Innovative packaging design: enhancing SME competitiveness in export markets

Abstract

Sri Lanka offers a wide range of printing, prepress, and packaging services, supporting major export sectors through high-quality packaging materials such as tea cartons, garment tags, and labels. These services are pivotal in meeting global consumer demands, showcasing the packaging sector’s capacity to align with international standards. Product packaging is not only a functional necessity but also a marketing tool that attracts consumers, communicates brand identity, and influences purchasing decisions [1], [2], [3]. In the Bachelor of Design (Hons) program at the Department of Integrated Design, University of Moratuwa, undergraduates specializing in Media and Communication Design are trained to address these demands. As part of their third-year Packaging Design Project, students collaborate with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) under the guidance of the author. This article summarizes insights from a pilot survey conducted with seven SMEs in the Spices, Essential Oils, and Oleoresins sector, identifying key requirements for packaging design. The study also highlights the impact of prototype designs created by students and their potential to transform SMEs’ packaging requirements.