CONTEXT
Shampoo packaging, a plastic form that hasn't changed in decades.
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Plastic shampoo bottles dominate the haircare industry. More than 552 million shampoo bottles end up in landfills each year, and their water weight increases carbon emissions during shipping. Now more than ever, the world needs design solutions that prioritize the environment, without greenwashing. This project was a collaboration with industrial designer James Wolf and graphic designer Sash Sriganesh. My role focused on branding and packaging design.
OBJECTIVE
To create an eco-friendly, sustainable package for a new waterless haircare product and brand.
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By exploring different sustainable materials, the packaging will place a strong emphasis on being environmentally friendly. Overall, the product seeks to reinvent and revolutionize the shampoo form and package for all.
TARGET MARKET
Our brand focuses on 20-30 year olds interested in reducing their environmental impact. We also want it to be inclusive and non-gender-specific.
PRODUCT DIRECTION
Our product takes the form of dissolving pellets. They are activated with water and help with portion control of hair products.
BRANDING DIRECTION
We chose a space motif to convey the sustainable future our haircare embodies.
BRANDING
This is ARA, a waterless hair product made for all hair types. Bold and playful, it is a product for a sustainable future.
PRODUCT
The product comes as 1.2 x 1.2" dissolving tablets. There are two colors and shapes to differentiate shampoo and conditioner.
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It is designed to fit easily in your palm easily. You grab as many as you need before hopping in the shower. The tablet form leads to better portion control to avoid using too much of the product. The scents are all gender-neutral and draw from nature.
PACKAGING
The packaging takes the form of sturdy, paper pouches with Sugarflex™ laminate panels. The colors differentiate hair type and product type.
ENDCAP
The endcap uses a unique, attention-grabbing shape. There is also a refill station to reduce packaging waste.
TAKEAWAYS
We need to be mindful of the entire life of a design including production to disposal.
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The more I design and immersed myself in my Environmental Studies minor, it has become more and more apparent that the design industry needs change. We need to become more conscious of every aspect of a product's life from beginning to end. We have a social and environmental responsibility to the materials and energy that go into our work as well as the waste we create.
