Product packaging design refers to the creation of the exterior of a product. That includes choices in material and form as well as graphics, colors, and fonts that are used on wrapping, a box, a can, a bottle, or any kind of container.

It’s a practical tool, yes. (I mean, how else are you going to effectively get beer into your mouth?) But it’s also more than that. Like any good design, packaging tells a story. It’s also a sensual experience, literally engaging us through sight, touch, and sound (and possibly smell and taste, depending on the product/package). All of these details help us understand what the enclosed product is for, how it should be used, who should use it, and maybe most importantly if we should buy a product or not.