Tiffany’s blue box. Apple’s all-white packaging. McDonald’s red happy meal. Consumer behavior is often affected not so much by the product itself as it is by the packaging that the product comes in. Packaging of a product sets high expectations for the product within, as well as provoking positive or negative reactions in the purchasing decision. While many studies have shown the importance of proper packaging of consumer goods, little is known about the use of implied motion - the ability to perceive dynamic elements within a static image (Yu et al., 2022) - until now.

Let's look into the influence of packaging displaying images with motion on consumers'  behavior!

Products That Catch The Eye

In order to ‘catch the consumer’s eye’, any good marketer knows that they must help their product stand out from the competition. That’s not always as easy as it sounds. With advancements in technology, product enhancements, and consumer psychology, it takes more than a flashy design or catchy tagline to make a good first impression. So how do you help your product stand out on shelves that are saturated with options?

The answer: implied motion. 

Implied motion is a packing design technique that positively enhances purchase intent and behavior. While much research has focused on the size, shape, color, and in-store placement of products on consumer behavior, implied motion has only just made its way into mainstream literature. That said, motion itself is considered a crucial element to our species survival for thousands of years.

Detecting motion was a critical element to humans survival and continues to play a major role in the evolution of our species. Whether it's detecting a saber tooth tiger or spotting a speeding car heading your way, motion is a characteristic of being alive. 

While we might not be fending off any tigers today, we are battling a barrage of marketing messages that demand our attention (and our money). If you’re marketing a product to the masses, you know you are competing with a variety of other messages, products, and attention-seeking elements that make standing out a whole lot harder.

Why Implied Motion Boosts Attention

A recent study investigated how implied motion affects consumer behavior and product perception. The first experiment was conducted using an eye-tracking apparatus that aimed to investigate the influence of consumer’s choices and behavior. Participants were positioned in front of a screen showing a product with either no implied motion or implied motion on the FOP design. The eye-tracking device measured the direction and rate of eye movement on the screen. 

Results indicated that implied motion images engaged the consumer’s attention more than static images and implied motion graphics were chosen by participants more often than static images when asked which they prefer.

Implied motion makes the product appear fresher

In the second experiment, researchers investigated the role of implied motion on freshness, taste, product attractiveness, and purchase intent. Participants were asked to look at an FOP design for a milk product that was either static or had implied motion incorporated in the design. They were then asked questions related to purchase intention and product quality. 

Results showed a significant and positive effect on freshness but not tastiness. Although they found tastiness was not directly significant, they found tastiness to be positively impacted by product attractiveness, and freshness indirectly affected the positive perception of product attractiveness. Linear regression showed that purchase intent increased with perceived positive product attractiveness. 

Key Takeaways: Using Implied Motion in Product Packaging

If you want a cost-effective and efficient way to market your product in a crowded space, consider implied motion to catch your customer’s eye. Remember, implied motion:

• Increases purchasing intent
• Grabs a consumer’s attention
• Invokes a sense of freshness and tastiness when used for food packaging