As we progress through the 2020s, design trends are changing. We see a surge in classical elements matched with specific Pantone color schemes. Throughout this article, we’ll seek the five best cannabis design trends for your brand.

The Surge of Fluorescent Colors

In the vibrant world of graphic design for 2024, a thrilling trend is the adoption of luminous and vivid color schemes. Designers across the spectrum (from digital interfaces to print and branding) apply palettes that captivate and make a bold statement. Electric yellows, bold blues, vivid oranges, and lively greens are at the forefront. They transform mundane visuals into fresh and modern masterpieces.

This resurgence of fluorescent colors is not just about being seen; it’s about being remembered, allowing designs to communicate vibrant visual tales that resonate deeply. Hit movies like Barbie and popular sportswear trends from the top brands continue to keep these color schemes relevant.

The Essence of Minimalist Design

Amidst the color explosion, minimalism maintains its timeless allure, proving its enduring relevance in 2024’s design ethos. With its core philosophy of ‘less is more,’ minimalism elevates simplicity to an art form.

It focuses on essential elements and embraces clean lines and generous white spaces, minimalist designs achieve a serene elegance. This restrained approach enhances message clarity, leveraging a limited color palette and refined typography to deliver pinpoint messages. In a world of visual noise, minimalism’s whisper often carries the most weight.

While this might seem like a contrast to loud florescent colors, these trends could flow together for a modern take on design trends. This could be a nice play on bold minimalism which embellishes the focal elements. Therefore, it can further enhance the contrast against a minimal background on cannabis packaging designs.

The 3D Design Evolution

3D design has witnessed a significant renaissance in 2024, becoming more accessible than ever. Innovations like Adobe Illustrator’s “Inflate” feature simplify 3D design and invite a broader spectrum of creators to explore this dimension.

Gone are the days when 3D design was the exclusive domain of specialized designers. Today, the integration of 3D elements ranges from subtle enhancements in layouts to intricate masterpieces. This signals an era where 3D’s potential has only begun to be tapped into.

3D Render tools (i.e. Blender) allows for simplified interactive 3D content. To take 3D design and animation to the next level, designers have adopted web design elements.

Nostalgia and Retro Revival

As the digital age accelerates, there is a desire for retro and vintage designs. This trend taps into the power of nostalgia and offers an escape into the ‘good old days’ of design. The resurgence of grainy visuals, cartoon characters, and a palette reminiscent of yesteryears not only delights the senses but also reconnects us with the heartfelt creativity of the past.

Vintage minimalism, a fusion of classic and contemporary, has gained momentum, marrying the simplicity of minimalism with the charm of retro aesthetics. Many famous brands have relaunched retro designs for retail products and advertising campaigns. Therefore, it’s easy to see why this trend has been adopted for cannabis brand identity.

The Craft of Upscale Printing

In an increasingly digital landscape, the allure of end-to-end print experiences is stronger than ever. 2024 sees a revival in sophisticated printing techniques, from the time-honored crafts of embossing/foiling to the innovative use of materials (i.e. post-consumer paper stocks and kraft paper).

These methods infuse print designs with unparalleled depth and texture, offering a tangible counterpoint to the ephemeral nature of digital media. As we move through 2024, the interplay of advanced technology and traditional craftsmanship redefines the boundaries of graphic design. It creates memorable experiences that engage both sight and touch.

In summary, 2024’s cannabis design trends are a dynamic blend of the past and future, where the vibrancy of fluorescent colors, the clarity of minimalism, the innovation of 3D design, the nostalgia of retro influences, and the tactile richness of upscale printing converge to redefine visual communication. However we also have another big trend and are more friendly with the earth. 

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Packaging

Consumers and regulators alike are becoming more concerned with the sustainability of packaging materials. In response, many cannabis brands are turning to eco-friendly packaging solutions, such as recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable materials. Reusable & Recyclable Packaging is Key consider designing cannabis packaging that allows consumers to easily reuse or repurpose the package. Adding a recycle icon to cannabis packaging can also prompt the consumer to either properly recycle the product package or reuse it however they'd like.

Now it is more common that Cannabis businesses incorporate reused materials into packaging. Though hard figures are difficult to confirm and quantify, the regulated cannabis industry produces an enormous amount of waste.

In 2020, the National Cannabis Industry Association estimated marijuana byproducts in landfills were increasing carbon dioxide emissions at a staggering 27,876 metric tons per year.

According to a study that same year in the science journal Industrial Crops and Products, researchers concluded waste biomass produced by the U.S. cannabis sector in 2020 would have been roughly 1,754 tons of fresh waste, or 520 tons of dry weight waste.

This outdated figure didn’t even account for packaging waste, which potentially could exceed the estimate for waste biomass. “It’s visible for everybody that sustainability is something that you need to have,” said Mike Forenza, managing partner of AE Global, a Miami-based custom packaging provider for the cannabis industry. “Your product is really the first step to say, ‘We’re trying to be as sustainable as we can.’”

Cannabis packaging alternatives

All-in-ones, or disposable vape products, have surged in popularity the past few years, driven by cost, convenience, mobility and, to a lesser extent, cannabis tourism. However, these products are far from disposable and often end up in landfills.Their plastics are frequently nonbiodegradable, and their batteries are flammable.

Some cannabis businesses are seeking better solutions.

“We spent a lot of time trying to think of how we could come up with something that offered consumers a better alternative,” said Laura Fogelman, spokesperson for PAX Labs, one of the industry’s biggest producers of vape cannabis products and accessories.

We need to put less virgin plastic out into the world. As part of that mission, many companies have come to achieve plastic negative certification across all its product lines.

Sustainable packaging solutions

While material circularity and recyclability continue to be important to cannabis and CBD consumers, there is also growing awareness around the role of carbon emissions in the packaging sustainability equation. Several companies have started incorporating carbon labeling to demonstrate their environmental commitment and help consumers make informed purchase decisions.

Sustainability tips

While economics and other regulatory challenges are squeezing cannabis brands nationwide, there’s a few steps they can take to improve sustainability and potentially lower costs at the same time, according to AE’s Forenza.

Overpackaging is one easy area to address, so consider eliminating boxes that hold jars of flower – or even the jar itself – and opt for a single bag or pouch, he suggests. It really has to do with way more things than just the materials you’re using as far as being more sustainable. Research shows that over one-third of consumer purchase choices are based on packaging alone. The competitive cannabis industry is getting creative with witty approaches like tins that look like books, cones that resemble birthday candles, and even cassette tapes.

When I think about brands that want to have a sustainability story that also is in line with the capital structure of what they need to be competitive, rightsizing your product and packaging – and making sure that you’re not overpackaging your product – is really the first step. There’s very, very few brands that are making a big push into this, considering the economic climate and the uncertainty.