Lesson 7-8: Design A Cereal Box That Will Be Marketed Towards Children

English
Spanish
French
Article 1 Cereal Box Psychology
Article 1: Cereal Box Psychology
Article 1: Cereal Box Psychology
Article 2 Name Of Cereal, Font & Color Choice
Article 2: Name Of Cereal, Font & Color Choice
Article 2: Name Of Cereal, Font & Color Choice
 LESSON SUMMARY:
This lesson explores how marketers use psychology and design strategies to influence children’s cereal purchases. Students will learn how factors such as color psychology, advertising appeals, character design, and shelf placement impact consumer behavior. Through analyzing research on eye contact and brand trust, students will understand how packaging can foster brand loyalty. They will then apply these concepts by creating an original cereal box targeted toward children, using digital tools like Canva. The project emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and real-world marketing application. 
Lesson Objectives & Instructional Outcomes
Lesson Objectives:
  1. Students will analyze how marketing psychology influences packaging design for children’s cereals.
  2. Students will evaluate how color choices affect consumer behavior and perceptions.
  3. Students will apply principles of effective brand naming to create a product name.
  4. Students will incorporate advertising appeals into their cereal box design.
  5. Students will use digital tools (Canva) to create an original cereal box targeted toward children.

​Instructional Outcomes:
  1. Students will identify key psychological strategies used in cereal marketing.
  2. Students will explain how character eye contact and shelf placement influence purchasing behavior.
  3. Students will select and justify a color scheme based on emotional and psychological associations.
  4. Students will create a memorable, brand-appropriate product name.
  5. Students will produce and present a completed cereal box design using Canva
Aim & Essential Questions
Aim: How do marketers use packaging design and psychology to influence children's cereal purchases?

Essential Questions:
  1. What visual and psychological strategies make a cereal box appealing to children?
  2. How does shelf placement and character design affect consumer behavior?
  3. How do color choices shape consumer perceptions of a product?
  4. What elements contribute to a memorable and effective cereal name?
  5. How can I apply these strategies to create an original cereal box design?
Vocabulary
  1. Target Audience – The specific group of consumers a product or marketing campaign is aimed at.
  2. Advertising Appeal – The approach used to attract the attention of consumers (ex: humor, free gift, celebrity).
  3. Brand Loyalty – The tendency of consumers to continue buying the same brand over time.
  4. Shelf Placement – The height and positioning of a product on retail shelves to influence purchase.
  5. Color Psychology – The study of how colors affect perceptions and behavior.
  6. Spokes-character – A fictional or animated character used to promote a product.
  7. Eye Contact Strategy – Designing characters to make eye contact with the target audience to build trust.
  8. Visual Element – Graphics, colors, fonts, and images used to make a product stand out.
  9. Emotional Association – The feelings or emotions consumers associate with a product based on its design.
  10. Product Name – The chosen name of a product that reflects its image and target audience.
Questions For Instructional Time
  1. Why are bright colors commonly used in children’s cereal boxes?
  2. What is the significance of a spokes-character’s eye angle?
  3. How does shelf placement affect which cereals children notice first?
  4. Why is it important to choose a short, memorable name for your cereal?
  5. How do different advertising appeals influence consumer interest?
  6. How can adding a “free gift” increase sales?
  7. What emotions do different colors (red, blue, yellow, green) trigger in consumers?
  8. How does character design foster brand loyalty in young consumers?
  9. What does research suggest about the importance of eye contact in packaging design?
  10. What design strategies will you use in your own cereal box to stand out to kids?

Do Now: Prompt: Look at 2-3 cereal boxes online or in your home pantry. What colors do they use? Where is the character looking? How does the box appeal to you? Write 3-5 sentences describing your observations.

​TASK: Design A Cereal Box That Will Be Marketed Towards Children

Part 1

Directions For Part 1: Work your way down this webpage and be sure to watch all of the videos. The videos are short and will instruct you on what to do next. Start with this one. It is 1 minute 47 seconds long. After the video below, do the required reading (Links in blue box).

Required Reading

English
Spanish
Article 1 Cereal Box Psychology
Article 1: Cereal Box Psychology
Article 2 Name Of Cereal, Font & Color Choice
Article 2: Name Of Cereal, Font & Color Choice

Article Response Questions & Rubric

Note: Mr. Kazanjian will give you a print out of the questions and rubric. Store it in your binder.
English
Spanish
Response Questions & Rubric
Response Questions & Rubric

Part 2

Directions For Part 2: In part 2 we will be using Canva to design a cereal box that will be marketed towards children. You can use templates but be sure to follow the guidance of the video and the rubric. All websites mentioned in the video are linked to below.

Part 3

Directions For Part 3: In part 3 you will download your design from Canva as a PNG image. Then, you will click the box below this video (Cereal Box Template). You will drag your PNG image in to the template and do a written response explaining why you made the choices that you did. 

Mr. Kazanjian's Business Class
Hempstead High School
Room A112
​[email protected]