Concept
Yoshimura Triangular Mesh Buckling
Yoshimura buckling is a triangular mesh buckling pattern found in thin-walled cylinders under compression along the axis of the cylinder, producing a corrugated shape resembling the Schwarz lantern. The reason this particular folding pattern intrigued me is because it converts a circular unified facade into a geometric pattern helping it collapse almost effortlessly. Using this benefit of collapsibility, that provides altering the bodies volume, made me incorporate it into a vitamin packaging where popped vitamin blister pack spaces are cut off creating micro waste.
Touch Points
- Collapsibility
- Micro Waste
- Recyclability
- Disposal Awareness
- Interactive
Research
Blister packaging is the most widely used pharmaceutical packaging process for pill based medication. Made using paper, plastic and aluminium. It is also widely used in other product packaging categories.
Factors Affecting Pharmaceutical Packaging
- Contamination
- Sunlight
- Storage
- Usability
- Disposal
- Recyclability
Applications
With its cost effective nature, blister packaging started gaining popularity in the 1960s and was adopted in various packaging segments such as toys & food.
Types of Blister Packaging
- Face-seal blister packaging
- Trapped blister packaging
- Clamshell packaging
- Tri-fold clamshell
- Skin packaging
Manufacturing
The main objective of blister packs being preserving and maintaining the medicine, it also is widely used because of its mass manufacturing abilities. Due to its cost-effective nature, recycling is not economically sustainable.
Factors
- Fused plastic
- Lidding material - plastic/ aluminium/ paper
- Biodegradability
- Sourcing for recycling
Sustainability
Plastics are widely used for a reason, they provide durability, resilience to factors such as heat, moisture and is inexpensive. In case of blister packs, it helps keep the medicines away from contamination for a very low cost.
End of Life
- Not built for recycling
- Generates micro plastics
- Disposal & awareness
- Sourcing for recycling
Conceptualisation & Ideation
Iteration focusing on storage & stack-ability of blister packs.
Iterations focusing on ease of use along with collapsibility and disposal.
Buckling
An ideation of the Yoshimura buckling pattern applied in this scenario adding to the products usability, storage and efficient disposal.
A viewing window to visually confirm the contained medication.
A QR code could educate users regarding proper disposal methods for the packaging.
The writing spaces can be used to track vitamin consumption. Prescriptions can be written directly onto the vitamin casing.
The package accommodates 15 tablets, same as the Becosules blister pack. Each level of the pack accommodates 3 tablets, which is one days worth of dose. Once each level is exhausted, the pack can be compressed reducing its volume for storage. Eventually, the pack will compress by 60%.
Mockups 1:1 [swipe]
