Cormack project 2012 peer comments

Patrick Luwia:
 http://pluwia.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/cormack-submission.html

Anastasie Panagopoulos

 http://stasiep.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/final-week-packaging-project.html#comment-form

Aryetta Pazpinis: 

http://z3333129.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/rationale-dinovites_9.html

Sheena Huang: 

http://whereisthecake.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/playtime-submarine.html?showComment=1347276553982#c1664610502146581282

Andrew Bae:

http://baejin.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/cormack-innovation-awards-normal-0.html?showComment=1347276889934#c6036917061305100790

2012 Cormack Legs Eleven packaging design

This Shampoo bottle packaging design is based about fresh user interaction and problem resolution in shampoo bottles. Key focuses are fun, affordance and simplicity. Starting fresh on the market shelf is vital in capturing attention and raising target market awareness. For this project the target consumer (end user) are children around the age of five years above, this highlights a stage in the child’s life where independent bathroom training becomes more relevant.

The design aims to capture a very basic and intuitive squeeze action common in most bathroom packaging. However introducing new user feedback, implementing a flexible silicon valve controls the quantity per squeeze also adding some fun each squeeze.

Though on top of that is the risk of children having too much fun; the slim bottle shape restricts and extends time taken to air to re-enter ready for the next output, this ultimately reduces chances of over squeezing at once. This silicon mouth also stops any content especially one viscous such as shampoo without squeezing. This enables the shampoo bottle to stand in a different orientation (in a way which content will sink and collect near the mouth) therefore reducing hassle near the empty stage. ­­­the design also eliminates the need for screw cap, or living hinge, this objectively simplifies manufacturing and material required. Having only two components this shampoo bottle design also minimised assembly costs, simply able to clip together (no moulded threads required).

Hygiene is also an evitable consideration; where many bottles are simply placed on the shower floor if not on a shower caddy. The areas of contact are prone to mould growth and contamination. To prevent such the design recesses the mouth which protects intimate mould contact (whilst the silicon valve acts as a tight seal).

Doi’s (custom brand) shampoo bottle design for kids also comes in a playful colour range and flavours. A fresh shape and unlike many ordinary shampoo packaging which traditionally rely on graphics to be child attractive. A frog theme was used to set a context of use within a wet environment, also aims to add fun and interest to children. The shape however is kept slightly subtle and not over featured (frog-wise) to still facilitate within the product language. ­­ In essence, Fun, Simple and hygienic. 

Chieh-Min Lee

Packaging manufacturing and new life

The series of videos show a broad range of manufacturing and recycling methods of packaging. The videos feature a variety of daily use packaging and are often taken for granted by us as consumers.  From paper tetra packs to aluminium cans and so on, all show to be very sophisticated and elaborate processes to ensure quality. Apart from quality, all of these processes in both the manufacturing and recycling involved a great deal of planning. These plans aim to provide the best possible outcomes under the more desired time frames where efficiency is most desired. Knowing this reflects directly back to packaging design.

Packaging design is the forefront which shapes and effects all subsequent manufacturing, consumption and recycling. As mentioned previously the goal for any manufacturer is efficiency and quality, where the complexity of the task is largely dependent on the design itself. Understanding the importance in making manufacturing simpler is good however it is in understanding the balance between good product (creating the relations and experiences with end consumer interaction) and manufacturing and recycling efficiency which really determines a good design. Meaning each and every step of the products life cycle is equally important and should be understood by designers. In any case no design should make manufacturing and recycling processes difficult.

The videos features a variety of a materials selected fit for its purpose, with modern technology and the many possible manufacturing processes demonstrated really opens many opportunities for more efficient designs and possible introduction of alternate materials to certain packs when it suits (i.e. more affordance or recyclability etc).

Recycling plants as shown have become more efficient and sophisticated than ever before. This is a positive improvement as the modern industrial world has come to a realisation of wastage in the past. Now finding better and more effective ways to re-salvage used materials and sort them to suit their subsequent processes. A greater use of more recyclable materials is used nowadays to produce and carry on an ongoing cradle to cradle product life cycle.

