Universal packaging design - Case Study Example

Universal Packaging Design In business, universal packaging design is a framework in which product packaging in a way that captures a wide range of people and circumstances without any special features (Lidwell, William, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler, and Kimberly Elam, 26). For instance, a counter with a universal design will have manifold heights- a standard height for taller people and a shorter height for short people. Universals designs must follow certain principles that define it. They include. 1. Equitable use The design has to meet the needs of people with different abilities. It must be equally usable to all users: Identical whenever possible and offer equivalence in utility where it is not identical. It should not segregate or stigmatize any users Must avail specifications of privacy, safety, and security to the all users The design must be appealing to all users. 2. Flexible to users The design should accommodate different individual abilities and preferences. The user should be free to make a choice on the methods of use. Right and left-handed persons should also be accommodated The equipments should be able to facilitate accuracy and precision for the user The design should provide room for the users to adapt to any change that may occur 3. Simple and intuitive to use The design should be simple to understand. The experience of the user on its use does not matter. The user’s knowledge, language, skills, or current level of concentration should not matter in the ease to use design. The design should have the ability to eliminate unnecessary complexity It should accommodate different literacy levels and skills. The design should a sequential effect on items according to their level of importance The systems should provide effective feedback during and after the completion of the task 4. Perceptible information The design should communicate information to the user where necessary without special sensory abilities form the user. It uses pictorial, verbal and tactile modes for the redundant presentation of essential information. It should provide sufficient contrast between essential information and its surroundings Essential information should have maximum legibility The readers hold is able to describe different elements i.e. it should make easy for the user to give instructions and directions The design should compatible with a variety of designs or devices used by user with sensory limitations. 5. Tolerance of error The designs should minimize on hazards and adverse consequences of intended and unintended actions Arranges elements to minimize hazards and errors in a way the is understandable to all users. Categories such as, most used elements, hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded are applicable. Provides warnings of possible hazards and errors that can occur on the instrument or device It provided fail-safe features of the model to the user It should direct the user to avoid unconscious actions in tasks that require vigilance and attentiveness. 6. Low physical effort Users should not use a lot of energy when using the design. There should efficiency and comfort with the most minimum fatigue User should be able to maintain a neutral position of the body when using the design The user should use reasonable operating forces Repetitive actions should be minimal Sustained physical efforts should be minimal 7. Size and space approach of use The size and space approach of a design is the extent to which the use can reach, manipulate, and use the design regardless of their body size, posture or mobility. The design should allow the user to do all that without strain. It should be adjustable to allow users of all body sizes to use it. Important elements must be clearly seen by any sitting or standing user The users should be able to comfortably reach all of the components they need during operations It should accommodate any variations in hand and grip size Space for assistive or personal devices for users should be accommodated through sufficient space. OXO international Inc., a subsidiary of Helen and Troy Limited, was founded in 1990. It is based in New York The Company sells consumers products. It majors in beverage products such as bowls, strainers , and Colanders, cans, jars, and bottle openers, cutting boards, and cutlery, food storage products, fruit, and vegetable tools, grinders and shakers meat and sea foods tools, and even mitts and potholders. The organization also offers serving and entertaining products, such as bar and wine accessories, beverage and grilling products, lighting products, and pizza and cheese tools. Other merchandise is storage and organization products, which include, bath, closet, food storage, office, pantry, drawer, and cabinet, sink and countertop. Utility and automotive products; office products comprised of clips and tacks, stales and personal electronic organization products; cleaning and laundry products, which include sink ware, brooms and dusters, mops, sponges, and brushes. OXO sells its products online and stores in the North America. The Design Philosophy of OXO The Company operates on the philosophy of universal design. Its products cut across a wide range of consumers. Al people can use the Company’s products. To achieve the goal of having a universal reputation on its products, OXO has a plan that it reviews each year with changing need of consumers. Problems and inefficiencies of existing products are the business idea that has shaped the universal design concept. The production team ensures that products beat the existing standards in terms of performance and consumer comfort. Design and industry strategy Universal design is part of a products development strategy propels companies to sell their products on the global market scene. Companies majoring in consumer products collaborate with products development companies to meet this goal. OXO partnered with Smart to design quality kitchen products that could be used by anybody on earth. The partnership was launched under the Good grips brand. The brand went on to win awards in design and business. Harvard business school has used it as a case study. The principles of universal design are key to the success of OXO. This has grown into brands that are recognized across the world. For instance, the iconic vegetable peeler was a world brand. Another product, which is a world brand, is the black and white packaging systems. Universal packaging at Tropicana Another best case study of a company with universal design standards is the Tropicana family associated with the Canadian based PepsiCo. The Toronto Design firm, Shikatani Lacroix was awarded a contract to give new designs for the for five juice brands in the same Tropicana types. The brand was expected to be unique from the other brands but retain the known Tropicana-like features. The design had to attract all consumers across the Canadian market. The company identified attributes that unify all customers in the market. The approach is part of Shikatani Lacroix design philosophy. The philosophy is based on the Blink factor feature of customers. The blink factor feature of customers is the thought of consumers making quick decisions to buy a consumer product such as juice. To fulfill their philosophy, they designed a packaging style that quickly connects with customers at a glance. As part of the universal packaging strategy, the design has to meet the needs of customers, right at the shelves. Packaging features that unite all consumers prompt such quick choices. Consumers depend on quick visual attributes of a product before they choose a any product among the abundant number of brands available on the shelves. On universal packaging aspect unique of the Tropicana juice brands is the color and graphic designs on the packages. The colors help consumers to differentiate flavors. Some of the juice available from the Tropicana brand is orange cranberry, the raspberry cocktail, lemonade, grape etc. To make the design more appealing and more identifiable form the other Tropicana brands, Shikatani Lacroix used fruit canopy as an improvement on the color identity. They also brightened the colors with more conspicuous photography designs than the other juice brands. This made it easier for consumers to separate the colors easily. The white backdrop is the brightening element that makes the effervescent fruit imagery to pop out hence creating a brand new look on the cartons. To add some premium quality and feel to the packaging, wood texturing was placed under the fruit imagery graphics. Having a fruit canopy on top of the packaging the gives the customer lasting impression that can remind them next time they go shopping for the same brand. Universal designs and building growing brands and Business Products brands are associated with huge sales. If a company can make it to reach the widest spectrum of consumers, it will have competitive advantage even in its local market. The Good trips brand of OXO and smart went beyond their premium capacity. They diversified their products throughout the manufacturing and tooling processes. Here, they designed the SoftWorks line, for big box retailers. The result was a big market hit that revitalized the importance of Universal designs in production. Consumers around the world can easily recognize and memorize a consumable that has packaging designs with attractive color and photography. Tropicana juice brands use such attributes to capture universal interest of consumers on juice consumption. However, the packaging design has to be relevant to the consumable being offered on the market. Tropicana bottling design uses fruit canopies to represent the freshness of the juice inside the packet Works Cited Lidwell, William, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler, and Kimberly Elam. Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach Through Design. Beverly, Mass: Rockport Publishers, 2010. Internet resource. . Read More