With Japan’s ageing population, and the packaging industry’s commitment to designing with the needs of the consumer in mind, accessibility is a focus in much of the design coming to market and on show at Tokyo Pack 2014.
In the Japan Star Awards, this year’s winner of the President of The Accessible Design Foundation of Japan Award, is the ‘Primavista Dea Compact Case (Sponge Up)’, by Kao Corporation for Yoshida Cosmeworks Co., Ltd.
The entry rationale reads as follows:
“This is a compact case to be comfortably used by all people including persons with weak fingertip motion and low vision due to ageing.
“When you open the compact, the base will raise up a sponge to apply foundation with. The magnifying mirror reflects every facial part larger and in detail.
“Plastic sheet over the face powder is attached to the case on one side so as to reduce the trouble of putting it many times after use and of being lost easily.
So, the design takes into account the need to be able to easily open the compact, to see what you’re doing when you’re applying the make-up, and to retain the plastic sheet that typically slips off the top and could be lost to a vision impaired user.
The Japan Star Awards are all on display at Tokyo Pack. Apart from the 13 top awards, of which the Compact Case is one, the awards include a Good Packaging section. In the category for Accessible Design, four designs were commended as ‘good packaging’.
1. Squeeze & Turn Bottle by Tokan Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Entry Rationale; “Universal Design concept is incorporated into this package, making itself highly functional and usable. The package consists of a HINEL cap with a small-diameter nozzle and an easy-to-squeeze bottle that can go through the hot-filling process. Discharging quantity is easily controllable. The structure enables clear liquid discharge and prevents unfavorable dripping.”
2. BATHTOLOGY Foam Body Care Wash by LION CORPORATION
Entry Rationale: “We have developed a foam dispensing pump that creates fine foam in a large amount and washes [your hands] gently. In order to create creamy foam, an improvement was made in the pump so that the liquid content and air can be mixed effectively. Pump operation has also been improved.”
3. Easy-to- open Clear Case by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Entry Rationale: “This package is pre-perforated, which users can pull to open it. Users don’t have to put their finger between the flaps for opening any more.”
4. Refill Package for BATHCLIN (Bathclin Corporation) by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
Entry Rationale: “The gusseted pouch is easy to open and creates the spout for dispensing the content. The spout perfectly fits into the main bottle, preventing powder from scattering. By adopting the refill package, package weight has been reduced. This is both environmentally and user friendly.”
