Aug 20, 2025
How to Market to Gen - Z
Launch Event
Hub
Recent
Case Study 1:
Why Brands Can’t Afford to Ignore Gen Z’s Obsession with Packaging
If you’re a brand trying to win Gen Z, know this: your packaging may be just as important as your product. This generation doesn’t just want performance—they want products that fit their identity, look good on a shelf, and feel shareable on social media. A technically better product in plain packaging will often lose to a good-enough product wrapped in a design Gen Z loves.
Packaging has always mattered, but for Gen Z it’s everything. They live in a hyper-visual culture shaped by TikTok, Instagram, and online communities where aesthetics drive first impressions. A survey by First Insight found that 70% of Gen Z say packaging influences their buying decisions, compared to only 37% of Gen X. This means the rules of branding are shifting: storytelling, authenticity, and visual appeal have become non-negotiables.
In the sections that follow, I’ll break down three case studies—Starry Patches, Olipop, and Glossier—to show why Gen Z chooses well-designed products even when alternatives are more technically superior.
Starface Patches – Turning Wellness Into Lifestyle
Pimple Patches are cheap, effective, and clinically tested. But Starface Patches win Gen Z because their holographic packaging makes wellness playful, wearable, and personal. This is design as experience: the patch isn’t just medicine, it’s a lifestyle accessory.
Why it works: Bright, whimsical packaging fits Gen Z’s culture of self-expression and shareability.
What it shows: Gen Z values products that are not only functional, but also align with their aesthetic and identity.
Case Study 2
Olipop – Retro Packaging, Modern Values
Olipop carved out a niche against soda giants like Coca-Cola not by being more “technically superior” but by looking different. Its pastel retro cans trigger nostalgia while signaling health-conscious transparency with visible callouts like prebiotics and low sugar.
Why it works: The packaging tells a story of both vintage fun and modern wellness.
What it shows: Gen Z is drawn to design that combines authenticity with sustainability and health cues.
Case Study 3
Glossier – Minimalism as Identity
Glossier disrupted the beauty industry with barely-there packaging: lowercase fonts, soft pinks, and bubble wrap pouches that became iconic. While competitors pushed luxury and prestige, Glossier leaned into approachable minimalism.
Why it works: The packaging feels democratic, Instagrammable, and authentic.
What it shows: For Gen Z, design isn’t just about looks—it’s about belonging to a community.
Conclusion
For Gen Z, packaging is more than decoration—it’s a language. Starry Patches turned melatonin into an accessory, Olipop made soda nostalgic and healthy, and Glossier turned minimalism into a cultural identity. The pattern is clear: this generation doesn’t just buy products, they buy stories told through design.
If brands want to win the Gen Z market, they can’t rely on technical superiority alone. They need to design products that look, feel, and mean something—because for Gen Z, the box matters as much as what’s inside.
Latest Updates
LNF
©2024
FAQ
01
What does a project look like?
02
How is the pricing structure?
03
Are all projects fixed scope?
04
What is the ROI?
05
How do we measure success?
06
What do I need to get started?
Aug 20, 2025
How to Market to Gen - Z
Launch Event
Hub
Recent
Case Study 1:
Why Brands Can’t Afford to Ignore Gen Z’s Obsession with Packaging
If you’re a brand trying to win Gen Z, know this: your packaging may be just as important as your product. This generation doesn’t just want performance—they want products that fit their identity, look good on a shelf, and feel shareable on social media. A technically better product in plain packaging will often lose to a good-enough product wrapped in a design Gen Z loves.
Packaging has always mattered, but for Gen Z it’s everything. They live in a hyper-visual culture shaped by TikTok, Instagram, and online communities where aesthetics drive first impressions. A survey by First Insight found that 70% of Gen Z say packaging influences their buying decisions, compared to only 37% of Gen X. This means the rules of branding are shifting: storytelling, authenticity, and visual appeal have become non-negotiables.
In the sections that follow, I’ll break down three case studies—Starry Patches, Olipop, and Glossier—to show why Gen Z chooses well-designed products even when alternatives are more technically superior.
Starface Patches – Turning Wellness Into Lifestyle
Pimple Patches are cheap, effective, and clinically tested. But Starface Patches win Gen Z because their holographic packaging makes wellness playful, wearable, and personal. This is design as experience: the patch isn’t just medicine, it’s a lifestyle accessory.
Why it works: Bright, whimsical packaging fits Gen Z’s culture of self-expression and shareability.
What it shows: Gen Z values products that are not only functional, but also align with their aesthetic and identity.
