3D Packaging Design: Innovation for Industry and Packaging
3D packaging design is far more than aesthetics – it is brand management cast into form. Whether cosmetics, FMCG, or beverages, we create packaging solutions that make an impact – on the shelf, in the hand, and in the minds of the target audience.
Our Expertise in 3D Packaging Design
Whether PE, PP, PET, or glass – we have extensive experience in three-dimensional packaging design. It’s essential to understand the wide range of requirements: handling, stability, size impression, suitability for labeling, label size, filling capability, and residual emptying. Category codes must also be taken into account, as shapes give consumers subconscious cues – particularly for secondary placements or when orienting themselves at home. When everything is done right, milestones can be achieved – as we did with the AXE shower gel bottle: the world’s first truly masculine shower gel bottle. This design revolutionized the market, dominated the visual habits of the male target group for years through its form, and has been widely copied – something we see as a confirmation of its success.
Relaunch with Impact: 3D Packaging Design as a Key to Brand Success
The three-dimensional discipline of design can be an important part of a relaunch. A holistic approach to product design includes not only graphics but also packaging – for example, a new bottle shape. As early as 1996, JUSTBLUE, as a product design agency in Hamburg, designed the first PET mineral water bottle for the German market – for Gerolsteiner. During the cooperation with the Peter Schmidt Studio (now Peter Schmidt Group) that lasted until 1999, the still modern and premium-looking gastronomy bottle for Apollinaris was created. Closely connected to the material glass, the team at justblue.design has also been responsible for numerous globally recognized flacon designs for major brands such as Hugo Boss, Davidoff, and Jil Sander. By combining technical requirements with current trends, we deliver results that are highly relevant to the target audience.
Already in the initial design phase, we present photorealistic renderings (CGI). After completing the detailing phase, we provide Class-A CAD data in all common formats as the basis for subsequent engineering. Other successful examples in this area include the make-up jar for NIVEA Mousse and the design of a cosmetics bottle for Dove (Unilever), which was modeled after a gentle body silhouette.
Material, Form, Function – What Makes Good 3D Packaging Design
Our roots lie in flacon design – where every detail matters: glass as a material, form as an expression of brand values. We now apply this conceptual design expertise to a wide range of packaging solutions – from premium glass flacons to plastic bottles for the mass market.
While flacon design must deliberately communicate specific values, PP, HDPE, or PET bottles come with additional requirements. In 3D packaging design for FMCG products, consistency, recognizability, and adherence to category codes play a central role – because a shower gel bottle should not look like a shampoo or a household cleaner.
But in addition to the visual code, ergonomic function is also crucial: packaging must feel good in the hand, remain stable when opened, and perform reliably across different filling lines. Whether deodorant roller, aerosol, or PET bottle – form follows function, but always with the brand in mind.
At the same time, we take current trends in 3D packaging design into account, such as sustainability, material usage, and brand aesthetics.
Other Key Evaluation Criteria:
- Size Impression: How large does the product appear on the shelf?
- Label Size & -position: How much space is allocated to the branding?
- Stability & Fillability: Even in production on international lines
- Cap Size & Material: Balancing Sustainability and Cost
Only when these aspects are in the right balance and sensibly prioritized can a design be both economically and aesthetically convincing.
