What does a package designer do?
A package designer is responsible for designing and developing safe and attractive packaging for warehouse products and merchandise. Package designers strategize their concepts according to product features, business requirements, and client specifications. They identify cost-effective resources and market demands within quality standards and regulations. A package designer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in utilizing various software tools and applications. Package designers generate designs and adjust design illustrations to meet clients' excellent feedback and consumer satisfaction.
Package designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real package designer resumes:
- Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
- Participate in brainstorming of conceptual designs and perform feasibility studies of relate concepts.
- Participate in brainstorming for visual direction and mechanical solutions for active and upcoming projects.
- Develop handbags from initial sketch through final product including material sourcing, development of prototypes, sampling and technical specifications.
- Work closely with printer for final PDF.
- Provide detail review of PDF files to identify and alleviate errors.
- Perform product QA validation to ensure accurate product setup and seamless customer personalization experience.
Package designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Package Designers are proficient in Graphic Design, CAD, and Adobe Creative Suite. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Time-management skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Package Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Graphic Design, 11%
Created graphic designs for packaging presentations.
- CAD, 6%
Established company's CAD library after software training in California; and compiled quote files.
- Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
Created and applied sample graphics using Adobe Creative Suite 5 onto folding carton samples and animated 3D drawings.
- Design Solutions, 5%
Created B2B Creative design solutions ad well as Sales presentations for services and product design.
- Package Design, 5%
Implemented package designs with respect to feasibility, budget considerations and established production cycles.
- Adobe Illustrator, 5%
Illustrated black & white line art for carton and insert components using Adobe Illustrator on Macintosh.
Common skills that a package designer uses to do their job include "graphic design," "cad," and "adobe creative suite." You can find details on the most important package designer responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a package designer to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what package designers do because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." Additionally, a package designer resume shows how package designers use communication skills: "project management, client communication, package design, & brand identity for a sustainable gift packaging company"
Time-management skills. Another essential skill to perform package designer duties is time-management skills. Package designers responsibilities require that "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Package designers also use time-management skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicate with category and project managers to maintain a clear brand story and meet deadlines throughout multiple product lines. "
Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of package designers is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday package designer duties, as "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "coordinated and analyzed package development activities including interfacing with product development, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, and ac counting. "
Artistic ability. A big part of what package designers do relies on "artistic ability." You can see how essential it is to package designer responsibilities because "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical package designer tasks: "utilized artistic experience to foster successful rebranding and logo design for multiple companies. "
Computer skills. Another common skill required for package designer responsibilities is "computer skills." This skill comes up in the duties of package designers all the time, as "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." An excerpt from a real package designer resume shows how this skill is central to what a package designer does: "developed package designs, computer illustrations, brand revitalizations, naming, copywriting, logo design development and p.o.p. "
Creativity. Lastly, "creativity" is an important element of what a package designer does. Package designer responsibilities require this skill because "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." This resume example highlights how package designer duties rely on this skill: "evaluated customer packaging requirements and developed creative, cost-effective design solutions. "
The three companies that hire the most package designers are:
- Mattel4 package designers jobs
- Koch Industries4 package designers jobs
- IBM2 package designers jobs
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Compare different package designers
Package designer vs. Graphic designer/production
A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, package designer responsibilities require skills like "cad," "design solutions," "product development," and "concept development." Meanwhile a typical graphic designer/production has skills in areas such as "adobe indesign," "signage," "brochures," and "posters." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Graphic designer/productions really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $59,531. Comparatively, package designers tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $59,784.The education levels that graphic designer/productions earn slightly differ from package designers. In particular, graphic designer/productions are 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a package designer. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Package designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that package designer responsibilities requires skills like "cad," "design solutions," "package design," and "product development." But a graphic designer, marketing might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "brochures," "blog posts," "flyers," and "in-house."
Graphic designers, marketing may earn a lower salary than package designers, but graphic designers, marketing earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $52,640. On the other hand, package designers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $59,784.In general, graphic designers, marketing achieve similar levels of education than package designers. They're 0.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for package designers in the next 3-5 years?
Abby Guido
Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Package designer vs. Graphic designer internship
In a graphic design internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to accomplish tasks while under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. An aspiring graphic designer may use this opportunity to observe and participate in designing for various industries, handle different clients, participate in creative meetings, and learn strategies from experts. Furthermore, there may also be technical tasks involving research and analysis, gathering materials, coordinating with vendors, and producing reports and other necessary documentation. They may also be responsible for maintaining a database and responding to calls and inquires.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a package designer is likely to be skilled in "cad," "package design," "product development," and "concept development," while a typical graphic designer internship is skilled in "graphic design intern," "blog posts," "photography," and "flyers."
Graphic designer interns earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,614. Comparatively, package designers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $59,784.graphic designer interns typically earn similar educational levels compared to package designers. Specifically, they're 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Package designer vs. User experience designer
A User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers. The key skills for UX designers include strong mathematical and problem-solving skills and excellent information technology and programming skills. Having a bachelor's degree in a design or computing-related subject is an advantage to qualify for the UX designer position.
Types of package designer
Updated January 8, 2025
