State of the art of user packaging interaction (UPI)

Abstract

User packaging interaction (UPI) has evolved in packaging research because of its importance to users, manufacturers, and designers. A great deal of work addressing problems and suggesting potential improvements has been directed toward UPI. However, this work is not easily accessible to researchers as it lacks a cohesive structure. This paper serves as a platform for UPI researchers by presenting previous work UPI in an organized structure based on stages of interaction. Over 100 articles were reviewed to identify the scope of research in this area and then categorized according to stages of interaction. During the review of more articles, these stages of interaction were modified to ensure that they reflected all the reviewed articles. The review process resulted in the enumeration of the following stages: at point of purchase, checking out, handling, opening, and disposal. The related articles in each category are presented and discussed, and potential future work is presented. The articles were further categorized according to the age and gender of users under test, and packaging and product types considered. The review process has revealed different issues in the current research structure of UPI including the comprehensibility of the conducted research and the distribution of the reviewed articles. On the basis of this review, a model is proposed for improving the UPI by quantitatively evaluating the package design and affordances provided at each interaction stage.

Smart Interactive Packaging as a Cyber-Physical Agent in the Interaction Design Theory: A Novel User Interface

“…Generally, product packaging can be perceived as: "a socio-scientific discipline which operates in society to ensure the delivery of goods to the ultimate consumer" [5]. It is also defined as a combination of product, package, and distribution which is intended to provide protection, convenience, containment, and communication functions [4] [10]. However, the importance of the packaging role and the improvement of its functionalities have increased over the years due to changes in market globalization, demographics, lifestyles and consumer preferences [11].…”

“…Packaging, also referred as 'communication surface', 'an extended user interface', 'communication medium', 'contact point', or 'silent salesman' encounters consumers daily through various visual and tactile interplay [3]. The communication between the user and packaging occurs in every step of the supply chain, including producer, distributor, retailer and end consumer [4]. The current research of human-packaging interaction [5] [6], also called as user-packaging interaction [4] or consumer-packaging interaction [3], works on either human factors and ergonomics related to the handling and usability of packaging and utilization of the packed product [6], or marketing and branding concerns associated with the visual appearance of the packaging [4] in terms of physical packaging attributes as color, shape, material or typography.…”

“…The communication between the user and packaging occurs in every step of the supply chain, including producer, distributor, retailer and end consumer [4]. The current research of human-packaging interaction [5] [6], also called as user-packaging interaction [4] or consumer-packaging interaction [3], works on either human factors and ergonomics related to the handling and usability of packaging and utilization of the packed product [6], or marketing and branding concerns associated with the visual appearance of the packaging [4] in terms of physical packaging attributes as color, shape, material or typography. However, the emerging infrastructure of cyber-physical systems due to advanced wireless communication devices and IoT opens a new digital dimension for interaction and user experience [7] and goes beyond the pragmatic aspects of HPI.…”

Mapping the Organisational Landscape of the UK FMCG Industry: A Review of Packaging Design and Development Professionals

“…At current, both industry and academia does not appear to consider PD&D as a holistic professional activity causing more isolated research and practice (Timney & Chamberlain, 2017). Azzi et al (2012), Mumani & Stone (2018) and Johnson et al (2019a) provide more rigorous and contextual understandings of the factors influencing PD&D; for example wider design considerations, organisational influences, logistics and supply chain impact and sustainability credentials through cohesive efforts of existing literature analysis. Specifically, design management within the FMCG industry remains under researched and PD&D has been described within a UK context as dysfunctional (Simms & Trott, 2014b).…”

Technological Capabilities of Printed Electronics: Features, Elements and Potentials for Smart Interactive Packaging

“…However, the importance of the packaging has gradually increased due to improved packaging functionalities. Since packaging has evolved from its primary role of containing products to actively merchandising and communicating with the surrounding environment of the package, the complexity of packaging's role has grown [3]. The development of enabling technologies has influenced the enhancement of the main packaging functions [4].…”