Whether you work with a design agency, a freelancer or your packaging partner, the brief is where good packaging starts. A clear one saves rounds of revisions and keeps the design printable.
1. The product
What it is, what it does, its flavor or variants, and the size and format: tub, bottle, pouch or can. Include the exact container if it’s chosen, because the design has to fit its label panel.
2. The customer and the shelf
Who buys it, where they buy it, and what sits next to it. Share two or three competitors you like and two or three you want to look different from.
3. What must be on the label
List required content, such as the product name, net quantity, Supplement Facts or Nutrition Facts panel, ingredients, allergens, directions and warnings. Have your regulatory advisor confirm the wording. Our supplement label checklist covers the basics.
4. Dielines and specs
Ask your packaging supplier for the dieline: the template that shows the exact label size, bleed, safe zone and any curves. Designing to the real dieline avoids text that wraps out of view or gets cut off.
5. Brand assets and colors
- Logo files in vector format
- Brand colors as Pantone references, so tubs, lids and labels match (see Pantone matching)
- Fonts and any existing packaging
6. Special finishes and security
Note any foil, embossing, holographic elements or security features early, because they change how the files are built.
7. Timeline and deliverables
When you need final files, who approves them, and what you need back: print-ready PDFs, mockups, and files for each variant.
Need help with design as well as printing? We help turn ideas into print-ready packaging. Send a brief.
