- Core Principles: Product Attributes Define the Design Boundaries
Designing graphics for fish oil supplements must follow three essential principles to avoid common industry pitfalls.
First, the “trust-first principle.” Consumer decisions in the supplement category are driven by trust. Visuals should avoid exaggerated or medical-style expressions—such as “treatment” or “cure”—and instead use natural, tangible elements to convey product quality.
Second, the “attribute-anchoring principle.” The design must immediately communicate that the product is fish oil, preventing visual confusion with vitamins, protein powders, or other supplements. Marine and fish-related symbols should be emphasized.
Third, the “audience-fit principle.” Preferences vary significantly across age groups and usage scenarios; design should align precisely with the intended consumer group rather than follow generic trends.
Compliance also establishes the bottom line. All graphics must follow the Health Food Labeling Regulations, and cannot contain misleading claims. Functional imagery must align with the approved health function of the product. For example, a fish oil supplement approved for “supporting healthy blood lipids” may use vascular-protection motifs, but must not imply functions like “lowering blood pressure,” which fall outside the permitted scope.
- Element Selection: Extracting Core Visual Symbols from Product Essence
Graphic elements should build a visual chain around source → ingredients → benefits, enabling intuitive value communication.
For source-based symbols, fish oil’s natural origin is a key competitive advantage, and three categories of elements are recommended:
Ocean imagery, such as simplified wave lines or deep-sea blue gradients, suggesting a clean and uncontaminated origin. Realistic ocean scenes should be avoided to prevent clutter.
Fish symbols, with salmon or sardines being preferred as they are rich in Omega-3. Abstract outlines with smooth curves can express movement while avoiding overly literal depictions that may discomfort some consumers.
Ecological cues, such as minimal seaweed or plankton-like lines, subtly reinforcing the concept of a natural ecosystem.
Ingredient and benefit symbols must be precise and easy to understand.
Omega-3 can be visualized through simplified molecular-chain icons (interconnected rings representing DHA and EPA), avoiding overly technical chemical formulas.
Benefit symbols should match the target group:
For seniors: simplified heart or brain outlines with soft curves to express “heart–brain support.”
For maternal & infant products: abstract silhouettes of a mother and child with soft glows to convey “nutritional support.”
For office workers: shield icons combined with eye outlines to communicate “eye protection and immunity support.”
Trust-building icons are essential, such as simplified “GMP-certified” badges, “Natural Origin” stamps, or small QR-style traceability markers—small elements that significantly reduce purchase hesitation.
- Style & Color: Using Visual Language that Matches the Target Audience
Style direction should align with audience preferences:
For premium consumers: a “minimalist luxury style” works best—ample white space, refined lines, and deep-sea blue capsule silhouettes with subtle gloss gradients to highlight quality.
For family health purchasers: a “warm and friendly style” is ideal—warm orange paired with off-white, round fish outlines, and family-themed silhouettes that evoke caregiving and protection.
For young consumers: a “dynamic minimal style”—bright, high-energy blue contrasted with clean white, simple strong lines, and geometric accents to match modern youth aesthetics.
Color choices must reinforce product attributes and psychological cues.
Deep-sea blue and pure white should be the main colors—representing natural, clean, and trustworthy product qualities.
Accent colors may vary by function: soft red or warm yellow for heart–brain support; light green for vision support.
Avoid overly saturated colors like bright red or purple, which may diminish the professional tone of supplements.
Keep the palette within three main colors to maintain visual coherence.
- Market Adaptation: Cultural Integration & Differentiated Positioning
Graphics should incorporate cultural context depending on the target market.
For the domestic (Chinese) market, stylized transformations of characters like “福 (fortune)” or “康 (health)” may be used, while avoiding Western religious symbols.
For Western markets, simplification and a scientific-leaning minimalist aesthetic are preferred.
Differentiation is crucial to avoid the overused “ocean + fish” formula. Unique combinations can create strong recognition—for example, merging a fish oil capsule outline with wave lines to form a distinctive “capsule supporting the ocean” motif. This expresses both product origin and uniqueness simultaneously.
