A leading brand in facial tissues, ‘Puffs’ is a staple in homes across the United States and Canada. The success of the products has been based on helping people fulfill their needs for comfort, softness and cleanliness with high-quality and gentle products, because, ‘a nose in need deserves Puffs indeed’.
One product within the ‘Puffs’ product line, which in my opinion, could be in need of a re-design, to provide easier accessibility and convenience for the user, is ‘Puffs To-Go Travel Pack’.
Its current design features include a small plastic film, which has been folded and sealed around a small stack of folded tissues. This sized package is ideal for keeping in purses, pockets, automobile glove compartments etc. where the larger tissue cartons would be problematic or impossible to keep. In use, the user grasps the end of the tab and pulls in the direction of the arrow to break the perforations and pull back the opening flap, thereby exposing the tissues. Once the perforations are broken, a re-sealable tape attached to the edge of the flap will secure the package.
There are a few deficiencies in this product that could be addressed for better performance and ease for user. Due to the nature of the pocket pack being smaller and unable to function as a regular tissue box, it can be difficult to consistently withdraw only a single tissue. This occurs because it’s challenging to distinguish one folded tissue from the others since the edges of all the tissues within the package are exposed as a group, consequently the user often grasps more than one tissue.
After a while, as tissues are being withdrawn, the seal is un-stuck and stuck again and will eventually lose its adhesive purpose. Therefore, the packaging will not be secure and unable to provide protection against substances that would soil the tissues e.g. dirt, water, sand and render them useless.
The action of opening a tissue once pulled from the package is a tad awkward, as the user must manipulate the folded tissue to locate and grasp an edge in order to unfold, open it and then use it. This is an ineffective use of time withdrawing and opening the tissue, as in most occasions when dealing with tissues, time is limited. As a result, there is a need for a tissue pocket pack in the Puffs product range whereby one tissue can easily be withdrawn one at a time with ease, convenience and comfort.
The re-design for this product would be based upon the function and operating elements of a standard, full-sized tissue box. Essentially, the new packaging would allow a stack of individually folded tissues that have been individually folded in particular way to be withdrawn from the packaging, much like a standard tissue box.
To dispense a tissue, the user must first open the outer cover, which then reveals a second cover underneath, having a rectangular opening, whereby tissues are removed. In order to remove the uppermost tissue from the package, the user merely inserts two fingers within the exposed area of the cover and grasps the edge of the tissue situated within the centre of the tissue, and then pulls it out of the package through the opening. In doing so, pulling the tissue out through the opening while grasping an edge causes the tissue to open (unfold), which is an added convenience for the user. The exposed fold of the tissue is about midway between the opening of the tissue lid, for the user to be able to see and grasp a tissue with ease. The opening is rectangular in shape, being large enough to allow removal of the tissues without tearing them, yet small enough to contain the tissues within the pack when the exterior cover is open.
Once the tissues have been exhausted in supply, simply take a stack of tissues (6 tissues per stack) from the box of refills that have been already divided into a group, remove the film that binds these together, and open the top two covers and position the tissues in the area provided. To close and lock the tissue opening cover, simply slide the lip into the base of the container and lock into place.
Refills can be purchased in a 12 pack, and are available in the entire product range, ‘Puffs’ has to offer: Puffs Basics, Puffs plus lotion, Puffs ultra soft and strong, Puffs plus lotion with the scent of Vicks. In the words of ‘Puff’, ‘There’s something for every nose’. To make it that much more convenient for the user, a countdown from 6-1 will be printed on each individual tissue within a group, to inform the user of how many tissues are remaining in their pack.
It’s structure will be supportive, dirt and water-resistant, made from 2mm injection molded polypropylene. When in comparison to it’s existing material of polyurethane film, polypropylene is much more reliable is it doesn’t tear or puncture. The environmental impacts are minimal, as the packaging is not supposed to be thrown away and replaced once used, therefore there will be a decrease in waste.
On the back of the product, prevention pointers are provided for that extra support and comfort of knowledge. For example, ‘eat right, sleep tight, and exercise often to keep your immune system strong – and illness at bay’. A personal touch, for the user to understand that ‘Puffs’ do care about the their health and well-being.
In conclusion, this re-design of the ‘Puffs To-Go Travel Pack’ provides easier accessibility and greater convenience for the user, when wanting to withdraw a single tissue.
