Agustin Wijaya's Design Blog: Packaging & Merchandising Design : Project 2

07/05/18 - 04/06/18 (Week 7-11)
Agustin Wijaya (0327453)
Packaging & Merchandising Design

Assignment 2 : Innovative Packaging

Lectures

Instructions

The Brief

You have to design an innovative packaging for any health, pharmaceutical or beauty product tailored to the needs and wants of a specific target market. Propose new idea for the material of the packaging. The packaging should not only look futuristic but must be able to protect the product or item of your choice. Read https://www.packaginginnovation.com/packaging-
design/innovative-packaging-2/10-things-best-innovative-packaging-designs-common/ for further reading on ideas for the project.

Project timeline

Week 7:

Discuss with your lecturer on the item or product of your choice and bring sample in
class on the existing packaging of the product. Explore the design and crafting techniques
and personal visual styles in solving identified design problem.

Week 8:

• Bring in lots of sketches of your concept
• Suggest materials and colours

Week 9:

Make actual 3 dimensional comps that take into consideration each side of the
product to finalize your design. You have to professionally photograph the final product as
evidence for TDS website.

Week 10:

Submit your assignment

Objective:

1. To develop students analytical thinking of strategizing sales and promotion.
2. To develop students understanding of solving problems with design.
3. To develop students ability to communicate visually.

LEARNING OUTCOME:
Learning outcome of the exercise is about convincing a consumer to buy into an idea.
You will be also introduced to the concept of the target audience and will asked to consider a relevant target audience for their product when coming up with their ideas.

Progressions

Week 7

To start off the project, I compiled my findings on the selected items on the google docs attached below.

Showed my findings to Sir. Shamsul, he asked me to finalise which product I would like to go for. I ended my decision with cotton pads as I find that the issue is more concerning compared to beauty blender.

I also came with a rough idea on how to make it 'innovative' by making it looks like a tissue box, where we can just get the cotton easily and avoid getting multiple cotton when getting it. As Sir Shamsul thought it might work, I was required to show a mockup to see how it works, to be shown next week.

Sir Shamsul also noted that the product's low-cost shall relate to the product's material and finishing. With this, I reflected.

Week 8
Throughout the week, I made a rough mockup of the cotton 'tissue box' while also coming up with other possibilities in my sketches.

I found that the tissue box 'somehow' work, even though it's quite rough. Sir Shamsul thought the same way, and suggested with another form of the hole which is circular and has soft edges in it - this is to prevent the cotton fibers coming out. As of the sketches, he asked and commented to the one I find could work - and asked me to choose which one is the most impactful. Gave it a thought, I decided to still stick with the tissue box concept.

This week, I also tried to find references for my label design. Inspired by the cleanliness of the cotton itself, I intended to make my design simple and clean. The exploration led me to start with my label design as well.

<references>

Week 9
I came with the revised 'rough' mockup alongside possible label designs of the packaging.

Mr Shamsul commented that I should've start the mockup with other possible materials to see how it works clearer. As of the label designs, he mentioned that he has no problem with it and just asked me to proceed with any.

With this, I proceeded with possible materials for the packaging. The one I found could work and suitable are either plastic sheets or art cards.

I found that using plastic sheets would be cool, but I couldn't find a resource to laser cut the particular material here. This is also conflicted with the project's submission which is due 2 weeks from now. I ended up choosing art cards as my final material.

As I get the final material settled, I proceeded to the dieline construction and laser cut it in the smaller scale to see whether the dispenser could work.

Constructed dieline.

Did the smaller one for mocks.

Outcome.

And it worked! But I've observed a minor problem here - When the cotton almost reaches to an end (left with 2-3 cottons left), I needed to stuck my hand in to get it. With this, I tried to come up with another innovation feature which is a slider to push the cotton to prevent the problem.

Week 10
I showed my findings and shared my concern to Sir Shamsul.

Upgraded mocks (with slider).

Sir Shamsul expressed that I can try to construct the slider in a more firm material or construct the slider in 2 ways. I mentioned about how slider in 2 ways may affect the product information's readability (because it's being cut) but he told me it might just work. I gave in to the possibility and tried both ways.

Following the findings, I also came with the surface design with the design that I find could work best. Although, I found that the designs are now rather plain even though it looks simple and clean. Sir Shamsul thought the same way, and told me to come with another variation.

