Inclusive Beverage Packaging
A series of co-design sessions to define design requirements for beverage containers that can be operated by anyone, regardless of physical ability.
The context
A major beverage company wanted to understand how to make packaging inclusive.
- What challenges do existing container designs (cans, bottles, multi-packs, etc.) pose for people with different levels of strength, dexterity, limb use, and so on?
- What hacks and adaptations do disabled people use to purchase, transport, and consume beverages?
- How might we create inclusive packaging design that serves the needs of everyone, including disabled consumers?
The Research
A series of small-group co-design sessions to identify design requirements.
I joined the research team in a later phase of the project, after an initial assessment of the problem space had been done. Earlier phases included:
- A survey of 250+ participants
- A diary study with 25 participants
I worked with the research team to plan and execute two full-day co-design sessions at the client's headquarters in a major American city. In these sessions, we asked participants with a variety of disabilities to describe and demonstrate their techniques and tools for interacting with beverage containers. We then engaged in collective brainstorming and design activities to identify parameters of an inclusive beverage container.
Research Participants
We partnered with a disabled advocacy organization to recruit participants for the co-design sessions. We wanted to identify participants who, for whatever reason, had trouble with beverage containers—holding them, carrying them, drinking from them, etc.
Participants were very diverse with respect to disability, as well as other aspects of personal identity. They included
- People with low strength and/or low dexterity
- People with limb difference (including limb loss)
- People who use different adaptive tools
- People who travel in wheelchairs
This range of participants ensured that a diverse range of needs and design requirements was represented in our co-design sessions. We wanted to create beverage containers that could be used by everyone, regardless of ability.
What we learned
Choosing and Buying
Product location is key for the shopping journey: an unreachable product forces a shopper to look for help in-store and can jeopardize an independent shopping journey.
Different beverage package designs support different carrying styles: for example, a flat, stable box works better for people who will be carrying the packaging on their lap, and a carton with a long, built-in handle works better for people who will carry the container with one hand.
Opening and Pouring
Packaging needs to strike a balance between flexibility and sturdiness: many people with low dexterity take advantage of the flexibility of containers - e.g., by making indentations in aluminum cans to form an easy-to-carry shape. But for some with low hand control, a container that is too flexible can be too easily crushed, spraying out liquid and potentially cutting the hand with sharp edges.
Container options with different surface dimensions and textures can help consumers get a strong grip on packaging while opening and pouring.
Packaging that will stay closed during shipping requires force to open: leveraging gravity can help consumers with low hand strength to apply the needed force. Twist-off tops are challenging because they require substantial hand strength and the ability to apply torque. Further, a significant portion of participants indicated that they frequently open beverages with their teeth—an action that is dangerous and harmful, but nonetheless is perceived as being the most efficient way to open a bottle or can.
Carrying and Consuming
Almost everyone in the research indicated at least some difficulty carrying beverages. People with low grip strength or small hands may have trouble getting enough purchase on smooth containers, particularly if they’re cold or moist with condensation. Participants with neuropathy (nerve damage that causes excessive sensitivity) indicated that it can be very painful to hold a cold beverage container for long.
The other challenge participants face when carrying a drink is keeping it from spilling. This requires steady grip and balance, which was at odds with participants’ mobility needs. Many people told us that they would pour a small portion of their drink into a cup with a high side in order to prevent it from sloshing out when they moved.
Enjoying life's moments
Many participants in the research pointed out that when opening, carrying, and consuming an alcoholic beverage was difficult, the hacks they used felt like ‘a job’ rather than a chance to relax and celebrate with others.
They also pointed out that branding that emphasizes celebrating with alcoholic beverages rarely portrays disabled people in social settings. They wanted to see bodies like theirs normalized in bars, pubs, and other social spaces, so that they would feel belonging in those spaces.