From Fashion Aisle to Grocery Aisle, Black Makes a Statement
It’s been said, “Black is the new black.” Yes, that may have been a few years ago and said somewhat in jest, but black is and always has been popular. It’s popular, particularly when it comes to fashion – in all its various forms. Whether it’s sleek party dresses, automobiles, home appliances or fixtures, or even boxes, black is a constant. And there are eras or moments when black gets extra hot and in demand as a design choice. If black is the ‘it’ thing or if it’s just your thing, how do we design with practical concerns related to production and display when it comes to your box design?
Take a Thoughtful Approach
Are you a ‘consequentialist?’ That might not even be a word, but it’s meant to describe a person who thinks about the end game, the final product and even some of the unintended consequences of a decision. If you’re thinking about a solid wash of black on your digitally printed custom box, there are some points to consider. Here are three tips based on our experience:
1. Flat or solid black can display poorly in retail.
If your box is located on a high shelf, near fluorescent light, it may blur and not read well. Conversely, a black box may recede if it’s located underneath a shelf or in poor light.
3. Solid black’s opposite can do the same.
A solid white box shows some of the bumps and bruises of a heavily-traveled/handled box. So…
What are Some Alternatives?
So, maybe the things we’ve seen have got you thinking. You wanted to go with solid black, but you’re reconsidering. What are your options? Here a few thoughts:
1. Look at gray and/or a subtle pattern for your background.
This will lessen the impact of shipping and handling if your box endures rough handling. As shown in the photos below, a little background pattern makes a few bumps on a conveyor belt a non-issue.
2. Flip the script.
If the lighting is your primary concern, use that black you want to use as a secondary color or font while using a lighter color as the background. Black on a gray pattern still looks pretty chic for your fashion brand.
3. Give it a test.
Can you do a test box? (Of course, with BoxUp you can). If your timeline and budget allow, run a test design so you can run your box through the real-world environment in which it will live and you can test for readability and smudge resistance.
If you want to run a sample of your design to see how it handles the environment in which you’ll be placing it, give us a shout.
