Packaging
Lesson 18 of 20 · Sustainability and Systems 2/4
Sustainability and Systems

Variant system

Keep the layout fixed and change one strong cue (like color) per variant.

See it

Don't
  • Near-identical colors across flavours
  • Flavour name too small to spot
Do
Berry
Mango
Mint
Same layout, one clear color per flavour

Why it matters

Keep the layout consistent for brand recognition and use a strong color code per variant so shoppers find theirs instantly.

How to apply it

  • Assign each variant a distinct color
  • Keep variant names large
  • Test the full range side by side

Common mistakes

  • Similar colors for different flavours
  • Changing layout per variant

Quick answers

What is Variant system?

Keep the layout fixed and change one strong cue (like color) per variant. Keep the layout consistent for brand recognition and use a strong color code per variant so shoppers find theirs instantly.

How do I apply Variant system in packaging design?

Assign each variant a distinct color. Keep variant names large. Test the full range side by side.

What are common mistakes with Variant system?

Similar colors for different flavours. Changing layout per variant.

Got it?

Mark this lesson complete and keep going.

2 min

Test yourself

Practise
Tool

Box dieline generator

Open
1 page

Cheat sheet

Print