How to Create a Cohesive Packaging Line

Principle 3: Craft a Cohesive Form Language (From Hatch Duo’s 24 Principles of Elegant Aesthetics in Industrial Design) This is the third in a series of 24 principles we use at Hatch Duo to create visually compelling, timeless products. While silhouette defines first impressions and proportion dictates balance, form language is what ties everything together. A cohesive form language makes a product feel unified and part of a brand identity. Without it, designs feel disjointed and forgettable. Form Language Matters in Industrial Design Every product has a design language, whether intentional or not. A strong form language makes a product line coherent and recognizable, while a weak one results in a disjointed experience. Think about how Apple, Porsche, or Bang & Olufsen products all share consistent visual DNA—curves, surface transitions, proportions, and materials that make them unmistakable. When form language is ignored, products feel generic, as if they could belong to any brand. 1. Form Language Creates Visual Unity A well-defined form language makes an object feel whole, not a mix of disconnected parts. - Repeating shapes, edge treatments, and transitions create harmony. - Soft vs. sharp edges, convex vs. concave surfaces define personality. - Consistent ratios and alignments make designs feel intentional. A product should look like a single, well-thought-out design—not a patchwork of elements. 2. Form Language Extends Across a Brand A strong form language builds recognition across an entire product line. - BMW’s vehicles share a common shape language across models. - Dyson products use repeated geometry, vents, and CMF detailing. - Apple’s product ecosystem maintains unity through materials, edges, and proportions. When form language is well-executed, a product feels like it belongs to a brand—without needing a logo. 3. Cohesion ✅ Define Key Form Elements → Rounded edges, chamfers, or a signature curve should follow a set of rules. ✅ Maintain Design Flow → Surfaces should transition smoothly without abrupt breaks. ✅ Balance Uniqueness & Consistency → Products should feel distinct but share a recognizable DNA. ✅ Adapt Across Sizes & Materials → Maintain unity while respecting manufacturing constraints. Form language defines a product’s identity and reinforces brand perception. A strong design language makes products instantly familiar, building trust and recognition over time. Mastering this principle ensures a design isn’t just functional—it’s a cohesive experience that users remember. This is just one of 24 principles we use at Hatch Duo to craft elegant industrial designs. Stay tuned for the next principle in our Aesthetic Principles Series, where we break down what makes products not just well-designed, but timeless.

 🎨 The evolution of our design language: From pink and white to purple sophistication. Seems like a simple thing, but here’s the “why” behind this new direction… These are some new products that will be hitting the shelves soon. When we launched Obvi, everything was bubble-gum pink. It worked. It disrupted. It got us noticed. But as we've grown into new categories (especially women's hormonal health), our design has had to evolve too. These new hormone support products represent a major shift in how we think about packaging hierarchy and shelf presence. What we learned designing for retail vs. DTC: Retail demands instant clarity - Product name = what it does (PMS Relief, Daily Balance, Meno Pause) - Benefits visible without flipping the bottle - Clear hierarchy that works from 6 feet away Color psychology matters more in sensitive categories - Added sophisticated purple to balance the fun pink - Hormones are serious considerations for women. It can’t just look fun and playful. - Had to look approachable AND credible Small details create big differentiation - Each SKU gets its own icon (calendar, lotus flower, pause symbol) - Obvi logo tilted in a capsule shape for supplement products - Multiple ways to identify products beyond just text The interesting challenge is making something that feels both clinical and joyful. Most hormone products look like medicine. Cold, white, intimidating. We wanted to prove you can be vibrant AND trustworthy. Fun AND effective and formulation-focused. We didn’t want just “prettier packaging”. The goal is strategic design that helps our retail partners sell more product Every element serves a purpose: - Hierarchy for quick scanning - Color for emotional connection - Icons for visual differentiation - Bold, clear value props for credibility Love that our package design looks good on Instagram. But the focus for me these days is making sure it works harder to instill interest and trust on the shelves irl. Let me know what you think. Feedback welcome. 👇🏽

Your packaging is like a dysfunctional family reunion. Corrugated box suppliers, flexible film vendors, and carton manufacturers all show up, but nobody's talking to each other. Think about a PowerBar’s journey: product into flexible film, film into folding carton, carton into corrugated box. Three different suppliers making critical components of your packaging system… with no coordination. The film supplier doesn't know how their material performs in your cartons. The carton supplier doesn't understand how their product will interact with your boxes. And your corrugated supplier certainly isn't talking to your warehouse about storage conditions or your logistics team about truck stacking requirements. Meanwhile, you're stuck in the middle paying for this lack of coordination in material waste, production inefficiencies, and transportation costs. Here's what happens when we treat packaging as a system rather than isolated components: 👉 A properly sized carton spreads weight better, so you can use lighter (cheaper) corrugated materials 👉 Films designed with carton insertion in mind keep your production line moving smoothly 👉 Boxes made for your specific pallet patterns let you ship more product per truck 👉 Materials picked based on your actual warehouse conditions, not generic guesses When suppliers work in silos, your packaging technically functions but leaks money. The real savings come from making these components work together. Your packaging isn't three separate things that happen to hold your product. It's a system that should work as one.