First set of surface design (1/2)

First set of surface design (2/2)

Second set of surface design

Sir Shamsul found that the turquoise background makes the surface design looks better - and now the design doesn't look as empty. He also added not to think so much about the design and just proceed to the one he selected.

Throughout the weekend, I tried the two variation which I and Sir Shamsul previously discussed.

One sided slider.

Two sided slider.

I found that user experience is one of the crucial ways to see which works better, so I asked my housemates and close friends about this matter. The responses were all the same, saying that the single-sided slider looks better. But they mentioned that slider is actually not necessary - it makes the cotton harder to come out due to the pressure given. I then reflected and brainstorm of another possible ideas. The ideation led me to just ditch the 'slider' idea and replace it with 'window' instead - with window feature, the consumer can see how many cotton they have left - which I personally find it necessary.

Week 11
I showed the two mockups to Sir Shamsul and shared my concern and solution. Sir Shamsul agrees to it too. He also noted the following :
- Check Watson's shelf height to see whether it can be displayed or anot. Because right now the packaging is too tall.
- Some information's type size are too big, make it smaller.
- Information such as expired date and manufactured date needs to be revised as it might mislead the consumer.

As I get the approval of replacing the slider with window, I changed my approach with a more fun surface design by having fun element in my packaging.

Revised and finalised surface design. Fun element attached is to add
interactivity showing the cotton current status.

Revised die-line structure.

I showed the surface design with Sir Shamsul and he told me to proceed with printing and finishing.

Submission

**Laser cut didn't go as well that the packaging didn't aligned well - it goes slightly to the left. This led me to reconsidering re-submit the work.

Re-Submission

Ayeee!

Recap with the problem & innovative feature (solution) :

P01 : When taking cotton pad is that cotton pads stick/attached to one another, thus inconvenient.

S01 : Designed in a dispenser form, inspired by the tissue box packaging.

P02 : The current packaging is also inconvenient that we have to stuck our hands to the end of the packaging when getting the remaining cotton pads.

S02 : Consumer are to take the cotton pads from the bottom, thus reachable. The packaging are also featured with the handle on the top, so it can be hanged.

P03 : Boring packaging designs had in cotton packagings.

S03 : Came with fun approach and fun element in the packaging.

Feedback

Week 7
Specific Feedback : I can see the problem that you mentioned too. Proceed with this and find how the competitors packaged the particular product as well. Do take note as well that the material and finishing should be relatable with the product price.

Week 8
Specific Feedback : It didn't work well maybe because of the hole design - try to come up with one I suggested - this might work and prevent the problem. Soft edges are tend not to break the fragile cotton. And if you are considering of window feature, perhaps come up with fun element? It will make the packaging as innovative as it is interactive.

Week 9
Specific Feedback : Come up with a more proper mockup. I have no problem with the design, proceed with any.

Week 10
Specific Feedback (mockup) : Hm right now the slider doesn't seem to work well. Any other possible solutions? Maybe two-sided?

Specific Feedback (surface design) : Can I have 1 more option? The 4th option looks okay but there's too much empty space at the bottom of the front side. Can make it a bit more exciting by using different kind of related graphic. Center-aligned looks more balance within that space.

Week 11
Specific Feedback (mockup) : Try to measure Watson's shelf and see whether it fits or not, because my main concern now is that the product may not fit to the display. Some type are too big, perhaps make it smaller. Expired date and manufactured date information are confusing, revise it.

Specific Feedback (finishing) : I would suggest you to laser cut because the hole construction will be better if you laser cut it. But you can try either way (hand cut or laser cut) and see which works better.

Specific Feedback (surface design) : I have no problem with this. Proceed.

Submission
Specific Feedback : This looks like a legit product! However, it looks a bit unprofessional as it aligned more to the left. Do you consider resubmitting? You can do if you have time - resubmission is open until Week 14.

Reflection
I would say that the overall project is very challenging. Started off with pitching idea that I think might not work, I actually kind of worried as my other ideas aren't as strong (I remember how I worried I was that this concern appeared in my dream haha). But after several trials and errors, it worked! Delighted as it worked, I'm still concerned that it won't appear as innovative enough, so I tried to do other possibilities. Trials and errors, feedback from lecturer as well as my friends helped me throughout the process, I ended up added another 2 innovative features (the handle and fun element). Although it hits me as the project is considered heavy, not to mention the other modules workload are no joke as well, I'm satisfied enough that I finally made it work. That was a fun one!

Book
2016 Winners Packaging Design Category by the Dieline