LBdesigns

Natural Products Expo West 2026 made one thing clear: product functionality is evolving fast, and how a product looks, feels, and communicates purpose matters just as much as what it does. Brands are showing up with vibrant colors, layered textures, and storytelling that draw attention and reinforce their positioning.

This month, across more than 3,000 exhibitors, trends ranged from protein innovation and functional beverages to women’s health and simplified ingredient stories, all supported by design choices that signal value and lifestyle relevance to consumers.

Packaging and visual identity are increasingly strategic tools for standing out in crowded categories, especially when consumers make quick decisions in retail or online discovery.

Check out Expo West’s highlights, emerging brands, new packaging innovations, and the NEXTY Award winners: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/natural-products-expo-west-marks-45-years-defines-future-of-innovation-in-cpg-1035937970

If you are building a conscious product brand and planning for Expo East 2026 (now called Newtopia Now) this summer, this is the time to think about how your brand will stand out. I help brands strengthen their presence in a way that shapes how buyers, partners, and customers respond.

Message me if you want to start preparing.

Natural Products Expo West Marks 45 Years, Defines Future of Innovation in CPG ANAHEIM, Calif., March 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natural Products Expo West, produced by New Hope Network, the largest gathering for the natu...

🎥 My wellness journey started long before I realized it could guide my career.

Over the years, through Ladyburd Designs, I took on health and wellness projects whenever I could, but my corporate roles often conflicted with what I believed in.

Today, I focus on helping Better-For-You and Purpose-Driven Brands—brands I can truly stand behind. I love supporting them in telling clear, impactful stories while building meaningful connections with their audiences.

This short video shares my personal journey: how I navigated IBS, found my path toward holistic health, and why I started Truform Wellness, a platform dedicated to digestive health that complements my creative marketing career. It’s all about aligning personal passions, lifestyle, and professional work.
➡️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/gHXaABp1hIY

💡 Whether you’re a brand looking for creative guidance or someone curious about holistic wellness:
• Message me to explore creative opportunities.
• Check out Truform Wellness to learn more about better gut health: truformwellness.com

My Gut Health Journey: From Digestive Struggles to Holistic Wellness Hello—I’m Laureen, a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach with a focus in digestive health. In this video, I share my personal journey with IBS and how I discov...

We’re closing out my 2026 Wellness Design Forecast with the final trend. This series explores how wellness is evolving and how design will shape what comes next. Be sure to check out the earlier trends posted if you missed them.

Sustainability is going beyond “eco-friendly” this year. Wellness brands are shifting toward regenerative practices with choices that restore people, the planet, and the communities behind their products. Consumers want transparency, ethical sourcing, and products that honor nature rather than extract from it.

What’s emerging:
✨ Sustainable self-care
Low-waste rituals, refill systems, and products designed for long-term use.

✨ Plant-powered wellness
Functional foods, adaptogens, and gut-supportive blends made from regenerative agriculture.

✨ Environmental ethics
Brands prioritizing circularity, transparency, provenance, and community impact.

Design for this trend is especially visible in packaging, where values meet:
• Recycled, compostable, or bio-based materials with minimal waste
• Earthy textures, natural fibers, and uncoated papers that reflect nature’s rawness
• Clear, honest labeling with origin-forward storytelling and low-ink systems

💡 Design opportunities for Sustainable + Regenerative Wellness: packaging design
• Tactile, low-waste packaging using recycled fibers, molded pulp, mushroom materials, or plant-based plastics
• Refillable or modular systems (interlocking vessels, pods, concentrates) that reduce shipping weight and material use
• Minimal-ink design with earth pigments, embossing, debossing, or laser etching
• Packaging that doubles as decor or storage, encouraging reuse—a key pillar of 2026’s shift toward “slow design”

Supporting sustainable wellness in 2026 means designing products that are beautiful, ethical, and regenerative, reducing harm while restoring the connection between people and the planet.