Rips, crinkles, and pops of packaging are all there for a lot of items. Some people find them thrilling, but did you know that they matter?
Yes. Sometimes if you’re designing packaging that needs to be quiet, you may want to mitigate such sounds. But, if you’re going to create something that people will remember because of sound, it’s a critical element used in packaging design in order to make this stand out.
So yes, it’s good to have packaging that sounds good. So how do you do it? Well, we’ll go over the different sound acoustics of packaging, why they matter, and how to make sure your packaging fits your needs.
Quiet Packaging
A lot of packaging tends to be quiet. If you want to deliver discreetly, you’ll want to use this. Another example is if it’s in a field where you don't want obnoxious rustling of papers and whatnot.
So yes, it does matter, and some people get turned off by noisy packaging. The best way to fix this is a low-noise mailer either with foam or bubbles on them, or tape alternatives that are not pesky and loud plastic tape. Paper tape tends to be quieter, and is easier to open than regular shipping tape.
Intentional Sound Design
Yes, there are brands that do want their sounds to be international.
But don’t most people want stuff to not be noisy and jarring?
Yes. Discreet packing such as sensitive items, medical devices, and even tech where you don’t want that obnoxious scraping of foam also may focus on some quiet shipment.
But some sound design is intentional, especially in the realm of luxury unboxing. This is unboxing that will use sounds that are high-end and people pay good money for them. It also lets the brand stand out as well, a brand.
The rustling of tissue paper builds excitement for the item that’s inside. A little rustle of that builds anticipation, and also makes for a good presentation.
The magnetic click of the seal on a box when opening and closing is also more high-end. Lots of luxury brands are using magnets because they sound better than shoving tape all around them.
Soft unseals such as the box opening when the flaps are pulled out are another good example of this. Again, it’s soft, sweet, and works for unsealing items that will be higher-end rather than just something that’s sold to customers willy-nilly.
Sound means quality
Yes, the sound of your packaging is indicative of quality that’s there.
The ASMR trends that we see these days point to it. Some consumers like pleasant sounds because it relaxes them, and with the sound of unboxing and removing the packaging, it means that there's something nicer, more fitting, and conveys elements of luxury to the customers.
Another one is consumer psychology. Consumers feel excited when they have to rustle to find the item, or the satisfaction of closing a box with a click. When you grab an item that’s more discreet or prides itself on this, it will look better if it’s not making a bunch of noise.
When designing packaging, do it to improve the acoustics of such items. In doing so, your unboxing will go much better, and offer real, beneficial results.
It all ties to the psychology of items and packaging, and in doing such, you’re able to make a package that’s not only winning when the customer gets the item that’s inside, but it also makes you memorable through the exciting sounds of sound unboxing capabilities that come along with this and can make your brand shine.
