REVIEW 1: How it’s made: Packaging and Giving packaging a new life

These short clips gave me an insight in the production of recycling materials and how most commercial products being produced with their packagings and containers are made out of materials that are recyclable.

Both How it’s made: Packaging and Giving packaging a new life videos produced factual information on common materials used in industry and how simple it is to consider these materials and their benefits to reduce the damage to our world. Having reference to materials of cardboard, tubing, tetrapak, aluminium, glass, plastic and tin are examples of materials that are recycled and indicate the significant different in energy and producing time saved in comparison to harvesting from raw materials.

Some interesting facts that were mentioned through the two videos were:

- Recycling: Trash is literally treasure, as each garbage truck delivers at least $100 worth of material and when the materials are separated and compressed its worth$200 for paper and 10 times more for the alumina. However organic substances can’t be recycled, so into landfill it goes, however, when they decompose methane gases are released that are harvested for factories.

- Cardboard Boxes: The cardboard box is made of recycled paper. The production of cardboard boxes involves minimal labour. It is intriguing as to how a machine can stack, fold, trimming, glue at a fast speed with quality control at hand. The scrap material is also recycled.

- Paper: Large percentage of paper produced is made up of 60% recycled. Cardboard, boxes and newspaper are entirely made from recycled paper and products such as tissues and toilet paper have 60% to 70% recycled paper within them.

- Packaging Tubes: They are formed using alumina which is affordable and malleable. Initially, the packaging comes in a form of slugs which are lubricated, passed into a die undergoing impact extrusion to form the tube. It was amazing how an industrial machine can do intricate details to the tip with no damage.

- Tetrapak: These products are bonded together (celsiose, polyethylene, aluminium) to create high graded paper fibres. Paper fragments are removed from the product and used in the production of premium recycled paper. Similarly with the aluminium and polypropylene it’s used in the production of cement. What is clever is that tetrapaks are recyclable, but it itself is constructed from recyclable materials.

- Aluminium: Aluminium never deteriorates through reprocess. It has a significant energy saving component only uses 1/20 of the energy in the production of new goods and any scrap of material is recycled so up to 87% aluminium is recycled thus benefiting the environment.

- Glass: It can be recycled endlessly as it made out of natural materials, whilst using the least amount of energy to recycle. In order to recycle glass it is sorted by colour due to the difficulties in recycling clear glass with coloured glass (over 10%), thus the glass undergoes a secondary sorting.

- Tin Plate: Tin makes up 40% of the steel slabs manufactured and 15000 steel slabs are solely made out of tin to produce a vast amount of tin cans. Tin cans can be recycled numerous times with no loss of its quality feature.

- Plastic: Half a million tonnes of plastic is recycled a year which is 2/3 of the quantity produced. In order to recycle, plastics are sorted heterogeneously or recycled as mixed plastics e.g. Window frames, profiles for window edges, pallets. These two processes are extensive with recycling plastic losing some of its physical properties. Feed Stock Recycling is using the chemical properties of the plastic to produce methanol gas which in turn is used in factories.

- BENEFIT: The advancement of technology has a great impact on the assortment of materials whereby an inferred light is able to detect and remove the not appropriate materials from process.

Thus it is evident that Industrial Designers having this knowledge of recycling allows for them to re think the way they approach design in terms of material choice, process and the sustainability of their product. There are added benefits to recycling especially how some materials don’t lose their properties through numerous reprocesses and that a lot of energy is saved through recycling.

The basic messages that came from viewing these series of clips were:

(a) Recycling the most material has its benefits in producing more products, whilst minimising the effect to the environment. Only some materials can retain their natural properties, thus operate effectively.

(b) Recycled material reproduce similar products, such as paper=paper, glass = glass etc, or go through a process in producing methanol or a replacement material.

(c) Trash is underestimated, whereby a lot of money is produced by collecting and sorting trash. The collection of alumina increases the price and value of material by 10 times.

