Ergonomics... why it is important in packaging design?

What is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics it’s about combining the science of the human body with

design to create products that look great, perform flawlessly, and fit

perfectly. It’s about fitting the users’ physical, cognitive, and emotional

needs. It may be defined as the application of scientific informations

concerning human beings to the problem of design. Ergonomics

require some kind of evidence that a satisfactory match between

product and user has been achieved.

The most important function of ergonomics in packaging design is

physical and psychological relationship between objects and the

people who use them. User has to interact with the equipment in

healthy, comfortable, and efficient manner.

Ergonomics is to make the usage of the given
product easier, more comfortable and clearer to understand.

“When simple things need pictures, labels, or
instructions, the design has failed.”
Donald A. Norman (2000,p.9)

I believe that Norman’s sentence is based on ergonomic regulations.

If the science of everyday life doesn’t communicate with the user as it

should, or directing him in wrong way I can assume the design wasn’t

ergonomically created.

I have to present the term of affordance as it refers to the perceived

and actual properties of the thing. Those fundamental properties

determine how the thing could possibly be used.

Each object has some affordances. They provide some clues to the

operation of things. For example knobs are for turning, balls are for

throwing or bouncing, glass is for seeing through and for breaking,

doors are for opening, closing and going through, etc. When the

affordances are taken advantage of, the user knows what to do just by

looking.

Affordance refers to what an object invites us to do.

However the design of the product or its packaging has to be clear that

invites the user whatever action is most sustainable and appropriate. If

you want people to carry out a specific action with a packaging, do not

rely on instruction, however clear and obvious they might be.

There are two main considerations in the design of a physical object,

its form or shape and the ergonomics of that form. The form is what

the object looks like and the story that this tells, while its ergonomics

consist of how it is designed in order to maximise user efficiency and

reduce strain.

To achieve the point above we need to familiarize with the subject of anthropometric. It is I suppose one of the most important branches of ergonomics. Anthropometric deals with body size, shape and strength. ‘Anthropo’ means ‘human’ and‘metrics’ means ‘measurements’. A general rule of ergonomics seeks to achieve the greatest possible level of comfort (or other satisfaction) for the greatest possible number of users. That’s why anthropometric is so important. To create a good design we have to know measurements of human body or just part of it. For example designing packaging for jewelry probably we need to know average measurements of the human hand.

I think for packaging ergonomics the most important part of humans 

body is a hand. Our hands interact with every packaging, we touch ,

carry, hold, open, close and grab it by our hands. Anthropometry in

case of packaging design concentrates mainly on hand measurements 

and capabilities. Through ergonomic design process the measurement 

should be taken for consideration as well as the hand movements and 

positions in particular actions.

Principles of Ergonomics in packaging design:

1. Reduce extensive force.  
Excessive force on your joints can create a potenti al for fati gue and
injury. In practical terms, the ergonomic design is to identi fy specific
instances of excessive force and think of/come across with idea/ ways
to make improvements.

 

2. Minimize fatigue and static load.

Holding the same position for a period of time is known as static
load. It creates fatigue and discomfort and can interfere with work.
Ergonomics deal with that to create packaging solutions witch would
be more comfortable to don’t force your muscles or joints.

 

3. Suitable size of the package.

The packaging has to suit your hand. In this case anthropometric will

have a significant role to adapt the packaging handle to the average

person or specific audience hand. But also size of the package has to

be suitable for the products. The package has to be designed to create

unity together with the product.

3a. Appropriate Weight of the packaging according to audience and the product.

The packaging shouldn’t be heavier than the product, but only in some

cases as for example beer crate. Because the product is heavy (24

beer bottles) the crate shouldn’t be heavier then it. It will be heavy

anyway so the packaging-crate has to be the lightest as it can (plastic,

cardboard).

 

3b. Proper Height and Width of the package suitable for product and audience.

The packaging should be appropriate for human size/audience size. If

it is something which is the size of the hand it should be designed to

hold it easy. It can not be very high or long unless it meets

requirements for easy to use.

 

4. Comfortable, stable, good structural and simple shape.

Shape has significant role as well. The shape give us the ability to

hold or carry the product stable. Here as well the designers should be

based on anthropometric and narrowly the measurement of humans

hand as most packaging we hold, open, carry, by our hands. The

product/packaging has to be easy to use-show easily its affordances

without any instructions.

 

5. Easy to read Color contrast.

It seems to be not really coherent with the science of ergonomics, but

actually color is also important. Ergonomics is about making the life

easier. It is the art of design which deals with all bad, uncomfortable,

difficult to use products. It is important to provide significant contrast

between type and its background.

 

6. Font easy to read.

The same thing is with the text on the packaging. It has to be easy to

read, simple otherwise it won’t be ergonomic as we will not be able

to read it.

My research is based mainly on books:

1. Norman A. D. (2000) The Desogn of Everyday Things, New York: Basic Book
2. Pheasant S. (1999) Bodyspace - Antropometry, Ergonomics and the Design of Work, London: Taylor&Francis
3. Pheasant S. (1987) Bodyspace - Ergonomics-standards and guidelines for designers, Suffolk: British Standards Institution