A bottle design comes together in stages: analysing the product and the shelf, choosing the bottle, designing the label with a clear information hierarchy, choosing the printing method and finishes, then print files and a press proof. For food in Switzerland, this includes mandatory information such as the legal designation, ingredients, allergens, shelf life and nutritional values.
The process
- Analysis: product, target audience, price level, shelf and competition.
- Choose the bottle: a standard bottle or your own shape. Standard bottles are cheaper and quick to get hold of.
- Design the label: bring brand, product name and mandatory information into a clear hierarchy.
- Visualise: 3D renderings show how the bottle comes across on the shelf and in your online shop.
- Prepare production: decide on the printing method, material, finishes and die-cut shape.
- Print files and press proof: final artwork, check the proof, sign off.
Legal sign-off on the label stays with the manufacturer. Good design makes the mandatory information readable without crowding out the brand.
Printing methods and finishes
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Digital printing | Small runs, lots of varieties or variants, no printing plates needed |
| Flexographic printing | Medium and large runs |
| Screen printing directly on glass | A premium, tactile finish without a label |
Finishes turn a label into an experience: hot or cold foil for shine, blind embossing for relief, soft-touch or gloss varnish, and screen printing for accents you can feel. Drinks that sit in an ice bucket need waterproof materials, and the “no-label look” needs clear film.
Mandatory information for food
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) lists the following information for pre-packed food, among other things:
- Legal designation of the food
- Ingredients in descending order
- Allergens, highlighted in the list of ingredients
- Best-before or use-by date
- Country of production, plus name and address
- Nutritional values: energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt
- Storage instructions, where needed
Depending on the product, you also need the quantity, the batch number and, for drinks with 1.2% alcohol by volume or more, the alcohol content. The information must appear in at least one official Swiss language, and the text needs a minimum x-height of 1.2 millimetres, with exceptions for very small packaging.
Whether a particular label complies with the law is for the cantonal enforcement authorities to decide. This article is not legal advice.
Where 3D printing and rendering help
- Renderings: photorealistic images for your online shop, crowdfunding and social media before the first batch even exists.
- Samples: test closures, holders or your own bottle shape in your hands as a 3D print.
- Presentation: with a sample on the table, retailers and investors make up their minds faster.
What it costs
There are hardly any public price lists for label and packaging design in Switzerland. One Swiss agency, for example, quotes a minimum of around CHF 2,000 per packaging design, and considerably more for complete packaging systems. Printing costs depend heavily on the run size, material and finishes. Digitally printed roll labels are available from around 100 pieces.
A custom bottle shape usually only pays off for large quantities, because tooling and the manufacturer's minimum order quantities come on top.
Sources
- FSVO: Food labels (in German)
- Canton of Aargau: fact sheet on labelling pre-packed food (in German)
- Permapack: labels for bottles, cans and jars (in German)
- Univerre: Your own bottle shape
- Yuni: packaging design agency in Switzerland (in German)
FAQ
What has to go on a food label in Switzerland?
Among other things, the legal designation, ingredients, highlighted allergens, the shelf-life date, country of production, name and address, and nutritional values. The FSVO and the cantonal authorities have the details.
Digital printing or screen printing for bottles?
Digital printing for small runs and lots of variants, screen printing directly on glass for a particularly premium look, usually for larger quantities.
Which labels survive an ice bucket?
Labels made from waterproof materials such as film or specially coated paper. Ordinary paper goes soggy.
At what quantity is a custom bottle shape worth it?
That depends on the manufacturer. Because of tooling costs and minimum quantities, a custom shape usually only pays off for large runs. To start with, a standard bottle with a strong label is often the better choice.
Design your product with us.
From sketch to rendering to print file. If you like, we test shapes on our 3D printer.