Label Design Basics

Good product label design enhances your product's appeal
By Leah Kuriluk A product's label design represents your company to consumers. That's why product label designs are so important. A good label showcases your company while adding visual appeal to products and is also distinctive. Good label design can even help improve sales.
 

Designing product labels is more than just selecting an image and font. A product label designer must also select the right type of paper, ink and adhesive to make sure your labels will survive shipping, handling and storage without fading, peeling or tearing.

1. Government regulations require certain nutritional facts and ingredients to be shown on product labels. Always follow national guidelines when designing food labels.

2. Some packages may require multiple labels for front and back panels. Be sure you know exactly what information must fit on each.

3. Make sure your label design fits with the feel you want your product and company to have. Casual economic brands may want to focus on bright fun colors and images, while more expensive or formal brands may want a simple image with more muted tones.

Use paper that fits the needs of your label design

There are hundreds of different papers available to make your label design. When choosing a paper consider visual aspects, like whether you want your label to be matte or glossy. Also consider functional aspects, for instance whether your label needs to be waterproof. Generally, paper-types are somewhat limited by the packaging materials you'll use. The kind of paper you choose can also limit which adhesives you pick.
Try: Pick from the papers available at International Plastics, or check out Low Low Cost Label's eco-friendly paper.

Choose the right type of printing for your label design

Label designs with an embossed, holographic or foil highlighting require a hotstamp printing process, while tamper evident labels and coupons use flexographic and combination printing methods. Which printing method you pick depends on what type of paper you're using and what effects you'd like to achieve. Large labels are often printed with flexographic printers, while food labels are usually hotstamped.
Try: Check out the printing processes available from Apogee Industries, or choose one of the printing methods used by YORK Label.

Get help designing your label from a label design service

Label design companies have the experience needed to help you select the perfect combination of ink, paper and graphic to create your label. If you're finding the design process tricky, or you just want the expertise and efficiency of a design company behind you, custom label design services can create excellent labels quickly for a small fee.
Try: Commission a design from a label design company like The Boxmaker, or get a label design prototype from Willington Nameplate.

• If you want your labels right away, try pre-selected label designs that allow you to add label design basics like your company's name and logo with standard paper, font, color and size options. These are available from many label design services and can ship in as little as 24 hours.