8 Inspiring Pancaking Design Trends That Are Going Beyond 2020

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In the past decade, the graphic design world has witnessed some impressive changes that started out as seemingly passing trends but ended up becoming essential for the industry. Just take, for example, minimalism, which started out as a trend and ended up becoming a real way of living and doing business. 

These trends translated into packaging design as well and shaped the way brands, designers and consumers perceive the containers in which products are stored, transported and delivered. 

The year 2020 brought on a new range of trends that use exciting colors, intricate illustrations and clashing elements to create unexpected packaging that tells a story and attracts customers. While some may be fading away as the time passes, some are definitely here to stay. We choose 8 of these trends, which we believe will keep being relevant even after 2020 ends. 

Make it tell a story

Storytelling is a very important part of any marketing strategy, and whether you like to believe it or not, product packaging is a form of marketing. In 2020 and beyond, brands need much more than a good design if they want their product packaging to stand out. Connecting with customers means speaking to them in a way they understand, and what better way to do so than using packaging design to tell the story of your brand?

Storytelling is essential for all types of products, but especially for those sold online, because eCommerce may offer plenty, but it does not provide the experience of touching or seeing products in real life. 

Turn packaging into art

Consumers are already overwhelmed with options for nearly any product they might be wanting to buy, which means brands need to be extra competitive in order to stand out and differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack. Artful designs have become a massive trend this year, and designers like to call it “metamorphoses”.

Metamorphoses, as a form of packaging design, revolves around elements that transform themselves into other elements. Think optical illusions, landscapes that turn into animals, birds that turn into fruits and many other artistic transformations. With this trend, the sky is the limit. Pair it with custom boxes that fit your design, and you have a sure way to win customers over in a glimpse. 

Retro-futurism

Retro and futurism may seem like two words that completely exclude each other, but retro-futurism is more than just an oxymoron. It is a form of design that combines elements new and old, invoking both nostalgia and anticipation. One good example of this trend is neon colors, which are a clear sign of the ’80s, and minimalistic graphics, which are very modern elements.

By bringing together two seemingly clashing elements, you can create stunning designs that will appeal to a multitude of customers. You can use typographic elements, bold colors, neon gradients and minimalist logos to create an impactful retro-futuristic design that will turn heads. 

Blur it out

Gradient has been the number one design trend of the past decade, and it has been everywhere, regardless of industry. Each year, gradient finds a way to be back on the list of trends, and this year is through blurry color splashes and blurred images. 

Instead of choosing traditional gradient designs, which are nice, but have become a little too common, designers are now using color splotches which are being blurred out to create a similar effect. It looks design-forward, it gives products an edgy feel, and it is a very simple, yet effective way to obtain impressive abstract effects that will make consumers wonder what really goes on behind the blurry image. 

Maximalism

Because minimalism has been such a strong trend in the past years, it was only a matter of time until someone started doing the exact opposite. Maximalism is believed to be all over the graphic design world, especially in the prospects of a global economic downturn, when customers look for every opportunity to feel a sense of luxury and extravagance.

An artist’s job is to transpose the observer into a world they wish to be living in, and that’s exactly what maximalism in product packaging does. Rich colors, detailed designs, luxurious elements – they all help give consumers the sense of luxury and beauty they are looking for.

Ecological alternatives

Sustainability has evolved past being a trend, but we feel ecologic packaging deserves a spot on our list. We are knee-deep into a climate crisis, so it becomes our responsibility to try and leave as little of an environmental footprint as we can. One of the ways to do so is looking for alternative materials to create stunning packaging that is both functional and good for the planet.

This creates a world of opportunities for brands and designers to come up with packaging that looks good, attracts consumers, and is biodegradable as well. For designers, it also comes as a test, as they will have to go past their traditional flat-colored surfaces and learn how to turn something as dull as plain cardboard into a work of art.

Holographic effects

Gradient wins again, as it influences yet another 2020 trend on our list. Iridescent or holographic elements are huge this year, and who could blame it? Say what you want, but is there something more eye-catching than the mesmerizing effect multi-colored metallic elements?  

Of course, to keep things balanced, but also give out a bold, unconventional effect, designers are combining iridescent elements with neutral backgrounds, usually black or white. If you have been looking at recent product launches, you may have already observed that this trend has taken off quite strong in 2020 and will probably continue to do so in the following years as well.

Transparent packaging

Transparent packaging may seem like the easy way out, especially if you have a product with a strong, interesting color that deserves to be on display. But creating packaging that is both interesting and allows the product to shine involves tremendous work and attention to details. 

This trend evolved as companies looked for ways to make the product more visible and show consumes what they can expect from purchasing it, but seems to be something brands will experiment with more and more in the following years.