Labels are used everywhere and for so many different purposes, I can almost guarantee you that whilst you are reading this blog, you are probably right next to something that has a label on it, look at your computer, you might even see an ‘Intel’ sticker somewhere. Fact of the matter is that labels are being used everywhere by everyone, so how do you stand out amongst all the noise?

The actual design of your label and what your audience see's is key to your label getting noticed and also being read and understood more clearly. We at Label Power have over 21 years of experience with labels and sure have noticed a thing or two, or maybe five in this case. Here are our major tips in designing the right label for your small or large business.
 

1. Be Consistent with your Labelled Brand

Over the years in serving customers, one of the worst things we see on a day to day basis is the misuse of branding. Branding is what solidifies the customer’s vision of your presence and what you have to offer. Don’t go from logo to logo at each launch, or changing your main brand identity colours at a whim, keep them consistent, unless you want your product to be that poor product in the corner that nobody loves due to its lack of memorable features. So if you want someone to remember your product, keep a consistent theme that people will remember.
 

2. Create a Simple yet Specific Design Brief for the Designer

A good label design is only produced by a good designer, but that designer cannot fulfil his job properly unless you know what you want as a marketer/owner. Make sure that the designer knows precisely what you wish to accomplish.
Give them the details of the style, colour, brief history of your company, text included, target audience, stock images you have and anything else that is relevant to their inspiration. Also, it is essential to provide them with examples, styles, colours, fonts of other labels which resonate with the sought after design. There are freelance website like 99designs which can also offer great inspiration for design variation. After all, the more you give them, the more they have to work with.
 

3. Be Wise in your Colour Choice

The colours you choose and the way you combine those colours may make or break your product and design. Be sure to choose colours that complement each other well, or colours that catch attention due to their opposite values. Choose colours that connect with the font colour to keep some consistency and try not to use more than 3-5 colours for your font and main image (unless it’s a rainbow unicorn). You wouldn’t naturally think that people choose a labelled product solely on the colour, or lack of colour or the great use of colours combined, but it happens every single day a consumer buys your product. So try and choose colours that stand out and combine well such as monotone colours, duotone colours, two colours that are similar and one that is different. Avoid using colours that clash, or overlapping a similar background colour with a font.
 

4. Pay Keen Attention to the Finer Details

Small details can have a powerful impact, and the better placed detail you have on your product, the more valid and professional it will appear to be. Even just changing the colour or the graphic for each edition of your product can create a large impact, showing your company can do variety. Ensure that all of your regulatory and legal information is listed, along with any certification or awards your company has, as it might sway the difference in being chosen instead of your competitors. Being creative in the actual label shape, for example adding a twist in the label or a slit corner of your label may also generate further interest. You could also add a quirky quote or line on the back of the design which creates a more positive association to your product.
 

5. Get Some Customer Feedback

Once your design is done and dusted, don’t just get it printed immediately. If you are not under a tight deadline, ask some of your previous customers what they think of your design, or if you can’t get customer feedback, ask your staff, friends and family what they think. Listen to what they have to say about your design, but take it with a pinch of salt and don’t take everything into account. Sometimes there might be something that isn’t quite right or mistakes (typos, misspellings, copyright content) that your designer or you might not spot. They also might give you a suggestion that sounds very creative or even beneficially obvious that you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.