Packaging
Design
Packaging sells the product on the shelf while carrying label information, the barcode and production requirements. We design boxes, labels and pouches on the dieline, with the material and printing method in mind, and follow them through mock-ups and print proofs all the way to production.
From box to dieline
Packaging is designed as a 3D object but printed on a flat dieline. Rotate the box, then unfold it to see where each face sits on the dieline.
↳ Drag the box; unfold it with “Dieline”
- Cut
- Fold
- Glue
W 96 · H 136 · D 60 (px, example)
Example box; dimensions are illustrative. The real dieline comes from the printer.
Shelf and sales channel analysis
Will the product sit on a supermarket shelf, in a boutique window, or appear only as a small thumbnail in an online store? We review competing packaging in the same setting and decide which information on the front panel should be read first.
Designing on the dieline
The design is built on the cutting and folding lines supplied by the manufacturer or drawn from the product's dimensions. We know from the start where the lid, glue flap and bottom lock will fall.
Material and printing method
Coated folding board, kraft, corrugated board, clear or metallic labels, laminated flexible packaging. The material determines how colors will come out and which printing method will be used.
Label information panels
A readable layout for mandatory information, directions for use, manufacturer details and contact information on the back and side panels. The text itself and its regulatory compliance are your responsibility; we build the layout.
Barcodes and symbols
Using the GTIN you provide, the barcode is placed at the correct size, with its quiet zone and in a scannable contrast. Recycling and material identification symbols appropriate to the material are added.
Mock-ups and print proofs
3D mock-up images for approval; where possible, a sample or blank prototype in the actual material. A color proof before the production run and a first-print check at the printer.
Design differences
by packaging type
Every packaging type unfolds differently; where the front panel, folds and seals fall shapes the design from the start. Pick a type and watch its dieline being drawn on the sheet.
Folding cartons
Coated board or kraft boxes, common for food, cosmetics, textiles and small homeware. They can be enhanced with finishes such as foil stamping, embossing and spot varnish.
From the dieline
to the print proof
In packaging, a file error that goes unnoticed can mean an entire printed batch is unusable. Files are prepared to the manufacturer's specifications, and each of the points below is checked one by one before delivery.
↳ Pick a layer; it lifts out of the stack
Dieline
Cut, crease and perforation lines are defined on separate layers in special colors and do not print.
Before we start
what we need from you
Tick what you already have: as the ring fills, your project gets ready for design. This is only a pre-check list; nothing is sent anywhere.
0/5
Items missing
Anything still missing can be completed together in the briefing call.
Label information and symbols
The back of the pack matters as much as the front. Missing or illegible mandatory information can stop a product from being sold. Although regulatory responsibility lies with the manufacturer, we build the design with these rules in mind.
Let's talk about your project
Book a call ↗In Turkey, food labels are governed by the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Labeling and Consumer Information; we take the list of mandatory information and the final texts from you
The placement and minimum type sizes of details such as product name, net quantity and expiry date are planned with the regulation's rules in mind
Recycling and material identification symbols (e.g. board, PET, PP) are used correctly for the packaging material
For export products, the target country's language and labeling requirements need to be researched separately; multilingual layouts are planned into the design
Our Process
Product and production details
We confirm product dimensions, material, printer, quantity and sales channel, and obtain the dieline if one exists.
Concept
Competing packaging is reviewed; different design directions are presented on the front panel and in a shelf view.
Applying to the dieline
The chosen direction is applied to every panel; mandatory information, the barcode and symbols are added.
Mock-up and approval
A final check is made on a 3D mock-up and, where possible, a physical sample; all texts get your written approval.
Print file and proof
Files are prepared to the manufacturer's specifications; we follow up on the color proof and the first-print check.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Box and label manufacturers usually supply a dieline that fits their own machines and cutting dies; this is the safest route. If no ready-made die exists, we can draft a dieline from the product's dimensions, but it must be approved by the manufacturer before production.
Responsibility for the label text and regulatory compliance lies with the company placing the product on the market. We make sure the mandatory panels are laid out clearly and legibly and note anything we see missing, but this is not legal or food-regulation advice. We recommend a final check with your food engineer or consultant.
No. Barcode numbers used in retail (GTIN/EAN-13) are obtained in your company's name through GS1 Türkiye, the national barcode authority. Once you send us the number, we place the barcode at the correct size, with its quiet zone and proper color contrast. Because red or light-colored bars can cause problems for scanners, barcodes are usually printed in a dark color on a light background.
Not exactly. Colored substrates such as kraft, matte and gloss finishes, and corrugated board all show colors differently. That is why we use Pantone references for critical colors and, where possible, run a color proof on the actual material and a first-print check at the printer.
Usually a master design system is created and variants are distinguished by color, icon or headline. That way the range is recognized together on the shelf, and each new product doesn't require a design from scratch. The number of variants is specified in the quote.
Yes. A shipping box first has to be sturdy; the print is often one color and simple. Details such as the inside of the box, wrapping paper, a thank-you card and return information shape the moment the customer opens it. We also consider how product photos will look at small sizes on marketplaces.
The packaging type and number of panels, the number of variants, the need for illustration or custom photography, whether the label is multilingual, and the scope of the sample/proof process. Production time depends on the printer and material supply, so the schedule needs to be planned together with the manufacturer.