Case Study 2
Olipop – Retro Packaging, Modern Values
Olipop carved out a niche against soda giants like Coca-Cola not by being more “technically superior” but by looking different. Its pastel retro cans trigger nostalgia while signaling health-conscious transparency with visible callouts like prebiotics and low sugar.
Why it works: The packaging tells a story of both vintage fun and modern wellness.
What it shows: Gen Z is drawn to design that combines authenticity with sustainability and health cues.
Case Study 3
Glossier – Minimalism as Identity
Glossier disrupted the beauty industry with barely-there packaging: lowercase fonts, soft pinks, and bubble wrap pouches that became iconic. While competitors pushed luxury and prestige, Glossier leaned into approachable minimalism.
Why it works: The packaging feels democratic, Instagrammable, and authentic.
What it shows: For Gen Z, design isn’t just about looks—it’s about belonging to a community.
Conclusion
For Gen Z, packaging is more than decoration—it’s a language. Starry Patches turned melatonin into an accessory, Olipop made soda nostalgic and healthy, and Glossier turned minimalism into a cultural identity. The pattern is clear: this generation doesn’t just buy products, they buy stories told through design.
If brands want to win the Gen Z market, they can’t rely on technical superiority alone. They need to design products that look, feel, and mean something—because for Gen Z, the box matters as much as what’s inside.
Latest Updates
LNF
©2024
FAQ
01
What does a project look like?
02
How is the pricing structure?
03
Are all projects fixed scope?
04
What is the ROI?
05
How do we measure success?
06
What do I need to get started?
Aug 20, 2025
How to Market to Gen - Z
Launch Event
Hub
Recent
Case Study 1:
Why Brands Can’t Afford to Ignore Gen Z’s Obsession with Packaging
If you’re a brand trying to win Gen Z, know this: your packaging may be just as important as your product. This generation doesn’t just want performance—they want products that fit their identity, look good on a shelf, and feel shareable on social media. A technically better product in plain packaging will often lose to a good-enough product wrapped in a design Gen Z loves.
Packaging has always mattered, but for Gen Z it’s everything. They live in a hyper-visual culture shaped by TikTok, Instagram, and online communities where aesthetics drive first impressions. A survey by First Insight found that 70% of Gen Z say packaging influences their buying decisions, compared to only 37% of Gen X. This means the rules of branding are shifting: storytelling, authenticity, and visual appeal have become non-negotiables.
In the sections that follow, I’ll break down three case studies—Starry Patches, Olipop, and Glossier—to show why Gen Z chooses well-designed products even when alternatives are more technically superior.
Starface Patches – Turning Wellness Into Lifestyle
Pimple Patches are cheap, effective, and clinically tested. But Starface Patches win Gen Z because their holographic packaging makes wellness playful, wearable, and personal. This is design as experience: the patch isn’t just medicine, it’s a lifestyle accessory.
Why it works: Bright, whimsical packaging fits Gen Z’s culture of self-expression and shareability.
What it shows: Gen Z values products that are not only functional, but also align with their aesthetic and identity.
Case Study 2
Olipop – Retro Packaging, Modern Values
Olipop carved out a niche against soda giants like Coca-Cola not by being more “technically superior” but by looking different. Its pastel retro cans trigger nostalgia while signaling health-conscious transparency with visible callouts like prebiotics and low sugar.
Why it works: The packaging tells a story of both vintage fun and modern wellness.
What it shows: Gen Z is drawn to design that combines authenticity with sustainability and health cues.
Case Study 3
Glossier – Minimalism as Identity
Glossier disrupted the beauty industry with barely-there packaging: lowercase fonts, soft pinks, and bubble wrap pouches that became iconic. While competitors pushed luxury and prestige, Glossier leaned into approachable minimalism.
Why it works: The packaging feels democratic, Instagrammable, and authentic.
What it shows: For Gen Z, design isn’t just about looks—it’s about belonging to a community.
Conclusion
For Gen Z, packaging is more than decoration—it’s a language. Starry Patches turned melatonin into an accessory, Olipop made soda nostalgic and healthy, and Glossier turned minimalism into a cultural identity. The pattern is clear: this generation doesn’t just buy products, they buy stories told through design.
If brands want to win the Gen Z market, they can’t rely on technical superiority alone. They need to design products that look, feel, and mean something—because for Gen Z, the box matters as much as what’s inside.
Latest Updates
©2024
FAQ
What does a project look like?
How is the pricing structure?
Are all projects fixed scope?
What is the ROI?
How do we measure success?
What do I need to get started?