Sustainable Packaging design
Overview:
This project focused on designing sustainable packaging for the beauty and cosmetics industry using PaperFoam, a biodegradable and recyclable material. The goal was to replace traditional packaging with a more eco-friendly solution, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable practices in the industry.
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Client & Stakeholders
The client, PaperFoam, specializes in eco-friendly packaging materials and sought to expand their portfolio with innovative, market-ready designs.
My role
As a UX designer, I was deeply involved throughout the process, applying user-centered principles while also taking on technical tasks like 3D modeling and concept visualization. The result was a market-ready heart-shaped packaging design, demonstrating my ability to adapt and innovate in diverse design scenarios.
Project Vision
Our goal was to transform packaging in the beauty industry by replacing traditional materials with sustainable alternatives. The packaging concept had to be designed to convey care and luxury, while also being practical for mass production and versatile across product categories. We were aiming for packaging that balances environmental responsibility with great user experience.
Research & Analysis
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Team conducted user and stakeholder research, including consumer needs analysis, industry benchmarking, and competitor evaluation.
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Identified key pain points, such as the underutilization of sustainable materials and the need for visually appealing, functional designs.
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Created detailed personas for stakeholders, including consumers, retailers, and recycling entities, to inform the design approach.
Process
Ideation & Conceptualization
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Led brainstorming sessions and contributed ideas evaluated through dot-voting techniques.
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After ideation sessions we converged to main 3 product types that we would like to work with and look for brands that are open to introduce more sustainable practices for thier products.
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Then we modeled main ideas into 3D representations, facilitating tangible feedback and refinement.
1. Beauty blender packaging
2. Heart packaging - universal
3. Light therapy mask packaging
4. Menstrual cup packaging
After presenting concepts to the client prefered option was revealed. Heart packaging stood out as the most univeral one, simplistic and easly adaptable. Client sugested using this design for seasonal products like Christmas, Mother's day, Valentine's day etc. Our design team decided to focus on various inserts and closing mechanism for iteration phase and testing.
Feedback
Final Design
Design Highlights:
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Eco-friendly Material: The packaging is made entirely of biodegradable PaperFoam, reinforcing sustainability.
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Functional Design: Durable and versatile with ergonomic dual 90° hinges for stability and seamless opening, pin-and-hole closure mechanism for secure and ergonomic usability, nestability and mold efficiency for streamlined production and transport.
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User Experience: A heart-shaped, gift-ready package that enhances user interaction and brand storytelling.
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Adaptability: Customizable inserts accommodate a variety of product types, from cosmetics to seasonal gifts.
Reflection
Challenges: Learning new skills like 3D modeling and navigating production constraints.
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Achievements: Developing a market-ready product that blends sustainability with functionality.
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Skills Applied: UX design, 3D modeling, research, stakeholder collaboration, and iterative design thinking.
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This project highlights my ability to bring user-centered thinking to diverse design challenges while showcasing my proficiency in technical tools and cross-functional collaboration. It stands as an example of my commitment to creating meaningful and impactful solutions, even beyond the digital realm.