Need a Packaging Designer? Check Out These 15 Freelancers

Packaging design is almost equally as important as the product itself. Need a packaging designer? Here are 15 great freelancers you can work with, and awesome designs from their portfolios to inspire you!

We've all picked up a product in a store just because it looked cool (for me it was an early 2000s holiday in Greece and this Fanta can). 

But how important is packaging design really? West Rock's 2018 white paper suggests that a staggering 81% of people have tried something new because of packaging, and 63% have purchased a product again because the packaging was aesthetically pleasing.

On the other hand, while the aesthetic appeal is critical, package design is also meant to provide adequate protection for your product. And oftentimes, this means that the packaging designer needs to consider the material of product packaging, and create an appropriate design. For example, bright colors may look a bit off if printed on jute, and different package sizes can affect the design.

So, hiring a profession to design packaging is the best way to go. It’s pretty easy nowadays to find skilled freelancers. Still, it can quickly become overwhelming when you have to wade through dozens if not hundreds of package designer portfolios. 

We’ve done the work for you and found some impressive packaging graphic designers you can work with. Or simply browse through their portfolios for some packaging design ideas!

15 Great packaging designers you can work with

If you know what you're looking for, we'll help you find the perfect packaging designer. We've turned to platforms like Upwork, Dieline, Dribbble, and Behance and created a list of 15 freelancers that can help you with your next packaging project!

1. Alex Spenser

Speaking of colorful cans, check out the incredible design skills of this freelancer. The color combinations are simply magical and the clever use of white space helps keep the designs crisp and modern. A pro in Adobe Creative Suite, this designer can take on pretty much any task: from custom typography to photoshop, whatever you can think of this designer can probably do it!

2. Eleonora Anzini

This package designer has a professional portfolio characterized by a more corporate style, so it’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a sharp new look for your brand. Her portfolio also includes some more playful work with elegant illustrations, however, it’s always on the more classic side.

3. Astro Wong

Not exactly sure what you want? Then have a look at this eclectic portfolio: from very clean, minimalist designs to bold, colorful, and loud—you’ll find some incredible packaging concepts to inspire you.

4. Matt Thompson

If you love all things vintage, you will appreciate the nostalgic packaging materials found on this designer’s portfolio. Vintage typography, quirky character logos, and retro product packaging design are all elements of past design projects.

5. Wells Collins

Not every brand designer is a skilled product packaging designer. But this one is. Wells Collins has a stunning portfolio of different package designs, from colorful bags for cannabis edibles, to minimalistic corporate-looking packaging for a line of vitamins, and beer cans with a stunningly intricate illustration logo. He might be a great packaging designer to hire if you’re also considering rebranding.

6. Victoria Rudi

This senior designer holds a bachelor’s degree from Ecole Superieure d'Art de Nancy, France. Her rich portfolio includes logo design, packaging, and various print designs. If you are looking for classic and professional packaging concepts, her portfolio can be a great source of inspiration.  

7. Marina Zakharova

This packaging graphic designer has a truly unique style. So, if a modern and minimalistic feel is something you’re also looking for, definitely check out her work. Her work is characterized by awesome use of typography, which means she is able to include all the necessary information and make your packaging designs look eye-catching and beautiful.

8. Ognjen R.

This branding specialist also has a minimalist style that can deliver a powerful impact. He specializes in branding and package design. If you’re thinking about modernizing your brand identity, these simple designs might provide some useful inspiration.

9. Emir Kudic

If you run a coffee shop or bakery, this packaging designer has heaps of experience in those industries. He could easily incorporate your logo and existing branding into a fun new design, or create something from scratch to make sure your coffee cups and similar packaging designs are hip and instagrammable!

10. Flavia Santos

This senior designer has 20+ years of experience and is also the art director of Designerie. If you’re looking for an extensive branding service which includes designing marketing materials, social media content as well as product design, it’s not a bad idea to work with a freelancer who’s got many years of experience in the industry.

11. Mike

Do you want your packaging materials to really stand out? Then take a look at these bold and futuristic packaging designs and snazzy mockups. This designer is another art director at Creative Minds agency and has 12 years of experience in graphic design, as well as related fields like photography and web design.

12. Lola Téllez Domínguez

Another senior designer whose portfolio is characterized by romantic and colorful packaging designs. A similar type of design with gorgeous typography and intricate product mockups can be a real show-stopper at your marketing team’s next meeting. Whether you have a luxurious, high-end product or just want to knock the regular competition out of the park with some gorgeous packaging, this freelancer might be able to help.

