Open Post #8: Convenient Packaging

As my journey to earning a Packaging Bachelor's Degree continues on, I've noticed a growth in my excitement and also interest in the field. Seeing products at retail stores, around campus, or at home, with helpful packaging features makes me very content. Noticing a package, thinking "how cool is this?", and having the ability to say, "now that right there is my major", gives me assurance that what I'm working towards is something that really affects our society for the better. These kinds of experiences are what inspired this week's open post - convenience packaging.

A feature on the package that makes the consumer's experience better or easier in any possible way is a form of convenient packaging. The most common packaging features are there to create better portability, re-usage, opening and closure systems, shelf-life, storage ability, and consumer use.

Consumer use is a convenience method that is significantly different from others. This is a feature on the package that was installed solely to make the actual experience for the consumer better. Meanwhile, with other conveniency methods such as opening and closure systems, the features are created to improve the consumer's pre-use and post-use experience. The consumer use conveniency method stands out to me because it is effecting strictly when the consumer is using the product. Not only is this affecting society for the better, but also looking out for the customer. 

example of convenient packaging

I spotted this plastic bottle in my pantry over the weekend and couldn't help but wonder the reason for an indentation near the right side of the bottle. I shortly realized that the space was created as a spot for the consumer to place their thumb when drinking from the bottle. The thumb feature gives the consumer a better, more comfortable grip on the package. Aside from the implication that the user may not have immaculate gripping skills while consuming this product, the conveniency feature is created mainly to increase the user's value of life. 

Convenient packaging is an example of how this field's proffesionals look out for their customers, just as they do society.