Even though artificial intelligence (AI) currently dominates headlines, hearts, and minds, humanness is finding new life and popularity in the packaging and labeling arena. The back-to-humanity trend is being fueled in part by design industry pushback against all things AI.

A Vistaprint.com article notes, “In 2025, instead of slick, flawless designs, brands are going for a raw approach with the Simplistic Scribbles and Etches trend – scribbles that look like they’ve been drawn by hand directly onto the package with pens and charcoal, and etches that mimic linocut techniques….This design trend reminds us of the power of the human element in design. It’s a reaction to the growing presence of AI in design, as businesses aim to connect with consumers craving authenticity. The message is clear: ‘This product is made by humans, for humans.’”

Human influence and popularity in an AI-focused world is proof positive that people still want to connect with people. Perhaps this packaging and label design trend will prove contagious in such vital areas as customer service, where automation and AI communication have largely supplanted the ability to talk to a real person.

While there’s a valid case to be made for multi-channel options, including text, chatbots, email, and live voice interaction, to accommodate all consumer preferences, consumers are increasingly getting fed up with automated platforms forced upon them. It can feel even worse when live support is offered but is so difficult to access that it takes a Herculean effort to get there.

Make labels more human-friendly for another customer service bump

How about customer service enhancements on labels and/or packaging themselves? Anything that makes navigating product features and benefits easier and more complete is likely to be a customer service winner. Here are some ways to humanize labels:

• Add a “talk with us live” option, including a phone number, along with such standard digital elements as QR codes, URLs, and email addresses. Being able to talk productively and efficiently with a real live human as needed instills a sense of authenticity in the product and its manufacturer. Just knowing the option is there can help drive customer goodwill. A variation on this is the “we want to hear from you” offer that encourages consumers to reach out for any reason.

• Go “Back to Your Roots.” Vistaprint.com says that addressing cultural roots can prove to be a very vibrant way to develop goodwill, comfort, and trust with consumers, driving a more robust human connection. The article points out: “The Back to Your Roots packaging design trend is all about embracing and showcasing the authentic cultural heritage of a product or brand through thoughtful and meaningful design and connecting with customers through that authenticity. You can use illustrations, symbolism, and patterns to tell a story about your brand’s cultural origins so your packaging reflects who you are and where you come from.”

The article notes that “Back to Your Roots” packaging design is gaining popularity with “culturally specific food and drink brands, handmade craft products, and local businesses that want to emphasize pride in their culture…This is the perfect chance for small businesses to experiment with packaging. With nearly half of small business owners planning to increase marketing spend and try new tactics in the coming year, it’s time to see which trends fit your brand to give it the fresh edge you’ve been looking for.”

• Make the product label a collectible featuring artwork or other engaging graphic elements. This can make the human connection last long beyond use of the product itself. To get really personal, sequentially number the labels to establish the product as a limited production item. If your product is documented as being #xxx out of a production run of #xxx, it can humanize the connection versus the decidedly “assembly line” environment characterizing today’s world of commerce. 

• Start telling a story on the label with a QR code or other digital link to read more. This can prove engaging, entertaining, or educational – any or all of which can make customers feel like the manufacturer is talking to them. It becomes even more human if interactive communication – enabling sharing of personal preferences – can be established.

AI is clearly going to occupy an ever-more-prevalent part of our daily lives, which in and of itself isn’t patently good or bad. But it’s important to continue focusing on fostering the human connection, as well.

This isn’t a new challenge. AI has been the subject of much discussion and focus for decades. For example, the 1968 movie, “2001: A Space Odyssey” chronicled the errant and ultimately killer behavior of the HAL 9000, an advanced computer. Robothalloffame.org inducted the HAL9000 – an acronym for “Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer” into its famed collection in 2003. A Hall of Fame report ominously points out, “HAL kills its astronaut crew…All of us ask whether we want to create intelligent machines that may someday endanger us.”

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Mark Lusky (www.markluskycommunications.com/mark-lusky-bio) is the president of Lusky Enterprises, Inc. (www.markluskycommunications.com), a 41-year-established marketing communications company dedicated to clients that live and breathe trust, likeability, and respect (thereby eschewing the “lie, cheat, steal” culture so prevalent today). Contact him at: 303-621-6136; [email protected].