London Packaging Week is renowned as a hotbed of trends, innovations and concepts; supporting these are the tools and software that bring ideas to life.

The journey from the drawing board to the shelf is a complex and challenging route for any piece of packaging.

Product and material specification, structural engineering, artwork creation, pre-flighting, converting, testing, and distribution – each pose challenges and need to be considered as part of an effective go-to-market strategy.

One way to streamline the workload is through the use of modern-day design software and tools. From 3D visualisation to customisation/personalisation, these exist to help turn concepts into fully fledged ideas and artwork that can be converted into saleable reels, sheets, pouches, boxes and bottles.

These will be in evidence at London Packaging Week 2024, when the event returns on 11 & 12 September at ExCeL.

More than meets the eye
Sun Branding (A52) employs a team of graphic specialists that help deliver engaging and creative graphics that are right-first-time, ensure cross-brand colour fidelity, and handle print management with legal and environmental integrity. The company’s design teams sit close to colour experts, creatives, tech developers and legal packaging specialists. Collectively, they create brilliant brand packaging on- and offline. Proprietary artwork automation software technology is used to deliver efficiency in the design process, optimising speed to market, and reducing costs.

Glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark (G54) offers a design agency approach, working closely with customers through the entire new product development process and showing the initial concept as a full visual representation. This includes sculpted embossing, created using the latest software to ensure even the most complex design can be perfectly defined in the design stage. 3D visualisations are viewed in 360-degree detail, with renders complete with closure and label possible. This allows the final product to be realised right at the beginning of the project.

iC3D (E56) tools afford similar benefits to brands and designers. iC3D Modeller provides creative power and versatility in an easy-to-use 3D modelling design tool for Adobe Illustrator artworkers, designers and Esko Studio users. Combining all the features required for experimenting with packaging shapes, iC3D Modeller offers an inexpensive, modular solution that printers and converters can use to work with their customers and develop designs in new directions. From containers and display units, with trigger sprays, caps or ring pulls, and to be produced in plastic, metal, glass or carton, time is saved and errors avoided through a unique 3D service to your clients.
iC3D is part of Hybrid Software’s product offering. iC3D Designer, Ray Tracer and Automate solutions further streamline design and artwork creation processes.

Kurz (H22) has developed Dreamcomposer as an all-in-one packaging design software that can be used to generate live 3D virtual metallic mock-ups on the fly. No specialist programmes or hardware are required, only a single application using a simple PDF for photorealistic results on the fly. This offers a unique level of packaging design versatility that allows creatives to indulge their ingenuity while delivering faster turnaround and up to 80% reduction in the design lifecycle. Within Dreamcomposer, over 100 Kurz foil shades are available to choose from, as are embossing/debossing and micro/nano relief options. With a variety of substrates to select and light source options to specify, photorealistic mock-ups can be quickly and reliably created for sign-off of packaging designs.

As a printing company that uses digital print and associated technologies, including Kurz’s Digital Metal decoration process, Amberely Labels (F80) is able to offer personalisation and dynamically uses data to create customised and limited packaging for brands and retailers. One example of this has been its work with Sheffield-based sauce brand, Henderson’s Relish. In collaboration with lettering artist Oli Frape, the result was a collection of 3,000 uniquely labelled bottles. Amberley Labels developed a bespoke data solution to create unique combinations of Oli’s hand-drawn letters, whilst retaining his distinctive style and Henderson’s signature orange and black design.

Metal packaging specialist Eviosys (G10) has an online customisation tool for promotional packaging. This allows customers to select the size and style of their tin from the company’s current collection; adjust the size, import a design, apply textures and colours to the body and lid; and then request a quote. This simplifies the steps needed before order and fulfilment.

Even the humble brown box can benefit from these tools. Cardboard box manufacturer and designer Reedbut Group (C10) works with its customers to develop bespoke cardboard box designs fit for purpose and right-sizing to remove any unnecessary packaging to drive down costs. Using CAD design software and accompanying plotting table, an in-house design team can produce sample boxes for customers to try before committing to volume.

Through its Packaging Intelligence Service, solutions are evaluated and recommended based on:

Productivity
Customer Experience
Damages
Sustainability/environmental impact
Storage/transport packaging

This small selection of the design tools and software solutions available to attendees of London Packaging Week 2024 highlights how the show transcends innovations and trends, serving as a one-stop-shop for all your packaging needs. London Packaging Week 2024 takes place 11 & 12 September at ExCeL. Registration is now open.

This article is part of a series published ahead of London Packaging Week 2024, outlining products, trends and industry developments to look out for at the show.