It has resulted in a quickly increasing sector that sells the substance, whether for recreational or medicinal use, since marijuana is now legal in half of the states in the United States, with more conditions projected to follow shortly. We have taken note of the proliferation of companies revolving around cannabis, as shown by the growth of 55% in the number of design projects developed for newly established brands over the previous two years.
It is not unlawful for packaging for cannabis businesses to work with cannabis customers, regardless of whether or not cannabis is allowed in the state where the company is located. Having said that, if you are a designer, you may still want to examine whether or not this is an area that you want to concentrate on moving ahead, whether or not it aligns with your principles, and whether it may be problematic with other customers.
1. A Picture of Leaves
It may be a cliché, but the pointed leaf is an immediately recognized emblem. It is the quickest method to make a product noticeable when sold in a shop.
While many companies are still using the cannabis leaf in their company logos and the designs of their cannabis product packaging, the leaf is often reimagined uniquely by each company. To update the logo’s, look while maintaining its play on the established motif, the designers may use an updated and stylized rendition of the leaf, use a different color palette, or merge the leaf with other components.
2. The Color Green and the Environmental Ethic
Cannabis consumers generally have a greater appreciation for the product's natural origins than the general population, reflecting the societal trend toward analyzing humans' effect on the natural world. Cannabis goods that are mainly up to date have jumped on the “raw” and “organic” trend.
The natural quality of these items is conveyed visually via muted greens and browns, while the language used also reflects this quality. In addition, we are seeing logos and designs that allude to an existing legacy, which provides the brand with a certain degree of differentiation within the sector.
3. An Emphasis On One's Health
Because marijuana use for medicinal purposes is now more widely recognized than marijuana use for recreational purposes, there is a particularly sizable potential for business here. To provide an air of legitimacy to their operations and increase their chances of success in this market sector, many companies are capitalizing on the curative qualities of the goods they sell and adopting the colors and symbols of the medical and pharmaceutical industries.
Be on the lookout for the recognizable shape of a medical cross and packaging that gives just the barest indication as to the provenance of the substance contained inside, in addition to novel forms such as creams and tinctures.
4. Minimalism
A more sophisticated and up-to-date appearance may be achieved for a company by taking a minimalist approach to its branding. The brand has been brought into the modern day with uncluttered and straightforward designs, yet nonetheless, it works well with the overarching idea of relaxation and meditation.
These patterns may appear highly different from the bright designs we are accustomed to seeing, but the fact that they are unusual is one reason they may appeal to a different kind of customer. In addition, the emergence of new high-end, high-quality items may call for incredibly chic black-and-white designs that are particularly fitting for the products.
5. Toying with Preconceived Notions
In conclusion, sure, we did mention at the beginning of this article that you should avoid such preconceptions, yet, there is a trend in the branding of cannabis products that includes making an intelligent play on words or alluding to the counterculture of the past. Brands may get away with being a little bit goofier and making direct allusions to the recreational use of their product in states and countries where cannabis usage for recreational purposes is permitted. A brand may stand out from the ever-increasing competition with the assistance of creative thinking and lightheartedness.
6. A New Take on an Old Favorite
Companies who are participating in the legal cannabis field are looking for new ways to reinterpret the humorous elements that were used in the package design of legacy products. The majority of states have passed laws that limit the use of visuals that are aimed at children or that show people high on drugs. As a result, you won't see as many cartoon stoners, anthropomorphized buds, or fluor colors.
However, renowned companies like Cookies, Packwood’s, and Not Pot have discovered methods to keep their package designs loyal to the free-spirited irreverence associated with the cannabis culture while bringing them into the modern day. For example, the company logo and the packaging of Packwood's products include a dripping design. In contrast, the graphics on Cookies' product packaging are recognized for their fun and strain-specific nature.
Closing Remarks
We had gone a long way from the days when cannabis was packaged in the ceramic jars and metal tins used in apothecaries in the nineteenth century. Packaging must protect goods and distinguish brands to keep up with the growth of newly legalized markets and the intensification of competition in established ones.
