catherine-bundle

[catherine-bundle]

Raitionale

To summarise this project, surprisingly I really thought about being sustainable and how consumers would interact with my product to almost doubting myself entirely. Talking with peers outside of design regarding this project to get their opinions and feedback, really helped especially when I was conflicted on every idea to try refine the packaging, it left me stuck.

The final outcome feels completed to me but also not completed because given the circumstance of being constrained to my home, only left me so much to test. Firstly no printer so I could test the size of my product so that was a big estimate and hoped that the feedback from tutors would tell me if the type or images were too small or too big. I slowly refined my ideas that I got to a point where I was stuck on the group work of how we determined how much string and the size of my package even though those were already decided factors. I over thought too many things and had wished I could have the actually string product in my hands to see the size and retract those issues. It was a lot estimating and imaginary visualisation.

But in the end I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome. It started rough in the individual phase but slowly refined it and I'm happy where it has ended up.

[catherine-bundle]

Final mockup

It was surprisingly tricky to try find a mailer box that is square... These were the closest ones I could download, still looking rectangular but it isn't too long in length.

I like how it appears on the mockups and you can visually see how the image flows onto another face.

[catherine-bundle]

Materials

To finalise and clarify, this is the thickness of paper I was aiming for which is mainly used for food packaging. Its sturdy and durable, thicker than paper of course but not thick to the point it's cardboard. It's eco-friendly and biodegradable which is a plus and reflects the brand values.

I didn't choose cardboard because of the thickness and cause my box is 8cm, it's pretty small and fold cardboard is tricky cause you can't have crisp edges. Cardboard only really works of larger scales which is why I chose this thick card

[catherine-bundle]

Visual instructions

I did try to draw out the instructions to visually follow the writing. But because of the amount of detail in these steps and the amount of text included is limited due to the space being used. I could spread it across multiple panels but I had preferred keeping it short, sweet and compact.

It was hard to show how to tie the knots with only one image to fit the one step. So in the end I scrapped this idea even though it would've been the best to compliment the instructions and visually communicate the knots and final outcome. But with the way I phrased the writing, I don't think it should be too hard to follow. I would have liked to test this out to my peers with the actual string on hand. This way I would know whether my instruction writing is clear.

[catherine-bundle]

I also referenced another video I found on Youtube because this tutorial was much faster and simpler as it's only 5 minutes long. It was a really easy tutorial to follow but the instructions weren't very descriptive because it's a video so people would be able to see what to do, whereas people who buy bundle would only have words to follow. I will mainly use this tutorial for how many steps needed but will modify the writing.

[catherine-bundle]

Instruction reference

I referenced the instructions from the Bunnings website. They 11 steps and the amount of text included on the site was fairly long so I tried to minimise the number of words and keep it short but straightforward that it's easy to follow.

[catherine-bundle]

Text inside the box

These are the instructions on how to make a simple macrame plant hanger. I tried to simplify and reduce the number of steps so not only for it to fit only on two panels of the box but keeps it concise and easy to follow - not complicated. I kept the layout simple as the rest of the package is pretty busy with the illustrations scattered around.

Added a way for consumers to contact us if there were any issues with the product.

[catherine-bundle]

Some information up close on the outside of the box.

On the right of the box, I added a disclaimer that there are instructions printed on the inside and gave directions for consumers to the unfold the box to reveal it. And dimension details included.

On the back of the box there is a brief description on the macrame string. Also included the barcode which is 100% needed, and the eco-friendly symbols so people know that the packaging is recyclable and biodegradable.

[catherine-bundle]

Final

After all that considering and overthinking about the product values I stuck with the mailer box. It was difficult to transfer the design from the basic box option because I was still using squares.

The mailer box reflected my ideas of being sustainable because it's one sheet of paper and then folded to create the box to hold the bundle of string without needing glue. Also there is much more space for me to work with and add more illustrations that would flow onto multiple faces so when you open the box and lay it flat, it reveals how each face links.

[catherine-bundle]

Macrame string research

Here are some images on how macrame string is usually bundled together. I was looking at these to imagine the size and thickness of the string without actually having it on hand.

I like how these examples don't just show a very big ball of string, there are small bundles and rolls. I wouldn't go for the tube rolls cause they wouldn't be compact for my square box so i'll be sticking to a ball form.

[catherine-bundle]

Direction

From being able to discuss this with my peers and get their opinions, it really did help in my decision making and provided me with a direction. Otherwise I would've been stuck contemplating and overthinking my ideas and taken a really long time to decide.

Not only did they just say which packaging they liked they helped justify their choice, debated with me about sustainability, functionality and gave me ideas to possibly take into consideration.

[catherine-bundle]

Not relating to the packaging or string but the person I was talking to linked me to this site that had biodegradable sachets for vitamins. So nothing is being wasted or thrown away. I really like the concept.

[catherine-bundle]

Overall all the people I had asked regarding the type of packaging, everyone was more fond of the mailer box because of the functionality and it being more sustainable compared to the the basic box option.

Another person suggested having biodegradable people for the packaging. I have already considered this by having recyclable thick card which is also biodegradable. The one they are suggesting would be flimsy to hold the form of the package but it could work well if I had extra paper included. As they suggested, if that was the case the paper material would then be broken down and reused into the plants. I really liked that idea and goes back to being minimal and it really does reduce waste as it's composting to the hanging plant.

[catherine-bundle]

Another person also said the mailer box is the better option. To reflect on whether consumers would be bothered to unfold then fold the box again. A good point they mentioned was that it's more a one use product due to the limited length of string to make one hanger. And it's more likely when you start a project that is simple and easy then there's no need to reuse the packaging unless consumers would think to use the box for personal purposes.

They mentioned what if people don't check the inside of the box and just throw it away. There are types of people that do that and would complain without following instructions. This was a good point I didn't think about. But I guess having the instructions printed on the inside of the lid should be visible enough and not missed.

This idea I will add to my packaging, having a disclaimer on the outside. Because people tend to look and read around the outside of the box then dive into opening it so they shouldn't miss the instructions

[catherine-bundle]

Responses from two people. The three of us shared a conversation regarding the 2 packaging options mentioned earlier.

From this they were more interested in the mailer box because of it's function, revealing the instructions makes the user engage with the product.

Another conflict in my head was the amount of excess paper and waste these packages could product. I was overthinking it because they are both made from paper and that is eco-friendly and sustainable already. They made a good point how the first option is less paper but added extra paper for instructions would be the same as having more flaps in the mailer box. So one wouldn't produce more waste.

[catherine-bundle]

Struggle part 2

I started overthinking the size of the square packaging because I couldn't visualise how much macrame string and how big it'll be as a ball which then would affect the size of the packaging...

I then referred to a rubiks cube because well it's square and I can see how the size fits in my hand. The normal rubiks cube is 5.5cm x 5.5cm and fits snug in my hand. But even with this reference it was hard to determine how big 180cm x 4mm (thick) of string is and whether it will fit in a 5.5cm x 5.5cm box?

I initially had my box designed to be 8cm x 8cm but I thought this might be too big and there would just be excess wasted space... again hard to justify because I don't have a real reference.

[catherine-bundle]

Rough net of the mailer box that I followed from online. Wasn't too serious on the measurements here, I just wanted to see how it's put together because I couldn't find a box like this at home.

Also I imagined having the instructions printed on the lid of the box. Not sure how much text there will be so I will have to test it. But I'm liking how it is turning out on this packaging.

The first test is more rectangular so I tried making a more square mailer box. The edges and flaps are alot bigger compared to the rectangular box because every side is the same. But it still works the same I'd just need to sort the dimensions.