Packaging design for all Empathy as a Tool for Accessible packaging

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Volume Title

School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Bachelor's thesis

Date

2024

Department

Major/Subject

Major of Design

Mcode

Degree programme

Bachelor's Programme in Design

Language

en

Pages

48+9

Series

Abstract

Due to the increase in the aging population, there has been a rise in disabilities affecting motor skills. This has amplified the need for accessible packaging. Packaging design necessitates a deep understanding of one's users and their specific needs. With the growing number of users with disabilities, a more empathetic approach is essential. This thesis examines the integration of empathetic design within the packaging field, particularly in enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. This thesis aims to decode how packaging designers conceptualize and implement empathetic design principles and their varying strategies to ensure that packaging is accessible to all users. The study is done through a semistructured interviews with professionals from both research-driven and commercial backgrounds to determine the key challenges and solutions to implementing empathic design methods. The study reveals a discrepancy between the broad recognition of empathetic design's value in theory and its inconsistent application in practice. While research-oriented designers were found to integrate empathetic design more holistically, commercial designers often limited its use to areas with clear market incentives. The study identifies a spectrum of strategies, including inclusive research, iterative prototyping, user testing, regulatory compliance, and advocacy, to infuse empathy into packaging design effectively. The research underscores a gap in the industry: the necessity for structured methodologies to embed empathetic design in commercial settings. The thesis advocates for the development of tools that facilitate the inclusion of empathy in design processes, suggesting that empathetic design's ultimate goal is to inspire industry-wide adoption, thereby fostering inclusive packaging that caters to the needs of all consumers, particularly those with disabilities.

Description

Supervisor

Joseph, Anthony

Thesis advisor

Sanchez, Camilio

Keywords

accessibility, disabilities, empathetic design, industry practices, packaging, design for all

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