How to Create a Luxurious Package Design: Features and Case Studies

An elegant package plays an important role in highlighting a product’s appeal and enhancing the brand image. However, what elements create a sense of luxury in a package?

This article explains the design features, effects, and production examples that evoke luxury. If you are considering creating packaging with a luxurious feel, please use this as a reference.

As a printing company specializing in labels and seals, we produce labels for a variety of products. If you have any concerns regarding package design, please feel free to contact us using the details below.

What is a Luxurious Package? An Explanation of Its Basic Characteristics

Luxurious packaging not only enhances the appeal of a product but also provides consumers with a sense of security and increases their purchase intent. Moreover, it is effective in differentiating from competitors.

The characteristics of luxurious packaging can be summarized in the following three points.

Feature 1: Sophistication of Appearance

In luxurious package design, sophistication of appearance is an indispensable element.
A simple and minimalistic design eliminates unnecessary embellishments, emphasizing only the essential elements to create a refined and crisp impression.

For example, merely placing the essential information such as the product name, logo, or pattern can impart a sufficiently refined impression.

Specifically, the use of a monochromatic color scheme is notable. The contrast between white and black provides a sense of cleanliness and high quality, making it effective in evoking luxury.

Feature 2: Quality of Materials

The texture of the materials is a key element that conveys luxury when consumers handle the product. In addition to visual beauty, the tactile sensation also influences the brand image.

Below is a summary of examples of materials that can evoke a luxurious feel along with their characteristics.

Type of Material	Texture & Characteristics
Matte Finish	・Smooth texture ・Creates a calm, understated yet refined atmosphere ・Used in high-end cosmetic packaging
Japanese Paper	・Matte texture ・Characterized by a textured surface ・Pairs well with foil stamping to evoke a traditional Japanese feel ・Its unique texture is highly appealing
Foil Paper	・Sleek texture ・Exhibits a metallic shine and high smoothness ・Features a mirror-like reflection
Pearl Paper	・Sleek texture ・Exudes a refined, pearl-like luster ・Ideal for designs that combine softness with glamour

Choosing the right material is crucial and should align with the brand’s concept and target audience.

Feature 3: Cohesiveness of Design

Overall design cohesiveness is essential in creating a luxurious feel. A unified design not only imparts a sophisticated impression but also reinforces the brand image.

Therefore, it is important to keep the following points in mind:

• Unified Color Scheme: Establish a brand color and design with consistent hues to achieve visual harmony.
• Consistent Logo and Font: Keeping logos and fonts simple helps to create cohesion across the entire product.
• Consistency in Size and Type: Even when products vary in size or category, unifying the basic design elements maintains overall brand consistency.

Key Points in Creating Luxurious Package Designs

The key points for creating a luxurious package design are the following three aspects.

Incorporating each of these elements can enhance the luxurious feel.

Point 1: Selecting Materials and Color Design

When aiming for a luxurious feel, the selection of materials and color design is a crucial factor. When choosing high-quality paper, thicker materials with a sturdy texture or a glossy finish are recommended.

Additionally, incorporating special materials such as fabric or leather can also enhance the luxurious effect.

In terms of color design, the following colors impart a sense of luxury:

• Monochrome: Conveys a simple yet refined impression
• Gold: Adds a sparkle and evokes opulence and luxury
• Navy: Provides a calm impression with low brightness

By using navy as a base and accenting with gold, the design becomes more refined and the luxurious feel is accentuated.

It is also important to limit the number of colors used. Generally, using one to two colors—or at most three—helps maintain overall cohesion while achieving a simple and elegant finish.

Point 2: Utilizing Special Processing Techniques

After the material and design have been finalized, incorporating special processing techniques can yield an even more attractive finish.

Key special processing techniques include foil stamping, embossing, and UV varnish, among others.

Type of Processing	Characteristics
Foil Stamping	・A technique that uses gold or silver foil to make logos and illustrations shine ・Ideal for creating a glamorous and distinctive feel
Embossing	・A technique that raises text or patterns to create a three-dimensional effect ・Enhances impact and boosts the design’s presence
Raised Printing	・Applies a special solvent to the paper surface and instantly dries it with ultraviolet light ・Provides a glossy finish and durability, enhancing the luxurious feel

By employing these special processing techniques, it is possible to achieve a distinctive effect that cannot be replicated with standard printing.

The image below is an example of a package seal created using foil stamping and embossing.

By applying special processing to the base paper or vinyl, you can add significant impact to the design. For more details on examples of foil stamping and embossing, please refer to the article below.

Foil Stamping and Embossing | Created Impactful Product Seals

Point 3: The Importance of Fonts and Layout

In luxurious package design, fonts and layout are also important elements. Skillful use of these elements can effectively enhance the product’s appeal.

