Foam is a great way to ensure your package arrives safely – but it’s also a great way to create a positive unboxing experience. During the design process, there are a few ways to add a little pizzazz to your foam packaging inserts.
Discover how you can add a unique touch to your packaging without sacrificing performance. We’ll walk through our top 5 foam packaging ideas to make your product pop during the unboxing experience.
1. Use Bold Colors
The color of foam you choose will make an immediate statement when the customer opens the package for the first time. The two standard colors for foam are white and black, followed by pink. However, you can also create a unique experience by thinking outside of the box. The iconic Coke red foam in the example above immediately captures attention and creates brand cohesion.
White is generally associated with medical or clean room applications – but it also has the appearance of being low-cost. If you’re looking to create a compelling unboxing experience, another color may be a better choice.
Black has a luxurious look that will go with anything by providing a stark contrast and highlighting whatever is nestled within the package. High-precision parts easily show off their contours when displayed in black. Even though black is a popular color, it can still create a pleasant, luxurious unboxing experience, especially when the color of your product is lighter, deeply saturated, or another bold color.
Traditionally, pink foam has been an indicator of the foam having anti-static properties. However, pink is also associated with breast cancer awareness. When choosing pink for your foam packaging, consider your product, the practicality of the material, and the feelings you want to evoke wisely.
While white, black, and pink are the basics, they are by no means the only options! Other colors — such as green, blue, red, and purple — have a playful element to them, which can make your packaging a lot more fun. Choosing foam in a color that’s similar to your product creates a sleek, monochromatic visual experience. By contrast, choosing a contrasting color (no pun intended) commands attention. Either option is excellent for photos. Matching packaging color to your brand can also be a bold and impactful choice when trying to make your packages pop.
2. Play Around with Surface Textures
The surface of the foam is what will frame your product and, more importantly, give a perceived surface quality to your customers. There are a lot of different textures to choose from, and the right choice really depends on your product.
- Rippled Foam Packaging – Rippled or bumpy foam packaging will hide impurities and may also complement the texture of your product.
- Smooth Foam Packaging – Smooth foam packaging finishes have a brutalist look and a sharp, luxurious look. Smoothness will also emit calming emotions, which can put a customer at ease.
- Combination Foam Packaging – Packaging combinations with bumpy and smooth textures can provide a good mix of both feelings evoked.
Choosing a texture complementary to your product creates a balanced look, while contrasting textures can zhuzh up a boring surface. If making your product pop is the end goal, textures can easily go a long way. In the example above, the textured foam looks like velvet, which creates a more luxurious experience.
3. Layer on Packaging Laminates or Overlays
Laminates and overlays have boundless options when paired with foam and can lead to an elevated appearance for recipients. There are a few main options to choose from when selecting the outer layer of foam packaging laminates and overlays, including:
- Flocked Foam – Flocked foam packaging adds a soft texture to the surface of the foam. This can be a great way to tap into your customers’ tactile senses. It also adds a luxurious touch.
- Corrugated Foam – Corrugated foam packaging not only provides cushioning but also creates a unique visual and textile experience. This can be used creatively in design to create an aesthetic experience.
Flocking, printed corrugated, more foam, textured foam, acrylics, and more will provide the most distinctive “look at me!” effect. Likewise, something as simple as product labeling can set your packaging apart.
At Foam Industries, we’ve done a lot of experimenting with several different materials, so reach out if you are in need of some suggestions to add a more distinctive appearance to your packaging.
Related Content: What is Foam Lamination?
4. Be Rigid
Adding extra rigidity to your foam packaging to your design can also add a pop of aesthetic. The firmness of the foam will definitely make or break the professionalism of your package. Sometimes the lowest density foams will be the most economical, but they may make your package AND PRODUCT feel the same way.
A denser foam automatically makes your foam selection look intentional – and shows more overall care toward your customer. Rigid foams hold products more firmly in place and customers recognize the extra effort put towards preventing product damage.
It also doesn’t need to be complicated – simply changing a urethane foam pad to a slightly higher density will make a simple pad feel more like an engineered package vs. a cheap dunnage pad.
Related Content: Does Higher Density Mean More Firmness for Packaging Foam?
5. Experiment with Packaging Fit, Form, and Function
Another great idea for making foam packaging pop is to experiment with packaging fit, form, and function.
Making sure that an appropriate amount of foam is used in your package is one of the most important considerations. Too much or too little can potentially damage the product during shipment. It may also leave your customer wondering why there is so much foam used for such a small item, or why you cheaped out on the packaging instead of using the appropriate amount. On top of that, using too much foam equates to an extra, unnecessary expense, and using too little foam may lead to damaged products during shipping, meaning you’d have to pay double the foam anyway to get it right the next time.
Checking the cushioning curve is one of the first steps in packaging design, but making sure it looks good to showcase your product is equally important.
To figure out what is needed for your foam packaging, ask yourself how you want the foam to fit, the best form to fit the product, and how it will end up functioning. Do you need a specific type of foam for added cushion and durability? How much foam do you need to provide support without being wasteful? How will the foam packaging function during transit? These are all questions you should consider when making your selection when determining foam packaging ideas to make your product pop while also simultaneously providing practicality and durability.
Where to Find a Foam Packaging Expert
Need help creating a foam packaging design that POPS? We’ve got you. At Foam Industries, we take pride in what we do and we know how important your packaging is to your end product.
Foam Industries is a custom protective packaging company specializing in foam – with additional wood and plastic fabrication services. Our custom foam fabrication services are ideal for any type of packaging, display, or support service needed – from design to finished product.