All the above are inevitable factors to consider especially in packaging design as these products are fast moving and are part of everyone’s lives in the developed world. As mentioned before many of these products are just taken for granted by consumers (i.e. plastic bags are just used and disposed at an unnecessary rate and amount. Intrinsic to a better and more efficient world relies on cooperation of consumers’ understanding and concept of recycling and consumption patterns at the same time as good design and substitution of correct or more suitable materials.

The 11th hour Reflection 

This video addresses many issues our generation are probably not unfamiliar with. Changes in climate change due to global warming, an increase in catastrophic natural events and many other issues which threaten our wellbeing and security on this planet. We most likely don’t watch this and find anything new in it, more so the videos message acts as a reminder in attempt of raising peoples’ behaviour or attitude towards such damages to the environment. This narrative outlines issues which highlight key points to ponder upon which has potential to first make people aware of these events taking place behind our lives then providing insights to ways of change and key problem causers.

Aforementioned the video has provided the issues as a narrative, both in its most rudimentary form to the elaborate.  These issues presented should strongly remind each and every one of us that problems we’re creating and facing should and cannot be ignored.  Many parts and speakers in the video state the ignorance factor of most people where one is more concerned with their own future (i.e. new car, clothes etc) without recognising the fact that everyone is part and subject to the climate changes and its consequences.

This directly links back to the individual responses relative to this global issue. People are not unaware of the terms global warming and green house gasses, it’s more so the belief in individual power to make change. Though the video presents corporate organisations and government as the root causes of large scale environmental impact, a larger part to change would be to encourage individuals to change their everyday behaviours.

Alternative clean energy is also presented in the video along to various new materials which aim to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This could lead to new products or simply new materials supplementary to oil based plastics. Though not specifically discussed in the video our everyday use products can change our behaviours whether we choose to or not, it impacts us every day and alters our thoughts and has potential to drive certain habits. This highlights an interesting areas for future designs which there currently is a growing market as more and more individuals are made more aware of global environmental impacts.

This has potential to change people’s thought about change, and possibly raises the confidence and to every one person that they can in fact take part and become more environmentally aware on their everyday consumptions and behaviours. This to me is important as an industrial designer in training as it opens many opportunities to products in attempt to influence people behaviours and also implement newer and greener materials. 

http://vimeo.com/42487584

Livability project

Project 2

Design Rationale
Choice: brief C Six pack beverage packaging
Brief information on choice:
I decided to work on designing the packaging for a new energy drink plainly out of interest as well as relevance since the “wow factor and “shouting to customers” in an energy drink packaging stands out amongst the many beverages (as present in examples such as V, mother and red bull etc). Being largely dependent on interesting and though provoking graphic embellishments I felt great space for exploration and experimentation.
• Looking into various cardboard six pack beverage packagings through both the internet and supermarkets a few common issues which could be better resolved were evident. By developing a checklist of technical problems to prioritise really helped initiate the design process. Currently there are a great use of glues and resins which are added to the tabs of many to give the boxes enough strength to hold the full six cans. This is a clear environmentally unfriendly procedure. Although there were examples of more eco-friendly designs (eco friendly by means of material saving and glue elimination.) for example the mother energy drink which its minimalistic structure (plainly one rectangular sheet of card folded and joined together with tabs (no glue)) which was inspiration on the environmental and ease of manufacturing side. However the design limits the box’s usage to only in the supermarket shelfs and maybe the last minutes in one’s car boot before it gets discarded. This is because the cans are only locked in when it’s a full house (when there are 6).

• Taking these technical issues into consideration the decision was to take up a little more material compared to the mother packaging to have two side pieces which act as lids (this keeps the cans in the box no matter if one or more is consumed). Till now the design is yet just a box; to be more interesting in form great use of negative space was incorporated which later on will also support the branding and identity building of my new brand. The final form of the design will be further discussed.

• Through research of large and successful energy drinks such as V, red bull, mother and monster etc each had their own target market which relates to later the graphic designs. Xeno is targeted to cramming students at young ages around 18-20s who would assumingly be attracted to somewhat fashionable or fancy graphic embellishments. The brand name “Xeno” meaning alien fits the purpose to promote unearthly energy characteristic to the drink. The character of the drink is to be power yet mysterious. This enabled the development of a psychedelic theme; being strange and unknown however energetic and dynamic.
Graphic concepts
• The first few concepts were however too monotonous by itself which could be striking at first sight however causes people to loos interest in later stages. The second concept developed more content and depth to the graphic however found still too singular and drab. To counter such issue the graphics must be not blob like and is supposed to be more though provoking to buyers when visualising.

