10 Times Companies Took 'Creative Packaging' Too Far

8. The Design Team Really Outdid Themselves With This One

Having seen most of the food you were about to buy, have you ever gone out and felt safe in your purchase at the grocery store? Like this. After all, given the great majority of the product is visible, what could be wrong with it? Sadly, once more our views have mislead us. Though peeling back the wrapper reveals a half-filled container, this container promises a big filet. Though this is another falsehood, the way the packaging is presented suggests more food is beneath. Our food seems to be mocking us now. This smart but misleading packaging design reflects a rising trend in product presentation that gives look more weight than integrity. Manufacturers use consumers' inclination to make snap visual decisions while shopping by providing an illusion of fullness. Since containers are often far larger than necessary for the actual product, this habit not only misleads consumers but also adds to needless waste of packaging. Such dishonesty has psychological effects beyond simple disappointment; it undermines brand confidence and might cause general cynicism about food packaging. Some customers have started to fight this by always weighing goods or, if at all feasible, using clear packaging. Still, the customer bears only one share of the duty. Stiffer rules on packaging design are increasingly demanded to guarantee that what consumers see fairly reflects what they are actually purchasing. Shoppers are left to negotiate a world where their eyes can fool them until then, even if they believe they are exercising caution.