Presenter: Cara Murray
Faculty Mentor: Jessica Swanson
Presentation Type: Poster 29
Primary Research Area: Design
Major: Product Design, Clark Honors College
Packaging design is the discipline of creating the container, graphics and visible exterior of a product. While extensive time, energy, and billions of dollars are devoted to this field each year, virtually all packaging ends up in the trash. While the field of packaging design has traditionally maintained a “throwaway” mindset, the past decades have introduced a more sustainable trend. Given the extreme waste associated with packaging it is important to consider how it can be made more environmentally friendly.
Beyond the fundamental functions of product protection, transport, and identification, I examine the greater purpose of packaging design: who does it serve, what purpose does it serve, and who/what does it impact? Using these questions as a initial framework, this research explores the related materials, processes and applications, as well as the cultural relevance, of sustainable packaging design.
After investigating the past, present and future trends related to sustainable packaging, my research then touches on some more theoretical examinations of how packaging design can be used to encourage sustainable consumer habits. I address here how packaging can remain attractive, functional, and cost-effective, but also incorporate increased environmental consciousness.
Research methods include examination of primary and secondary sources from expert designers in the packaging design field, as well as personal exploration of existing packaging, user interviews, and survey based data collection. Ultimately, my research aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the current field of sustainable packaging, identify cultural relevance of these products, and raise theoretical questions regarding the ethics of our existing consumption habits and waste cycles.