• By eliminating the glowing edges (which caused a material gap as cardboard does not have a mercury glow) and adding unknown electric tubes which run along the image forming a tunnel which draws the eyes to the brand name in the centre was my final solution. With the dark background aided the energy tubes to stand out and also creates depth to the image. This graphic runs throughout, consistent however not the symmetrical on the packaging.
Type facing and words
• The words one the packaging took some fiddling with typography. The goal is to use a type face which relates to a sci-fi or almost space craft like character. The result was “Bauhaus 93” font which was neutral and less gender based as “Xeno” being alien shouldn’t be described by anything human such as times new roman or other serif scripts. Bauhaus 93 allowed the words to be unpredictable yet clean. The slogan or supporting words chosen are to be something which matches the logo and brand name however not the same. This is to prevent monotony of the product. “Unearthly Power” was to the supporting slogan to promote the dink to be an unhuman source of power. Using the type face “Orator Std” created direct relation to the Bauhaus 93, still neutral and easy to read; being slim simple and clean. “POWER” on the other hand needed not to be subtle “Mesquite Std” being thick and bold and almost explosive I found really appropriate for the support text. The rest are the important messages and additional customer information which is mean to be small but readable, I chose Calibri (in white which stands out of the black background) as it is a very clear simple type face; giving no emotion and plainly delivering the message.
The final structure
• The final form of the packaging was derived from the X for Xeno however not too symmetrical as the X itself. The shape was also reference to an organic shape almost like an alien foot. The box as previously considered was resolved using a non glue tab at the bottom which gives the box sufficient strength as well as being environmentally friendly.

• Experimenting with ordinary tab lock systems commonly used in boxes proved the card to fatigue after repetitive openings. Using tab locks eliminates another found issue; many people shred the box to open it as they are glued.

• To differ from the usual box locks a recessed tab access was added, this increases the angle of the locking tab’s fold which prevents the material from fabricating; this is because the locking is done more by friction than the tab itself, unless a person pulls the tab to release the packaging stays strong during transportation and stacking on the shelves. A simple dual-hole handles system proved to be a good solution rather than using an extra protruding bag handle. These holes are located where the bottles do not interfere when placed in a group of six. This allows the box to be easier carried both from the shelves to the trolley, to one’s car or outside of home.
Accessing the cans
• Access from both sides not only allows users to easily grab the can but also gives a fresh feel when opening it. Promoted as unearthly the opening is designed to have the effect of specially concealed energy source or battery charges rather than the usual six pack drink. This is similar to the sports cars with doors opening upwards; exciting teenagers and delivering a fresh feel overall.
Design conclusion
• Essentially the design is aimed to attract the target market through the aesthetics and meaning behind the packaging as a whole. The design is supported by both the form and structure of the packing and the complex psychedelic graphic embellishing. The style is kept homogenous and is purposed to portray a distinct brand “the new drink Xeno”. The design also considers the reusability of the box taking its strength and transportation outside of the market shelves and home storages. This enables this drink to be enjoyed in various occasions and locations.

Studio 2A Project 1

For this project i chose to use polypropylene sheet as my material.
Designing a product that adds value to a home or office environment somehow lead me to the decision of making a storage product as i thought many of these products out there are still very undesigned and purely functional.

I chose to design a polypropylene CD storage system; inspired by the traditional revovling filing systems i thought it would be interesting instead of having the usual tower rack for CDs.

The design is simply a series of pockets, each being able to expand as one wishes to store larger cases such as DVDs. This enables each pocket able to carry; Bare CDs, Thin CD cases and DVD cases. So that within a home say one has console gaming stations one could have a nice nesting area for all the games.

Each pocket is made of one stamped piece which includes the scores and tabs required for it to work. this makes the product easy to manufature as well as enabling consumers to be involved (assemble yourself). All scores are to be folded in the same direction to eliminate complexity for users and the tabs work as simple office folder tabs (the folding extendable system).

The only fasterner which hold the product together is a simply hindged ring. This gives the freedom for more pockets to be added, and in the case where there are too many pockets one wishes to use a larger hindge can be used.