Weekly Progress Report 3 : Socially Responsible Packging

Peer Feedback - Rice Bag Filter Concept

I changed my direction of my socially responsible packaging project, from a rice bag that converts into a shopping bag (which addresses the social issue of plastic bags), to a rice bag that doubles up as a filter bag (for filtering water in aid situations, with the distribution of rice). This was as a result of the following feedback :

Feedback from other Tutor - Mar (From previous week)

"Rice bags are NOT “littered”. Littering is an issue of items consumed outside of the home, which are irresponsibly disposed of (candy wrappers, chewing gum, cigarette butts).

I don’t accept your argument that the rice bags present wildlife suffocation dangers; that is an issue with thin-film plastic grocery bags, not the thick-film plastic rice bags.

I would suggest redirect your social issue to distribution of rice during natural disasters, which is a social issue. The issues you have highlighted are only environmental issues, and I reiterate that this project is about socially responsible packaging."

Peer 1 - Sunprit Singh

Strong idea, in addressing deep global problems. Consider how the rice is packaged and if it will be okay to just enclose it in a filtering material. Research on materials used, and the level of filtering they do.

Peer 2 -  Hyunjin Kim

Food and water aid is a huge social issue in the world, and this product packaging may help contribute to the solution. The bag has to cheap, so it can be well distributed, unlike many current solutions which aren't distributed well because of the price.

Consider what will happen to the bag after its use as a water filter. Maybe it can be used as a normal bag later on?

Feedback from tutor - Sam

Changing the direction of the concept from a rice bag that turns into a shopping bag, to a rice bag that can be used as a water filter bag with the distribution of aid, is a much stronger option. Taking on global social issues especially in relation to the necessities of life, being food and water, will make my project much stronger and appealing. 

May not have to completely purify water, as other current solutions do, which include purifying water bottles. As these are a more expensive and less distributed option.

The rationale must be direct and precise. When writing about existing current solutions, it has to be done properly, instead of just copy and pasting an image. Talk about pros and cons.

Video Reflection 2 : An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth video : http://vimeo.com/16335777

The Earth is billions of years old, and relative to its life, it has suffered a dramatic downfall. This is all because of us humans, the dominant inhabitant of the planet, scouring for finite resources, burning them up, and destroying the planet in the meantime. Steep population growth has called for exceeding rates of industrialisation in the world, to accomodate for the needs of the many. However, how this is being done is killing the Earth we live on; and in turn killing the human race.

The video conveys how our lifestyles are depleting the Earth of its resources, and are emitting waste into our atmosphere. So essentially we are destroying the planet from the inside, as well as the outside. Therefore we ask, What happens when we go too far? What will the future be like? These are the compelling questions that the planet faces today, and the future generations will have to face.

So why doesn't the world change?  Money. Money and consumerism is what is unfortunately making the world turn in this age. Also change takes time, social behaviours and lifestyles can change overtime, if constantly encouraged. This can include, a more heavy use of public transport, using energy efficient products, and overall having a ecological perspective of life, all in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.

As of now, there is an ongoing push for more ecologically sustainable lifestyles, through new products coming into market. As industrial designers, it is our obligation to the world to continue pushing new products that encourage ecological sustainability. Overtime, current and old products that consume a lot of resources and electricty, will phase out eventually with the newer friendlier products replacing them. And from there the process continues, with even more ecologically advanced products and technologies replacing the older eco products.

This is something designers should aspire to, in creating products and ideas that benefit the world, and prolong the future of the planet.

Take home messages :
- There may be no future or future generations if we keep living the way we are.
- As designers, we must aspire to create ideas and products which are ecologically sustainable, and encourage a social change in the way we live.
- Change takes time, but individual efforts still make a difference sicne the world is full of individuals

Draft Rationale Pages

Weekly Progress Report 2 : Socially Responsible Packaging

Peer Feedback - Rice Bag Concept

Peer 1 - Joshua Hermawan

Solid concept that helps the prevention of the social issue of plastic bags. Likes the idea of converting rice bags that have a bad shape for groceries, into a reusable shopping friendly bag that can last forever.  Think of ideas in terms of the design on the bag for after rice use, like different colours and images, this is in contrast to the more traditional rice branding which will be featured on the other side of the convertible bag. Idea of having the bag turn inside out can reinforce the idea of a convertible bag, and can be attractive to consumers.

