Products in small bottles should be designed for gender-specific audiences

products-in-small-bottles-should-be-designed-for-gender-specific-audiencesCupcakes. To some, a pastel sprinkled and delicately crafted pastry might appear as a work of art. To others it just looks like a fluffy, sissified glob of sugar. How can interpretations of the same product be so different? That's the unanswerable question when it comes to exploring the minds of men and women. Read on to learn how simple design techniques can help products in small bottles appeal to a gender specific audience. Take the cupcake example above. David Arrick, of Butch Bakery decided the men of the world deserved a cupcake of their own so he added some booze to the cake and threw a bit of bacon on top. Soon men were lining up to buy cupcakes not for their lady loves, but for themselves. It's important to know exactly which characteristics to capitalize on when small bottles aim to inspire a specific group of people. Here are four products that do an exceptional job at marketing small bottles and other products to gender-based audiences. Number 1: Deodorant Ladies, when was the last time you got home from the store and realized you bought men’s deodorant by mistake? How about never. Deodorant is one of the most clearly design differentiated products when it comes to who the small bottles are meant for. Dark shades, bold letters and angular shapes are classic characteristics of men's products. While lighter colored small bottles with flowing designs catch the eye of women. And guess what? We just happen to carry some <a href=https://www.containerandpackaging.com/industry-catalog/personal-care/1/?style=32>deodorant bottles</a>. Number 2: Candy Whether in the form of a bar or a lollipop the right appearance or packaging can make all the difference. Though Dove chocolate bars are available to anyone and everyone, the brand's soft and beautiful label design lures predominately women consumers. It's also important to look beyond appearances and consider functionality when it comes to ideal packaging. Form fitting wraps keep suckers protected and provide coverage when the treat isn't devoured during the first sitting. Small candy items are often packaged in small bottles or boxes allowing pieces to be conveniently dispersed or stowed at will. Number 3: Tools Well, maybe not the tools themselves, but at least the way they're packaged. I know this doesn’t really apply to packaging in small bottles, but just go with it. Macho men might be able to suavely haul a heavy tool box around but that's just not a good look for ladies (not that we aren't capable, FYI). Not only are sleeker and more colorful tools marketed to women, but more natural and functional, over-the-shoulder bags provide a gender-specific alternative to the classic toolbox that do-it-yourself Susie has embraced since its inception. Number 4: Drinks The beverage sector of packaging is varied and immense. From energy drinks or fruit juices for children in small bottles, to larger options, each filled with a carbonated or non-carbonated, sugar-free or sugar-loaded soda, juice or any other type of liquid you can think of. With so many options available, whether the drink should be packaged in small bottles or large bottles isn't the only concern, a detail as small as color can knock a marketing campaign off its target. I recently read the article <a href=http://www.good.is/post/paint-it-black-dr-pepper-ten-and-marketing-masculinity-through-color>Paint It Black: Dr. Pepper Ten and the Marketing of Masculinity</a>. This piece highlights Coca-Cola's introduction of Coke Zero to the shelves. The drink was designed for men in mind, a zero calorie drink that wasn't considered a diet beverage (diet drinks have tested notoriously bad with men). The drink was released in a white can to lackluster results. Coke later released the product again, in a black can, hoping to better connect with their desired audience, and this time the men bought it. There really is an art behind the way products are designed. It's not as purely artsy and creative as you may have guessed, right? Keep in mind that small bottles are able to communicate and sell themselves when their creators have balanced both aesthetic advantages and strategic insights within the packaging itself. Bottom line; make it appealing, but remember who you're trying to sell it to. What draws you to a packaging design? Color, shape, font? Tell us in the comments!