It is important to choose fonts that match the product’s atmosphere and concept. Common font types include Gothic and Mincho typefaces.

By selecting fonts that align with the product’s characteristics and target audience, you can effectively highlight the product’s appeal.

Additionally, not only fonts but also the balance of the layout is an important element. A design that pays attention to white space gives a visually sophisticated impression and makes it easier to convey information.

Luxurious Package Seal Production Examples

Our company also produces luxurious package seals. Here, we introduce the following production examples.

 Example 1: Nishihira Distillery Shochu Label “Sango”

We produced a shochu label for Nishihira Distillery’s brown sugar shochu “Sango.” The label uses Japanese paper cotton to evoke a natural texture and a premium quality feel.

The product name is printed in two distinctive colors, giving it a modest yet refined impression.

One innovative feature of this label is that the back label is printed on both sides.

By printing on both sides, a visual effect is achieved that makes it appear as if the entire bottle is adorned with the design.

Double-sided printing takes advantage of the transparent liquid and bottle shape, harmonizing the clarity of the shochu with the beauty of the label. The transparent liquid, which can resemble a magnifying glass, is also a distinctive feature that conveys both luxury and style.

For more details on this production example, please see the article below.

Production Example | Nishihira Distillery Shochu Label “Sango”

Example 2: SUNSET CELLARS Wine Label

We produced labels for both sparkling wine and red wine for SUNSET CELLARS.

The white label “HYDRANGEA” is used for sparkling wine, while the green label is for a red wine called “SUNSET SYRAH 2014.” Both utilize premium 90kg paper with a smooth texture that accentuates their luxurious feel.

Additionally, foil stamping has been applied; “HYDRANGEA” uses pink foil for a striking impact, while the green label “SUNSET SYRAH 2014” features gold foil, giving it a classic and elegant impression.

For more details on SUNSET CELLARS’ production examples, please see the article below.

Production Example | SUNSET CELLARS Wine Label

Example 3: Cherche Inc. Package Seal

We produced a package seal for Cherche Inc.’s rum raisin butter. The printing utilized a single color (DIC N889), resulting in a simple and refined design. Additionally, by selecting a matte film material, the texture closely resembles that of the wrapping paper used for butter.

This seal, though simple, further enhances the product’s brand image through its meticulous attention to material and color.

For more details on this production example, please see the article below.

Production Example | Cherche Inc. Package Seal

Points to Consider When Creating a Luxurious Look

Finally, here are some points to consider when creating a luxurious package design.

The main points are as follows:

Note 1: Beware of Over-Design

If too many embellishments are added, the overall package design can become overly complex, detracting from its luxurious and refined atmosphere. Conversely, a simple design that eliminates unnecessary elements is effective in highlighting the product’s quality and brand value.

Particularly important is the use of white space. By placing white space appropriately, the overall design gains a sense of openness and reduces visual clutter. White space helps balance the design and contributes to a luxurious finish. It also effectively accentuates key elements, making the design easily understandable for consumers.

Although excessive embellishments or complex designs may initially appear eye-catching, they can have the opposite effect for products or brands seeking a luxurious feel, so caution is advised.

Note 2: Design Suitable for the Target Audience

In luxurious package design, it is essential to adopt a design that resonates with the target audience. No matter how beautiful a design is, if it does not connect with the intended audience, it will not entice them to choose the product.

It is crucial to effectively communicate the product’s appeal and benefits (the value it provides) in the brief moment before a consumer makes a choice. Therefore, clearly identifying the target audience is key.

For example, designing for women, men, or younger demographics—tailoring the design to what appeals to the target audience—is essential.

Note 3: Balancing Cost and Design

In luxurious package design, balancing cost and design is also important. Achieving a luxurious look within budget requires ingenuity.

For example, high-quality paper or special film materials may increase costs, but they can significantly enhance the overall impression of the product.

Furthermore, rather than infusing luxury throughout the entire design, applying foil stamping or embossing to specific elements such as the logo or product name can efficiently create a refined impression.

Through such innovations, it is important to focus on the essential elements while maintaining a balance between cost and design.

Enhance Your Product’s Value with Luxurious Packaging

Luxurious packaging plays an important role in enhancing a product’s appeal and brand image.

When producing luxurious packaging, the choice of materials, design, and processing techniques is crucial. By aiming for a simple design and eliminating unnecessary embellishments, you can achieve a refined, luxurious look.

Our company produces a variety of product labels and seals tailored to your product, including the luxurious package seals introduced in this article. If you are considering production, please feel free to contact us using the link below. We accept inquiries for estimates 24 hours a day.