Packaging Design UK

Packaging that sells and survives

Packaging has to do several jobs at once: protect the product, stand out on a shelf or in an unboxing video, tell people what it is in a glance, and carry the legal information. dijitul starts with where the product is sold. A pack on a supermarket shelf is seen from a metre away among competitors, so the brand and product name must read instantly. A subscription mailer box is opened at home, so the inside can carry the surprise.

We design a range system rather than one-off boxes: a fixed layout for brand, product name and key claim, with colour or illustration changing per variant. That keeps the range recognisable and makes adding new flavours or sizes cheaper later.

Dielines and print setup

A dieline is the flat outline of the pack showing cut lines, crease (fold) lines, glue areas and bleed. It comes from the packaging manufacturer (the converter) and is specific to their cutting tool. Folding cartons often follow standard ECMA styles and corrugated boxes follow FEFCO codes, but every converter's dieline still differs slightly, so we never design on a generic template once the supplier is chosen.

• The dieline sits on its own layer as a named spot colour, set to overprint, so it never prints.
• Artwork extends past cut lines by the bleed the converter asks for, often 3 mm.
• Text and barcodes stay clear of creases, glue flaps and the edges of windows.
• Foil, spot UV and embossing each get their own separate artwork layer.
• Colours are specified in CMYK or Pantone depending on the print process, with brand colours checked against a physical swatch.

What goes on the pack

Legal requirements depend on the product. Food packaging in the UK typically needs the name of the food, an ingredients list with allergens emphasised, net quantity, a date mark, storage conditions, the business name and address, and nutrition information in most cases. Mandatory text must meet a minimum x-height (the height of a lowercase x) of 1.2 mm, or 0.9 mm where the largest surface is under 80 cm². Cosmetics, toys and electrical goods have their own rules and safety marks.

You are responsible for the wording of legal information, and for food we recommend checking it with Trading Standards or a labelling consultant. dijitul makes sure it fits, is legible and is placed where it should be. For barcodes, you register with GS1 UK for your numbers, and we place the EAN-13 at a scannable size, dark bars on a light background, with clear space either side.

Sustainable choices

Design affects recyclability. Mono-material packs (all paper, or all one plastic) are easier to recycle than paper laminated to plastic film. Heavy ink coverage, metallic foils and some laminates can make cartons harder to recycle, so we discuss trade-offs with your converter. Uncoated board, a single colour plus kraft, or a smaller box that cuts void fill can look good and reduce cost. We can add recycling information in the format your converter or retailer requires.

How a packaging project runs

We start with the product, the price point, where it will be sold and photos of the competitors it will sit next to. Next come two or three concept directions shown as 3D mockups, so you can judge them as packs rather than flat sheets. Once you pick one, we develop it across the range and gather the legal text, barcodes and dielines from you and your converter. Final artwork is checked against the dieline, exported to the converter's specification and, ideally, followed by a printed and folded sample before the full run. A white sample of the structure, made by the converter before artwork is final, is the cheapest way to catch a box that is the wrong size.

Price and related services

Packaging design is quoted as a fixed price based on the number of packs, variants and finishes. Small amends, such as a new flavour on an existing layout, are £45 an hour + VAT. For product labels on bottles and jars, see label design. For product shots of the finished pack, see product photography, from £25 + VAT per image. If you are developing the product itself, our product design and 3D rendering services help before tooling. Request a quote with your dieline or pack sizes.

What you get

• Print-ready PDF on the dieline, with separate layers for print, varnish, foil and cutter
• 3D visuals of the pack for approval and for your website or crowdfunding page
• Flat artwork for each variant or flavour in a range
• Barcode placement to GS1 guidance (you supply the GS1 number)
• Editable Illustrator files on request

How it works and what it costs

Logos from £150, brochures from £295, photography from £295 a half day and CAD at £45 an hour, all + VAT. You get a fixed price before we start.

1. Tell us the brief

   What it is for, who will see it, where it will be used and any examples you like. Rough is fine.

2. Fixed price

   We confirm the price and what you get, in writing, before any work starts.

3. First designs

   We design, shoot or model it and share the first version for your comments.

4. Refine

   We make the changes, check every detail, and prepare the files properly for print, web or manufacture.

5. Final files

   You get the finished files in the formats you need, ready for your printer, website, social channels or manufacturer.

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