Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Tween-tastic package design

Tips on creating packaging for the $200-billion-per-year tween market—one of America’s youngest, most desirable consumer groups.

A teen's desire for freedom and self expression is shown in this design.
A teen's desire for freedom and self expression is shown in this design.

Tweens: They’re feisty, opinionated, razor-sharp, brutally honest, slightly awkward, and very, very important for your brand. My oldest daughter is just about to enter into this demographic (9 to 14 years old, “too old for toys, too young for boys,” as they say), and as a parent, I’m bracing myself for all the craziness that comes along with it. But as a creative, I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunities that tweens present. Creating and designing products that reflect this group’s multifunctional, fast-paced lives is one of the most thrilling challenges out there for those working in the marketing and branding worlds.

Sales of products for tweens currently exceed $200 billion annually. That’s quite a few Justin Bieber posters, eh? But reaching this audience is not as easy as one might think, because tweens are full of dichotomies:

1. They aspire to be older, but are still children.
2. They want to be unique, but also still fit in.
3. They have strong ideas about what they want to buy, but need parental involvement and approval to purchase those things.

My company, CBX, is familiar with the challenges facing tweens. Our work for U by Kotex—a brand for 14 to 22 year olds said to have revolutionized the feminine care aisle—was so successful that Kimberly-Clark turned to us to help design another product line, U by Kotex Tween, that specifically targets these young consumers.

By conducting a deep dive to get into the minds of tween females, we discovered that our target audience wanted:

• Copy that speaks to her honestly and openly
• Windows that let her see the product
• Packaging functionality that speaks to how she expresses herself
• Portability that lets her take products with her wherever she goes
• Bold colors, a pleasing fabric, and fun textures

The resulting design spoke to a tween’s desire for freedom and self-expression and to her mom’s need for reassurance and safety. And those facets—freedom, self-expression, and safety—are also evident in several other new products currently being marketed specifically to tweens.

Personal care products packed with tween appeal
For starters, there is Geo Girl, Walmart’s new line of eco-friendly cosmetics for 8 to 12 year olds. Geo Girl includes blusher, mascara, face shimmer, and lipstick that are “mother approved.” Formulas are designed for young skin and contain natural ingredients like white willow bark, chamomile, lavender, and calendula, as well as antioxidants, which are said to prevent aging (yes, you read correctly…anti-aging for 8 to 12 year olds!).

All 69 products in the range are paraben-, phthalate-, and sulfate-free, a strategy that is designed to attract parents worried about the excess chemicals in makeup. The packaging system—featuring playful fonts and pop colors—communicates each product’s unique feature, reflecting every tween’s desire to be noticed and recognized as an individual. The verbal strategy supports this message by engaging each tween in a dialogue on how to bring out their beauty, and the use of recyclable packaging encourages this younger generation to make their contribution to society. 

Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Discover which palletizing technology—robotic, conventional, or hybrid—will maximize your packaging line efficiency while minimizing long-term costs in this comprehensive analysis.
Read More
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?