12 Strange Packaging Designs from the Past
This listicle features 12 strange and creative packaging designs from the past that show how packaging once became part of the product experience.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
This article shows 12 strange packaging designs from the past. Each one has a creative or funny way of presenting everyday products. Some were decorative, others were practical, and many were just fun to look at. These designs remind us how packaging can make even ordinary items feel special.
1. Decorative Biscuit Tin as Home Décor
Alf van Beem on Wikimedia Commons
Biscuit tins used to be more than just boxes for cookies. Some were shaped like vases or baskets, making them pretty enough to display at home. People kept them long after the cookies were gone because they looked like decorations.
2. Coca-Cola’s Bauble Bottles
Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia Commons
Coca-Cola once made bottles shaped like Christmas ornaments. These colorful bottles were sold during the holidays and made great decorations for Christmas trees. They turned an everyday drink into something fun and festive.
3. Popeye’s Funny Face Maker
Thomas Quine on Wikimedia Commons
This toy from 1958 let kids change Popeye’s face by moving different pieces around. Even the box was part of the fun, showing silly faces on the front. It made opening the package feel like part of playing with the toy.
4. Tobacco Tin Turned Picnic Basket
Elina Fairytale on Pexels
Some old tobacco tins were designed to be reused as picnic baskets. They came with handles, allowing people to carry them easily. After the tobacco was gone, the tin became a useful container for outings.
5. Flour Sacks as Fashion Fabric
ready made on Pexels
Flour companies once sold their products in printed cloth sacks. Families would save the fabric and turn it into dresses, curtains, or other things. This way, the packaging had a second life instead of being thrown away.
6.Nostalgic VapoRub Jar
Drhamidghanbari on Wikimedia Commons
The old Vicks VapoRub jars had simple glass containers with big, bold labels. The design made them easy to recognize on store shelves. Today, they remind us of how even medicine packaging had a special look.
7. Uneeda’s Rain-Coated Mascot
Michael Scialdone on Wikimedia Commons
Uneeda Biscuits came in boxes with a little boy wearing a raincoat on the front. The package kept the biscuits fresh and dry, which was new at the time. The cute mascot helped make the brand easy to remember.
8. Retro Confectionery Tube
Spangles, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1950s, Spangles candies were sold in colorful tubes. The bold designs made the candies stand out and feel modern. Holding the tube made eating candy feel fun and different.
9. Wacky Packages: Brand Parodies
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1970s, kids loved collecting Wacky Packages stickers. These stickers made funny jokes about popular products by changing the names and pictures. The packaging copies were silly and made fun of the brands in a playful way.
10. Colorful Steel Beer Cans
cottonbro studio on Pexels
After World War II, beer cans had bright colors and fun pictures. The designs made even plain cans look exciting. These cans show how packaging can make a simple product feel more fun.
11. Minimalist Milk Bottles
Suzy Hazelwood on Wikimedia Commons
TejMilk in Hungary used bottles with very simple designs. The labels had clear, large numbers to show the fat content. The clean look made it easy for shoppers to see exactly what they were buying.
12. Chaos Packaging Pioneer
Daniel Case on Wikimedia Commons
Some modern packaging is made to look confusing or surprising on purpose. For example, tampons were once sold in a box that looked like a tub of whipped cream. These designs grab attention by being unexpected.