If you are interested in watching these videos go to:

www.howitismade.net

http://www.youtube.com/user/dsdgpanl?ob=0&feature=results_main

Australian Design Awards - Comments and Improvements

Sport & Leisure: Knog Tools

     

Designer

Catalyst Design Group

Client/Manufacturer
Knog Pty Ltd

Introduction:

The Knog tools are compact and connectable tools that can be used for various jobs. They are multifunctional in terms of the tools imbedded with neo-magnets for stacking and connecting ranges of tool heads to handles, therefore being interchangeable. They range from a 7, 12, 20 function tool, an adjustable shifter and pliers with the range of covers from hex keys to a 15mm wrench. The main structures of the tools are made out of anodized aluminium with harden steel still being compactable. It can also be used for opening a bottle.

Analysis:

PROS:

• Pocket-size.
• Neo-magnets for stacking multiple tools.
• Opens your beer.
• extremely compact.
• easily carried outside environments.
• hardened steel.
• magnetic.
• all tools are modular and interchangeable.
• Tough high quality cold-forged tool.
• Nickel plated steel chassis for robust construction.
• the range covers everything from hex keys to a 15mm wrench.
• anodized aluminium top plate.
• rubber logo insert.
• more fashion savvy individuals.
• UNIQUE.
• a range of anodized finishes to suit your style.
• Clever ‘transformer-like’ unfolding design.
• playful human interaction component.
• rust proof, as aluminium.
• Only tools required can be taken with you, therefore less weight to carry.

CONS:

• The magnets might wear off over time and therefore the sturdiness of the tools isn’t up to their high standard and maximum force use.
• Might collapse or fall apart from the magnetic connections when being used on tough jobs.
• Can be easily lost or misplaced in places or tool box, as smaller and a compactable item.
• Handles are tough on human form, when used with a lot of force.
• Only can be used for smaller jobs.
• Large enough to satisfy ergonomic form.

IDEAS A:

These ideas addresses the issues of strin on ones hand when force is applied on tool, projecting pain into the hands of the user as the edges of the metal are hard against the edges of the handles.

Examples: Tools Handles


Sketches of Ideas A:

IDEAS B:
These ideas addresses the issues of the magnets in the design of the tools, as magnets strength wears off over time as well as it might not be as tough for jobs that require large force placed on the tool.
Examples: Existing fasteners

Sketches of IDEAS B:

IDEAS C:

These ideas address the issues of strain placed on hands when using the tool. These ideas require minium change to existing idea, just change in shape to minimise pain on hand.

Sketches of IDEAS C:

Project Two: Southern Cross Package Design Awards - Hero Shot

Most tinplate packaging came in the basic 3D cylindrical forms. However the design was focused in exploring the limitations of tinplate, by still having a 3d form, by adding curves, embossing, engraving and funnel forms. Firstly steps were taken to initiate an understanding of tinplate, meaning it is easy to melt/mould/recycle, soft, highly corrosion and fatigue –resistant and non-toxic. Knowing that tinplate is a combination of steel and tin, it acquires these properties in order to use safely and further explore different shapes of packaging.

So my final packaging would be made out of tinplate and acrylic material. For the purpose of the mock up, icreated my packaging out of wood.

Project Two: Southern Cross Package Design Awards - Ergonomics of Packageing

Ergonomics:


With the packaging, the edges of the tinplate have been curved. The most important curve of the design is the base curve were the radius of the curve fixes ergonomically well within ones hand. In addition to this there is a groove 16o indent in for the window, where the target market can place their thumb in that section of the package as a grip, so it will not slip out of their hand.

Project Two: Southern Cross Package Design Awards - Context of Use

My packaging can be used as a gift or for personal desire, when boought from retailer.

Project Two: Southern Cross Package Design Awards - Packaging On Shelf

The packaging is targeted to retailers, of higher selling goods meaning, such stores as boutiques for nuts, David Jones or Myers etc. So the image of the packaging reflects the value and quality of products sold in these shops and therefore the product suits the store, with a bold statement from shelf appeal.


The packaging will sit on the shelf firmly next to each other, but being less in width and more in height, the containers are able to stack horizontally closely together, meaning there can be more stocked on one shelf. However considering the store the items are placed, these premium products aren’t designed to stack one on top of each other, as it isn’t a wholesale industry, such as Coles, Woolworth or Aldie.

Project Two: Southern Cross Package Design Awards - Premium Packaging

Aesthetics:


Through exploring existing products of both nut packaging and premium designs, it had enabled the comparison and understanding of the differences in packaging. It had drawn a path of where the product is situated, the MIDDLE.