Custom Packaging Design

In California’s highly regulated cannabis industry, packaging isn’t just about looking good—it’s about striking a delicate balance between legal compliance and brand storytelling. Fig Farms, a top-tier cannabis brand distributed by UpNorth Distribution, needed packaging designs that could do both.

As a freelance designer, I worked directly with Fig Farms and UpNorth to create custom packaging that honors their brand ethos while satisfying state regulations—helping their products command attention and trust at retail.

Cannabis packaging regulations in California are strict, covering everything from font sizes to warning labels. For Fig Farms, the challenge was:

• Maintaining brand authenticity while integrating all required legal elements
• Designing for multiple product lines, including eighth jars, cartons, and pre-rolls
• Ensuring shelf presence in a crowded, competitive marketplace
• Creating packaging that felt premium, not generic or overregulated

The goal was to develop packaging that didn’t just comply—it had to elevate.

Working with Fig Farms’ existing brand assets, I developed a series of packaging concepts that:

• Integrated compliance elements seamlessly into the design language
• Emphasized quality and craftsmanship through typography, layout, and color selection
• Created a consistent packaging system across different product types
• Balanced minimalism with bold visual cues to make products pop on shelves

Throughout the process, I ensured that creativity never compromised compliance—and vice versa.

The final custom packaging designs:

• Successfully passed California’s rigorous cannabis compliance checks
• Strengthened Fig Farms’ brand perception as a premium player
• Helped the brand stand out in dispensaries across the state
• Created a more cohesive and professional product line presentation
• Delivered positive feedback from dispensaries and customers alike

The project didn’t just produce packaging—it created a branded experience customers recognize and trust.

“Andrew masterfully navigated the complex world of cannabis regulations while staying true to our brand’s character. The packaging has received overwhelming praise from retailers and customers. It’s clear, compliant, and unmistakably Fig Farms.”
— Geoff Hoopes, CEO, UpNorth Distribution