On a recent episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David is never able to use a new GPS system because, despite his best efforts, he can't get it out of the package. He buys a box cutter to solve the problem, only to find that he can't get it out the package either.
He's not the only one; packaging has become so infuriating that Amazon.com has introduced Frustration-Free Packaging to make it easier for the customer to "liberate products from their packages." Unfortunately, there are only 29 toys in the program so far, but hopefully they're just getting started.
The truth is, frustration isn't the only reason that we, as marketers and designers, should be making a conscious effort to streamline packaging - it's also more environmentally friendly. According to The Story of Stuff, each person in the United States makes 4 1/2 pounds of garbage a day - twice what we each made thirty years ago. The Story of Stuff goes on to explain (in a cool way) why our current system isn't sustainable given finite resources. So some might say we have a moral imperative to rethink packaging.
Even if the moral imperative doesn't motivate you, think about how much more time you'd have on Christmas day to play with your gifts, instead of struggling to release them.
| posted by lkryall on 10.15.09 at 18:05 |
| Amen to this new movement! |