Peer 2 - Reza Sazesh

Likes the idea of having the rice bag being able to be turned inside out, really making the point clear of a convertible reusable bag. May need another feature(s) in order to make it more innovative and interesting. Otherwise idea is good, making it a better bag for rice (easier to open), and having it actually useful for later use.


Feedback from tutor - Sam

Good concept, in turning a rice bag into a good reusable shopping bag. However the design may not be innovative enough, and may not involve enough change from the current reusable shopping bag solutions. It was suggested to try think of some new ideas, in order to once again make the packaging more innovative.

In order to turn it inside out and for the zipper to be used on both sides, I considered a double sided zipper. However one thing that was brought up was that the handles on the bag had to work from both sides.
 
After week 2 of the project, I was advised to proceed with the rice bag convertible concept, by my tutor and fellow peers. This was as my other concepts which included the socially responsible cement bag, and the socially responsible vitamin C tablet jar.

This rice bag concept gets rid of the traditional rice bag shape, in order to favour re-usability as a shopping bag. This means adopting the shape current reusable shopping bags adopt, having them square at the bottom to ensure grocery items do not get squashed at the bottom of the bag.

Improvements made from Week 2 of the project :
- The idea of turning the bag inside out. This enables the bag to have a more aesthetically pleasing appearance on the other side of the bag, in which the consumer can select potential different colours and designs. Furthermore, this further emphasises the idea of a 'convertible rice bag', having it turn inside out.

Weekly Progress Report 1 : Socially Responsible Packaging

Current Concepts :

- Convertible rice bag
- Efficient cement bag
- Child safe vitamin C tablet packaging

Peer 1 - Richard Pang :
Cool bunch of ideas that address several social issues. Many people are doing medical packaging and many things have been done already, so maybe go with your other concepts, since child resistance in tablet packaging is common. The idea of the cement bag may be worthy in some cases, but the idea is still not very strong. The convertible rice bag into a shopping bag is a good idea, as it reduces the amount of plastic bags in the world.

Peer 2 - I-Min Lu :
Some very interesting ideas you have. All the concepts are quite simple, but do the job of addressing the social issues you have mentioned. The concept for the cement bag is probably the weakest though, even though it is an issue, it is not a very wide spread issue. I like the convertible rice bag the best. Since these bags are going to have to use for them after they have been used as rice bags, they migh as well be used as shopping bags. And by slightly modifying them like you have, it does a good job.

Tutor - Sam :
The cement bag concept is quite weak, and the social issue isn't that great.

Can children overdose on vitamin C tablets? Is there a need to make these more child resistant, or is it okay the way it is? However, this design does address the issue you have presented.

This idea of a convertible rice bag is the best concept you have. It is a good way to eliminate plastic bags in the environment, which may solve several social issues. However look into other ideas and a way to make the design more complicated.

Socially Responsible Packaging - Research & Concepts

Video Reflection 1 : Giving a package a new life & How it's made

The way materials are utilised in design is a majorly important factor in the way designers think of concepts and products. Designers consider all aspects of the materials; before, during, and after the lifetime of the product itself. One process and idea that is considered mainly the most is the process of recycling.

Recycling often shapes the products designers make in terms of materials used. But first the concept of recycling has to be understood by designers, in order to deliver ecologically sustainable products. Recycling as a whole to many consumers and normal people, is heavily thought to be based on paper and cardboard, in which can be recycled easily. However what many people still do not understand is that recycling covers a vast amount of materials including; glass, steel, aluminium, batteries, and plastic packaging.

However, since 'green' and ecological sustainable packaging is mainly seen as paper and cardboard, mainy designs have been made to attract consumers to their products. This is even done with packaging that have no benefit to the product itself, and may even hinder the quality and protection of the product.

As a designer, it is important to realise that some materials; even though they may be more ecological, it may not be healthy for the product that is being sold.

Through recycling, a package can be given new life, as explored in the video. This is an exciting prospect, in creating better systems in which packaging is recycled and given new life over and over again, until the recycling process is finished with it. If more products and companies can adopt to a large scale system in which the materials will be recycled and used as new packaging, this would save on materials, be kinder to the earth, reduce production costs and encourage reuse of materials.

An interesting process of the making of corrugated cardboard is an excellent method in which soft paper can be sourced from nearly everywhere. This method is perfect for paper which is usually made soft through the process of being thrown out and sent to other places.

As an aspiring designer, recycling and materials used in order to achieve this, is of great importance to the development of ecologically sustainable packaging and products. As designers we also have a moral obligation to help the world and the environment, and as new designers are becoming more aware of the earth and the environment, the future will be a more sustainable one.