Do these packaging designs developed using executives’ experience and intuition
effectively communicate the desired message? Consumer feedback is infrequently obtained; in
rare cases when it is, it is most likely to be qualitative focus group feedback. Yet, the implicit
assumption of a homogeneous buyer response to a design is highly unlikely. More likely, a range
of responses and trade-offs exist between design elements and responses that brand managers
must consider when developing communications. Thus, guidelines are needed to assist
packaging design stakeholders (e.g., wine marketers, designers, packaging manufacturers) in
managing the range of brand impressions created through their design choices. To develop and
refine meaningful guidelines for packaging design selection, this research outlines an empirical
investigation 1) to identify packaging design elements that best capture differences among wine
packaging designs, and 2) to determine how those design elements are related to response
dimensions in terms of perceived brand identity and wine-specific brand impressions. The
following Figure 1 visualizes the underlying model.