There's no such thing as a free launch

The trouble with television programmes like High Street Dreams and Dragons Den, is that they only provide a
‘snapshot/soundbite’ of branding and the product development process, making it all appear oh-so-easy to the average ‘personon the street’. In reality, it’s a complicated process and there are a number of steps involved that should be considered before even thinking about approaching a branding or design agency and spending ‘hard-earned’ cash.
At Design Cognition we routinely get approached by all manner of entrepreneurs and small business owners who have very limited experience of branding and New Product Development (NPD). So we thought that we ought to provide some ‘pointers’ for those of you new to this arena, to get you to ‘stop and think’ and focus on what it is you are actually trying to achieve! It’s not in your interests or ours to develop products that have a high probability of failure.

So here are some fundamental questions to ask yourself, before you even think about branding & packaging:

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Top10Tips.co.uk logo

One thing that I forgot to mention in today’s earlier post was that if you’d like a text version of our Top 10 packaging Tips, don’t forget that Design Cognition have teamed-up with Top10Tips.co.uk to provide support to small businesses. So our Packaging tips can be found there by following this link to the top10Tips.co.uk website:

Written version of the Top 10 Packaging Tips

Alternatively we can send you a PDF version if you drop us an email to enquiries@designcognition.com

The Top10Tips.co.uk website also provides a wide range of other resources for Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) covering all sorts of areas pertinent to a business start-up, including the following:

* Packaging Design
* Search Engine Optimisation
* How to Choose a Marketing Mentor
* Strategic Marketing for Start-Ups
* Brochure Writing
* Social Responsibility for Small Business
* Brochure Design
* Email Stationery Design
* Marketing your Small Business

So check out the Top10Tips.co.uk website for further excellent information from a range of great contributors. Cheers Chris

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We have been posting 1 x video per day over the past 11 days on this blog site -and hope that you have found them useful – remember they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

As an added benefit, we thought that it might be useful to collate all of the Top 1o packaging Tips into 1 x 10 minute video for you. So here it is………..

Have fun packaging.

Cheers Chris

Today’s video – ALL of the 10 Tips in 1 x video::

Packaging Top Tips – The whole Series of 10 tips in 1 x video v2 – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

We hoped that you’ve enjoyed watching them as much as we’ve enjoyed making them. We’re passionate about packaging, so watch out for more to follow in future…if you’ve got any ideas on what you’d like to see covered – drop us a line…

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We have been posting 1 x video per day over the past 10 days on this blog site and hope that you have found them useful – remember they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

Today’s video: Pulls all of my Tips together and offers some final thoughts on how to develop packaging that is ‘right first time’, on-time & within budget. Watch the video to find out more…………..

Have fun packaging.

Cheers Chris

Today’s Video: DAY 11 – A summary & some final thoughts:

Packaging Top Tips -  Summary & conclusions – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

As an added benefit, we thought that it might be useful to collate all of the Top 1o packaging Tips into 1 x 10 minute video for you. So we’ve done that and will be posting here within the next 24 hours – so look out for it…………..

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We will be posting 1 x video per day on this blog site over a 10 day period – so keep a look out for them – they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

DAY 10 – Tip No 10: There are many types of protection that you can implement to help protect your pack style, shape,colours, branding , logos or layout…but what’s the best approach? Watch the video to find out….

Have fun packaging. Cheers Chris

Today’s Video:

Packaging Tip No 10 – IP protection – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

Look out tomorrow for the final part in our series – a conclusion & a chance to download ALL 10 Tips in 1 x 10 minute video…..

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We will be posting 1 x video per day on this blog site over a 10 day period – so keep a look out for them – they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

DAY 9 – Tip No9: Everyone’s aim is to develop a pack that is ‘fit for purpose’ but at minimum cost. There are a number of approaches that you can take and each will have a significant impact on the final outcome. What might seem the cheapest solution initially, might cost you dearly in the long run! Watch the video to find out more….

Smiley smiley packaging. Cheers Chris

Today’s Video:

Packaging Tip No9 – Cost minimisation – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

Look out tomorrow for Tip No 10 – IP protection…..

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We will be posting 1 x video per day on this blog site over a 10 day period – so keep a look out for them – they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

DAY 8 – Tip No8: I don’t need to tell you how important branding is on a pack, do I?. Get it wrong and you’ve got a ‘dead duck’ on your hands! But wording on packs performs many functions. There are many legal requirements & you must be able to substantiate any claim you make. Aesthetically the wording & graphics must work in harmony. Incorrect wording is the most common reason for product recalls, which can cost a producer many £000’s. Find out more on the video….

Have fun packaging. Cheers Chris

Today’s Video:

Packaging Tip No8 – Information & communication – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

Look out tomorrow for Tip No 9 – Cost minimisation…..

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We will be posting 1 x video per day on this blog site over a 10 day period – so keep a look out for them – they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

DAY 7 – Tip No7: In a previous video we looked at external damage to your packaging & how transit packaging can help, but what about protection from the product within? Is your product formulation particularly aggressive? Could it attack the packaging from the inside? Sound implausible? You might be surprised! Check out this video…..

Tip Top packaging! Cheers Chris

Today’s Video:

Packaging Tip No7 – Physical protection? – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

Look out on Monday for Tip No 8 – Information & communication…..

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We will be posting 1 x video per day on this blog site over a 10 day period – so keep a look out for them – they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

DAY 6 – Tip No6: These days the environment is top of everybody’s mind. But, did you know, there is lots of legislation to which you must comply? Also, as new materials continually come on to the market it’s difficult to keep up with it all…find out more in the video…

Enjoy your packaging. Cheers Chris

Today’s Video:

Packaging Tip No6 – Environment & sustainability – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

Look out tomorrow for Tip No 7 – Physical protection?…..

Packaging Top Ten Tips

In order to help you develop your packaging more productively, we have generated a series of  FREE short 1-2 minute videos detailing our Tip Ten Tips for getting it right. We will be posting 1 x video per day on this blog site over a 10 day period – so keep a look out for them – they could save you a £££$$$ fortune in the long run!

DAY 5 – Tip No5: Have you thought about how your pack is going to be filled or assembled? If by hand initially, what about longer term? Thinking ahead could save you a lot of time & expense…have a look at the video…

Tickety Boo packaging.

Cheers Chris

Today’s Video:

Packaging Tip No5 – Manufacturing & Production constraints – by Chris Penfold – Design Cognition

Look out tomorrow for Tip No 6 – Environment & sustainability…..