13. Idris Nuhu

This New York-based graphic designer has an awesome and playful portfolio of packaging projects for various consumer goods. If you’re looking for something that’s authentic but also complements more conventional industrial designers’ work, then you will love his work. The use of color in designs is quite striking, as the colors are bold but not overpowering.

14. Mark H.

Another vetted professional with 20+ years of experience in freelance graphic design, Mark has an impressive range of past packaging projects. If you’re after product packaging that will appeal to a great number of people, then you need a freelancer like this, with versatile design skills and a firm grasp on different package design styles.

15. Ve_Sta

Need a truly versatile package designer? You’ve found one. This design professional has a rich portfolio, including truly unique illustrated packaging designs, as well as nice, everyday-looking packages for those who want to play it safe. The diversity of packaging materials in this portfolio is also impressive, and serves as a testament to the designer’s skill. 

What makes a good package design?

If you're feeling overwhelmed by so many great, but different examples of packaging concepts and dread having to put your rough idea into a cohesive freelancer job description - don't fret!

While there is no formula on what will make the perfect product packaging design (it depends on the product of course), there are few principles of good design that you should consider when presented with a packaging concept.

Simplicity

If you're excited about your consumer goods (as you should be), you might be tempted to put excessive information on the packaging: your brand's origin story, information about the production process, an elaborate copy provided by your marketing team.

The result could be a busy, confusing packaging concept that people will avoid. Simplicity is a crucial element of effective package design. Sometimes, all you need is your brand's name on a simple one-color background (if it worked for Coca-Cola ti might for you too!)

Originality

The packaging designers showcased earlier have some very different approaches: from design industry standards to bold and authentic product packaging that catches the eye. Simply put, neither of these approaches is superior; you can choose whichever fits your brand identity better.  

That being said, there's a stark difference between conventional and plagiarised. Research into market competitors is a critical part of the design process, but make sure that your package designer of choice is bringing something new and fresh to the picture.

Shelf impact

Consumer goods of a wider use usually have the toughest competition to beat: walk into any supermarket, and you'll notice that each product can be found in several brands.

Not only does your product packaging need to be different, but it also needs to stand out. Think of it this way: if all your competitors are using bright colors and big, bold typography, will your elegant white packaging even have a chance to get noticed?

Shelf impact also refers to the fact that your product rarely (or never) stands alone on a shelf. Effective package design means that as a group of products, your packaging materials will still get noticed.

Bold fonts and bright colors are, of course, not the only design elements here. This is why you need a skilled package designer who can use design elements like color, typography, layout, contrast, and even different packaging materials to create something that people notice.

Relevance

No matter how beautiful, original, or striking your design is—if it doesn't relate to what's beyond that label or package, it will fail to generate loyal customers in the long term.

Perhaps ironically, this is even more important in e-commerce. If something looks like a bar of soap and is actually chocolate, people might be more reluctant to buy it online (in a supermarket, at least they will have found it in the food aisle).

Of course, it's the packaging designer's job to make your product look as good as possible. But if they try to pitch a design concept that's totally different from reality, you need to intervene.

As designers, marketers, and company owners, we all have a responsibility to the customer (after all, we're also someone's customers). Use package design to lure customers in and then communicate clearly what they should expect.

An easier way to get package design 

How important is packaging design? By now you understand that. We also hope that some of these wonderful freelance packaging designer portfolios have given you plenty of food for thought for requesting your own packaging graphic design.

Still, no matter how talented they are, working with freelancers has a few downsides. You’ll need to spend considerable time agreeing on the terms of service, negotiating the timeline, number of revisions, and payment. Next, even if you end up working with the best designer, there are no guarantees they’ll be available for future projects (e.g. an important launch of a new product).

Finally, even the best product packaging designer can’t do everything. Whether your business needs to update the website, or launch snazzy digital ads, chances are you’ll need to find another freelancer to do that.

So, is there an easier way to get both packaging design and every other type of graphics you might need? Yes!

Our unlimited graphic design service provides a one-stop solution for all your graphic design needs, be it website design, social media, or indeed branding and packaging! The service includes unlimited designs and revisions, so you can rest assured that we’ll have all your needs covered, at a flat monthly fee.

Get your new product packaging today, for as little as $549 per month. Or schedule a free 1:1 consultation if you still have any questions about the service.