Packaging can be a headache.

That’s what we hear from a lot of makers and small creative businesses. We reckon that we’ve moved on from the MadMen days of using packaging design to manipulate and coerce people into a purchase, and all we really want is simple packaging that sits in line with our branding,  doesn’t cost a fortune, and doesn’t destroy the environment.

If you are creative businesses selling online, you’ll find that a lot of your customers are ordering your wares and receiving them in the post – weighing down even further on the importance of that first tactile interaction with your brand through the packaging. For those selling at pop up shops, trade shows and in retail - packaging not only protects your products - but can tell the story of who you are to your customers.

To restore your faith in packaging, here are some standout designs from Scotland and beyond. Naturally, we’ll explain which production methods were used, and where you can access them yourself.

1. Confectionary Foils

Starting with some home grown talent, designer Claire Duffy worked with Tunnocks (of the fabulous tea cakes) and Scottish Manufacturer Chesapeake Packaging (makers of the cartons) and Friths (makers of the confectionary foils) to design and produce a limited edition of prize tea cakes along with Tunnocks medals.

These were produced as part of the Scotland Can Make It project which was a collection of six limited edition souvenirs for the Commonwealth Games, designed and manufactured in Scotland, and commissioned by Panel.

2. Ceramics and Cardboard

Looking a fair bit further afield to Mexico, this is a concept design for Two Prophets Tequila that was designed by Aaron Harper-Lee. These bottles are a homage to both the Mexican holiday Dia de Los Muertos, and the practice of crafting Moonshine in the US.

The outer box is a great example of using simple materials like corrugated cardboard to achieve a high quality finish.The front panel has been laser cut. The bottles themselves are made out of ceramic, with cork stoppers – alluding to the aesthetic of Moonshine packaging. To find out more about Ceramics production, take a look at our Guide to Ceramics.

3. Repurposed Material

This is a great example of low-budget packaging using existing and recycled materials. The ‘Bag to size’ station is designed by Beirut-based concept store 6:05 which uses any material, ranging from paper, to textiles and traditional shipping materials and transforms them into tailor-made packaging.

The functional aesthetic of this packaging reminds us of the robust kit bags manufactured by the sailmaker Montrose Rope & Sail. It is also the type of thing you could do yourself, using open access machines, somewhere like MAKLab. 

4. Foiling

Marou is a Vietnamese chocolate brand. We love the combination of bold colours and generous foiling. Their packaging highlights the influence of French Colonialism in Vietnamese visual culture. This packaging was produced exclusively for sale at La Grande Épicerie de Paris, one of the finest grocers in Paris.

It was designed by Rice Creative in Paris, and photographed by Wing Chan. If you’re looking for a manufacturer in Scotland who can produce foiled packaging we’ve got Glasgow Press and Piccolo Press on the Make Works Directory. You might also take a look at Aberdeen based, Windmill. 

5. Letterpress

Back to Scotland and Brewdog. Brewdog’s beer labels are manufactured by a letterpress studio in Scotland. Brewdog developed these new labels last year ‘In an effort to ensure the look and feel outside our bottles matches the craft and passion inside them, we’ve used real wood-cut and metal letters at one of the UK’s few remaining letterpress studios. It’s time for our packaging to become as hand-crafted as our beer.’

We are glad to hear that they’re supporting the letterpress trade. For letterpress in Scotland, we have some fantastic studios listed on Make Works – Hunter Press, Glasgow Press and Piccolo Press.

6. Sand

This ‘Sand Packaging’ designed by Alien & Monkey, aims to address some of the issues of wastage in modern society by working with one of the earth’s most abundant, natural resources.

It looks like the outer box is made up of compressed sand which has most likely been cast. Like Alien & Monkey, if you to are looking to push the boundaries and experiment with materials we would recommend you get in touch with Silo Design & Build or Old School Fabrications who both enjoy working with challenging briefs.

7. Risograph Printing

These beer labels were Riso Printed. Risograph printing is high speed digital printing (aka a photocopier) that works as a stencil duplication process, producing an outcome often compared to screen printing. It’s particularly interesting to see Riso Printing used in the realm of packaging as it’s a very affordable print process and has capacity for manufacturing small quantities. These were designed by Jonas Bäckman and printed by Peow Press in Sweden.

If you’re looking for a Risograph Press in Scotland have a look at Risotto Studio and Workhorse Press on Make Works

8. Wood

This limited edition packaging was designed by Pennsylvania-based T-shirt brand Ugmonk for a 4th anniversary limited edition. Ugmonk build high quality and consideration of materials into their brand story which you can see clearly echoed in this special edition packaging. The bespoke flexible birch box has been laser-engraved with graphics. Enclosed is a hand-signed and printed ‘collectors card.’ The stamps used for this process were crafted with Gingko wood reclaimed from a local estate.

Reading about Ugmonk’s philosophy when it comes to materials reminds us of Edinburgh-based Evergreen Studio – a woodwork, laser cutting and engraving studio with an emphasis on unique, locally sourced Scottish hardwood. It might also be worth speaking to Lynwood Carvers - a craftsman in Dumfriesshire, who has made similar packaging for the whisky trade. 

9. Die-Cut

This packaging was designed by agency Firmalt for Indumex which is a hardware store based in Mexico. We love the bold, saturated colours and the stencilled initials used to abbreviate the name of each product. These sleeves are made out of folding box board which has been die-cut to shape. If you’re interested in producing printed, die-cut packaging in Scotland, have a look at Glasgow Press and Box Shop on Make Works.

10. Decals

We couldn’t resist including another ceramic tequila bottle – this was designed by Hannah Hart who is an American graphic designer. Talavera is a Mexican word used to describe the well known Mexican hand crafted pottery and ceramics. In designing these, Hannah has drawn comparisons between the strict craft of Talavera and that of Tequila crafting. The illustrations depict the Mayan Gods Yum Kaax, The God of Nature, Chaac, The God of Rain, and Kinich Ahau, The God of The Sun. For ceramic production in Scotland, speak to Glasgow Ceramics Studio, Kevin Andrew Morris or Cyan Clayworks.

11. Simple combinations

Edition Scotland is a fashion label focusing on luxury crafted knitwear and accessories designed and manufactured in Scotland. Glasgow-based design studio, Freytag Anderson, worked with Edition Scotland to develop their new brand and packaging which you can see below.

These paper over board boxes have a really minimal, clean design, focussing the attention in on the pattern and bright colours of the scarf peaking out from below the tissue paper.

The swing tags are made out of greyboard and have been die cut and letterpress printed.

If you’re interested in having swing tags like these produced you can get in touch with Hunter Press in East Calder, Glasgow Press in Glasgow and Piccolo Press up in Nairn.

To find out more about manufacturing packaging and print read our Guide to Production for Illustrators