Packaging is more than just a container—it’s your brand’s first impression. A well-thought-out package can build trust, convey quality, and even drive repeat purchases, while a poorly designed one can do the exact opposite. So, we have gathered bad packaging design you should avoid to build a smart brand.
Key Takeaways
Here is a bad packaging design that you should avoid if you do not want your customers to return their purchases.
A shipping box’s main role is to protect products during transit, but relying on plain, generic boxes can lead to poor outcomes, as shown in the picture.
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Lipton’s unwrapped tea bag redesign drew backlash over lost freshness, reduced hygiene, and inconvenience, especially among loyal, long-time customers.
Deceptive packaging, where the box size doesn’t match the product, can make customers feel misled. Therefore, always use appropriately sized boxes.
Misleading packaging might boost short-term sales, but honest, transparent design builds lasting trust and customer loyalty in the long run.
Packing raw eggs only in plastic without shells compromises hygiene and protection, resulting in unsafe and unsatisfactory packaging for customers.
Poor font choices in packaging design can harm brand perception, reduce readability, and cause costly mistakes, as seen in the picture.
Translating instant ramen to “Soup for Sluts” trivializes the product and may offend consumers, undermining brand credibility and customer trust.
Manufacturers often include product illustrations on packaging to give an overview, but some use inappropriate images that can detract from the design.
Individually wrapping each Q-tip creates unnecessary waste and increases packaging costs without adding real value for the customer.
Also Read: 15+ Luxury Packaging Designs to Level Up Your Brand
Cut-outs can boost product visibility and trust, but poor placement risks safety, and a weak structure is an example of bad package design.
The black raspberry jam label fails to use effective typography, with similar fonts and questionable wording that undermine visual hierarchy and clear communication.
SeaPak’s improved shrimp packaging was praised for its function but criticized for misleading visuals that didn’t reflect the actual product inside.
Using an oversized box wastes space and materials, creating a poor unboxing experience and misleading customer expectations.
Using food or drink containers for non-food products, like chemicals in soda cans, is dangerous and can seriously mislead consumers and be part of bad packaging design examples.
Poorly designed packaging openings can cause injuries and frustration, while simple features like tabs or tear strips greatly improve the user experience.
Generic packaging lacks originality and fails to stand out, so focus on brand identity and unique selling points to create a memorable customer experience.
Using colours that don’t match the product inside, like red paint in a blue package, can mislead customers and cause unnecessary confusion.
Overusing plastic frustrates eco-conscious consumers and harms the environment—smart design uses only what’s needed with sustainable materials.
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Unique packaging shapes can attract attention, but ignoring product compatibility often leads to impractical designs that frustrate rather than impress customers.
Packaging should reflect the product’s real use, like not showing a mountain climber on a rope that isn’t strong enough to climb with.
Individually wrapping each slice of bread creates unnecessary plastic waste and offers no added value, making it inefficient and environmentally unfriendly.
Using excess stuffing to make a product look fuller than it is misleads customers and damages trust in the brand.
Some food packaging highlights bold claims like “8g” in large text while hiding key details in small print, subtly misleading the customer.
Packaging metal straws in plastic bags contradicts their eco-friendly purpose, highlighting the need for consistency in sustainable product design.
Exaggerated product visuals on packaging often mislead customers, leading to disappointment and backlash when the actual contents don’t match the image.
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In the end, packaging is not always about looking good and different, it is about practicality, functionality, and honesty. Bad packaging design can damage your brand’s reputation and customer trust, so you need to focus on clarity, sustainability, and user experience to turn packaging into a powerful tool.
A clear, functional design that communicates your brand’s personality while staying efficient and attractive is what keeps customers coming back. That’s why you should always choose the right font to make your design remarkable. We recommend MJB Letters as it is the perfect source. They offer a list of high-quality fonts that suit various brand styles. Explore the full collection at MJB Letters and find your perfect match today.
