Wrapped in Rules
As always, I’m not a lawyer, and this isn’t legal advice. If you need that, go find someone with a law degree and a billable hour rate.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover”, yet you definitely can judge a product by its packaging! Welcome to the surprisingly convoluted world of consumer packaging, Wrapped in Rules, regulations, and headaches.
This part of the process is essentially a speed run version of when I had to find the Protractor product supplier, only this time the RFQ details requirements for the packaging. The packaging needs to match the aesthetics of the inner product, and to this end, I inquired for a drawer box with rigid cardboard and a foam insert to hold the protractor.
Caption: Similar packaging designs to what I wanted for the protractor as seen on Alibaba.
Before drafting up a design, I thought I should search up if there are any regulations about the packaging of consumer products… This very quickly led me down a legal rabbit hole.
After many hours of research, I’ve found that my product’s packaging must include the following:
Product Name - What you are calling the product and how it will be marketed.
Product Identity - The actual description of what the product is. This can often just be the product name, provided it clearly identifies the item (as is the case with my product).
Quantity - How many units are inside the package. Regulations often require you to spell this out explicitly, such as “1 piece” or “3 sets.”
Name and Place of Business - Typically the full legal company name along with a physical address and/or contact information. This is required for traceability, liability, accountability, and for handling returns or complaints.
Country of Origin - Where the product was manufactured. This is required under U.S. import and customs law.
Barcode - Usually a standard UPC code in the US, this is a unique identifier issued by a centralized agency. Many retailers will not accept products without a proper barcode (more on this in the future).
Recycling Information - Increasingly required by US states, this should include symbols or text indicating how to properly dispose of or recycle the packaging.
Of course, these are just the “must-haves”. In reality, many other elements like product imagery, features list or product description, and marketing slogans are all equally as important for a product like this to do well on the shelves.
Caption: Working out a design in Adobe Illustrator.
After settling on a design I liked, I sent the files to my supplier so they could create an electronic mockup. This step is fairly standard, helping us confirm how everything looks and whether any discrepancies cropped up during the file transfer. Here, it’s worth noting that when sending Illustrator files, there are a few key steps you should take to make sure everything shows up correctly:
Outline texts - In case they don’t have your specific font installed.
Embed images - If there are any raster images, they need to be embedded into the file.
Correct resolution - Ask your supplier for their preferred printing resolution.
Color mode - Usually set to CMYK
Separate layers - For different operations such as printing, cutting, and foiling, it is best to separate them into well-labeled layers.
Caption: Mockup created by the supplier showing all faces of the box.
With the packaging mockup looking good, the CAD files for the protractor finalized, it may finally be time for the first batch of production…