Packaging design should be viewed as an extension of your branding.
There’s no point designing an amazing logo and then trying to slap it on some packaging.
On top of this, you also need to consider the physical aspects of the packaging, legal requirements and labelling.
We have the experience you need to get every aspect of your packaging design right from day one.
Let’s be honest – selling projects (especially food products) is cut-throat. Whilst what you are packaging obviously has to be spot on (whether it’s food or some other type of product), it’s your packaging design that can make or break it.
As you’ll be well aware, your packaging is the first thing that a consumer engages with. Before they taste or use your product, it’s the design of the packaging that makes them pick it up in the first place.
Failure to connect at this level with your target market means you’ve failed completely.
This is where our packaging designers come in. We’ll create the impact that your product packaging needs to engage with your target customer and get them to pick up your product.
You can have some of the most amazing packaging designs in the world, but if you’re talking to the wrong people, or trying to sell something your market simply does not need, no matter how awesome your packaging is, it will not work.
Before we engage you in any packaging design project we’ll help you to explore your sector, the market and your target customer to create an overview of everything before we design anything.
We strongly recommend a branding/product workshop. This will help us to fully understand what should drive your packaging design and ensure that we don’t create anything too similar to products already out there.
Mark is a co-founder and Design Director at Toast. Book a call today to discuss your project.
As with all our projects, we work initially on paper to sketch out potential design directions without burning through the project budget.
This approach to packaging design means that we can explore lots of different ideas and share them with you before we start to concentrate on the finer details.
One thing that is very important to remember here is that you might not be your target market. You might not like things that the research has shown your target market to like. It’s crucial that the creative packaging design stages are based firmly on the knowledge of your market and not too much on personal preferences.
This isn’t to say that you won’t love the final design, but with packaging (especially in the FMCG sector) trends can influence design – you should see your packaging as something that will evolve over time to continually improve its appeal to the ever-changing market.
This approach does vary from product to product – you might need packaging for something aimed at a fickle trend-based market, so our packaging design solution should offer flexibility, growth and development.
Alternatively, your market might be adverse to trends and looking for a timeless classic approach – in this case, we’d be looking to create a design that has longevity and transcends trends.
Whatever your market or product, the creative stages of the project are both the most exciting and important.
We’ll work on these as part of the creative, looking at size, shape, materials and a wide range of other factors that come into play.
They key with the physical aspects of your packaging is to fit within budget targets without compromising quality.
A good example of this is the packaging we created for Ross & Ross Foods – they had two jars of different sizes that needed to be shelf-ready on a shoestring budget.
Our solution was a clever product wrap that held both jars firmly in place, but at the same time was cost-effective to produce.
Creativity in packaging design is not limited to the exterior graphics – we’ll help you to explore all the possibilities including materials, budget-friendly design and labelling options.
The best creative is done by a team that works together.
Toast is based in a Victorian townhouse in Oxfordshire, and all the team members work in the studio to generate the best creative work.
We’re not a small agency; we do all our packaging design in-house with our team and have no freelancers or outsourced projects.
From creating new packaging to improving existing packaging design, we work with both challenger and iconic brands to develop effective and environmentally-sound packaging designs.
For some clients, we create the logo, branding and full corporate identity guidelines and then apply this to packing and for others with established brands, we focus just on the pack design work.
We have trusted partners for production and see projects through, end-to-end.
If you represent a Food or Drink brand, you might like to check out our dedicated website for Food and Drink Branding and Packaging.
Together we’ve designed packaging for 100’s of happy clients.
At Toast Design, we are a leading packaging design agency passionate about helping brands stand out through exceptional brand and packaging design. Our experienced packaging designers include specialist food packaging designers, who create impactful packaging designs that look great and connect with your target audience. Whether you need a complete packaging branding design solution or expert support from a packaging design specialist, we offer tailored services to suit your needs. From innovative product packaging design to strategic packaging brand development, we deliver results that elevate your brand. As trusted packaging design experts, we understand the power of design packaging that communicates clearly, enhances shelf appeal, and tells your brand story. If you’re looking to design food packaging that makes an impact, Toast Design is the packaging designer team you can rely on. Among top packaging design agencies, we combine creativity and strategy to redefine effective package design. Let us help you take your branding and packaging design to the next level.
We design a wide range of packaging, including boxes, cartons, sleeves, pouches, labels, and custom structural packaging for products in sectors such as food and drink, cosmetics, retail, and more.
Yes. We can develop both the structural design (shape, dieline, and layout) and the graphic design (branding, typography, imagery, and colour schemes) to create functional packaging, on-brand, and visually striking.
Absolutely. We can apply your current branding to new packaging formats or update existing packaging to reflect any brand refresh. We ensure brand consistency across all packaging elements.
No problem. We can create a complete brand identity or product-specific look from scratch, including logo design, colour palette, fonts, and visual style tailored to your product and market.
Yes. We provide digital mockups and can coordinate the production of physical prototypes through our print partners so that you can see and test your packaging before full production.
Yes. All our designs are supplied as high-resolution, print-ready artwork, using your printer’s specifications or dieline templates. We ensure everything is correctly set up for a smooth production process.
Yes. We can advise on eco-friendly materials and sustainable packaging formats, and work with printers that specialise in recyclable, biodegradable, and low-waste solutions.
Timelines vary depending on the complexity of the project, but a typical packaging design takes 2–4 weeks from briefing to final artwork. Faster turnarounds may be possible; let us know your deadline.
We focus on the design, but we work closely with a network of trusted print and packaging partners. We’re happy to manage the process or liaise with your supplier to ensure everything goes smoothly.