SwiftInk — Ink Cartridge Packaging Redesign

A complete packaging redesign for SwiftInk, a US-based ink cartridge manufacturer selling remanufactured printer cartridges online. The project required creating a professional, retail-ready box design system that would work across six different product sizes while maintaining brand consistency with swiftink.com. The design needed to balance multiple regulatory requirements (warranty disclaimers, ISO 9001 certifications, legal text), marketing messaging (“Lifetime Guarantee,” “Premium Quality”), and practical considerations (sticker areas for model numbers, hanging flaps for retail display). This project marked the beginning of a 7+ year client relationship and earned me one of the most exceptional testimonials of my career.

Project Overview:

Project Type:

Product packaging system (6 box size variations)

Initial Scope:

Contest entry for single box design concept

Expanded Scope:

Upon winning, developed complete packaging system across six different box dimensions

Box Specifications:

Non-hanging sizes:

• 90 x 18 x 70 mm
• 75 x 27 x 110 mm
• 60 x 52 x 90 mm

Retail hanging sizes (with 35mm hanging flaps):

• 70 x 40 x 110 mm
• 70 x 20 x 110 mm
• 80 x 38 x 62 mm

Challenge:

Create packaging that:

• Matched swiftink.com brand identity (colors, style, professionalism)
• Worked across drastically different box proportions
• Accommodated model number stickers (post-printing application)
• Included legally required warranty disclaimers
• Displayed ISO 9001 certification prominently
• Featured “Lifetime Guarantee” seal
• Competed with established competitor packaging
• Remained cost-effective for printing

Design Direction:

Clean, professional layout with white background (industry standard for ink cartridges). Colorful accent elements drawing from SwiftInk’s web brand palette. Modern typography with clear information hierarchy. Strategic use of seals, badges, and trust indicators to position remanufactured cartridges as premium quality alternatives.

Front Panel Elements:

• SwiftInk logo (prominent placement)
• “Ink Cartridge” headline
• “Premium Quality” messaging
• “Remanufactured” disclosure (small but visible)
• “Lifetime Guarantee” seal/badge
• Designated sticker area (model number & color)

Side Panel 1 Elements:

• SwiftInk logo symbol (smaller)
• “Lifetime Quality Guarantee” headline
• ISO 9001 certification text
• Website URL (swiftink.com)
• Customer service phone (866-461-3801)

Side Panel 2 Elements:

• Bold warranty protection statement: “USE OF THIS CARTRIDGE DOES NOT VOID YOUR PRINTER WARRANTY”
• Legal reference: Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C § 2302)

Solution:

• Created modular design system adaptable to all six box sizes
• Developed vector-based elements for crisp printing at any scale
• Designed “sticker area” frame that worked proportionally across sizes
• Balanced regulatory text with marketing appeal
• Ensured hanging flap designs integrated seamlessly
• Provided print-ready files with die-cut lines and bleeds

Deliverables:

• Six complete box designs (Adobe Illustrator .ai files)
• Print-ready PDFs with cut/fold lines for each size
• Die-cut templates with proper bleeds
• Logo files and brand color specifications
• Font files and usage guidelines
• Competitor analysis documentation

Result:

The client’s testimonial speaks volumes: “In more than 10 years on Freelancer, this is the best designer I have ever hired. He’s incredible.” This project established a long-term client relationship spanning 7+ years, with multiple subsequent projects including marketing materials, website graphics, and product photography editing.

What The Client Said

“In more than 10 years on Freelancer, this is the best designer I have ever hired. He’s incredible.”

— Liguid S. (@Liguidsoul), SwiftInk (United States)

Design Challenges Solved

Challenge 1: Six Wildly Different Box Proportions

The box sizes ranged from tall/narrow (70 x 20 x 110 mm) to short/wide (90 x 18 x 70 mm). Creating a design that looked professional and balanced across all six required a flexible, modular approach rather than a rigid template.

Strategy: 

• Created scalable logo placement system
• Designed proportional “sticker area” frames
• Developed flexible text hierarchy that adapted to panel sizes
• Ensured hanging flap designs integrated naturally

Challenge 2: Regulatory vs. Marketing Balance

Ink cartridge packaging has strict legal requirements (warranty disclaimers, certification standards, country of origin, etc.) that compete for space with marketing messages (“Premium Quality,” “Lifetime Guarantee”).

Solution: Front panel focused on marketing appeal and brand trust, side panels housed regulatory text in professional, readable formats that didn’t detract from overall aesthetic.

Challenge 3: Competing with Established Brands

The client provided competitor packaging as reference. SwiftInk needed to match the professional appearance of major brands (HP, Canon, Epson) while clearly positioning as remanufactured (not counterfeit).

Approach: 

• Clean, retail-ready aesthetic (no “cheap” look)
• Professional trust indicators (ISO 9001, Lifetime Guarantee)
• Clear disclosure of “Remanufactured” status
• Premium color palette and modern typography
• High-quality seal/badge designs

Challenge 4: The Sticker Area Dilemma

SwiftInk uses the same boxes for dozens of cartridge models, adding model-specific stickers post-printing. The sticker area needed to be:

• Obvious (so production staff knew where to place stickers)
• Attractive (not just a blank white rectangle)
• Consistent across all six box sizes
• Easy to identify at a glance

Solution: Designed a bordered frame with subtle gradient background and “Model/Color” label, making the sticker placement area both functional and aesthetically integrated.

Challenge 5: Hanging Flap Integration

Three of the six boxes included retail hanging flaps. The designs needed to work both with and without these flaps while maintaining visual consistency.

Execution: Ensured critical branding elements (logo, primary messaging) were positioned below flap fold lines. Used flap space for secondary information that enhanced but wasn’t essential to the design.

Why This Became a 7-Year Relationship

Quality Beyond Expectations

The client had worked with designers for over 10 years. Setting a new standard earned long-term trust.

Attention to Practical Details

Understanding die-cut printing, hanging flap mechanics, sticker application workflows, and retail display requirements showed professional expertise beyond pure design.

Flexibility Across Projects

After packaging, the client returned for marketing materials, website graphics, promotional designs — proving the value of consistent quality.

Communication & Reliability 

Meeting deadlines, responding quickly, and going “out of the way” (as multiple clients noted) builds relationships that last years.