription Center
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Online Registration

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Packaging Strategies audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Packaging Strategies or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Hand Holding Various Semaglutide and Insulin Injection Pens for different stages of the treatment.
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    How GLP-1 Is Reshaping Food Packaging, and Why It Matters More Than You Think

  • A stack of clear plastic containers, the bottom full of mixed fruit
    Sponsored byInline Plastics

    Packaging Trends Shaping 2026: Where Trust Is Won

Popular Stories

Podcast | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check” with guest Anna Kendall headshot and title. Also pictured Cardboard boxes on conveyor belt.

PODCAST | Packaging EPR’s 2026 Reality Check

Main image for podcast with Kevin Kelly regarding Flexible Packaging for Produce. Main image includes Kevin Kelly’s headshot and an image of potatoes in a bag incorporating 30% PCR content.

Looking Forward to Global Pouch Forum

Logo for New Earth Ventures

Atlantic Packaging Launches New Earth Ventures to Accelerate Packaging Technology

See the Top 100 Food and Beverage Packaging Companies of 2026

Products

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

Advances in Sustainable Food Packaging Technology

See More Products

Packaging Perspectives Podcast

Play Packaging Strategies' captivating WordPlay game, PackStrat! There's a new word every Tuesday.
×

Keep the info flowing with our Newsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing