Plico
Plico is a packaging solution that is not only quick to construct and assemble, but also just as easy to deconstruct and convert.
In this project, my goal was to create a delightful user experience for a problem that we have all faced.
Project Type:
Individual
Time Frame:
2 Months
.png)
Preliminary Research
Site Visit
Stakeholder Interviews
*Data points sourced from Interviews conducted with Florists and Customers.
Design Brief
To design packaging for flower bouquets that
(a) enable florists to wrap bouquets quickly and with minimal wastage.
(b) enable the user to conveniently store and display their flowers even without a vase, helping them preserve it for a long time.
User Persona
Rajesh
Roadside Florist
"I have to buy 500 sheets of wrapping material every week"
"It takes me 30 minutes to construct just small size bouquets. Time increases as size increases"
"Customers start getting impatient when they have to wait and take out their anger on me."
Aspirations
-
Wishes to increase the volume of per day sales.
-
Wants to build a loyal customer base.
-
Wants to reduce the amount of material he has to buy for beautification of each bouquet.
Behaviours
-
Uses the same technique to build each bouquet involving cutting and taping sheets.
-
Struggles to manage his store while also building the bouquets.
-
Is enterprising and is planning how to expand.
Constraints
-
Each bouquet takes too much time to construct leading to customer impatience.
-
High volume of customers but not enough staff.
-
Needs to work on the side of the road, which tends to be frustrating after long hours.
-
Flowers that aren't sold need to be discarded.
-
High market competition.
Dependencies
-
Weekly supply of bouquet wrapping material.
-
Customer satisfaction and recommendations.
-
Daily supply of flowers by the wholesaler.
Environment
-
Crowded space with no workstation.
-
Constant exposure to pollution and harsh weather.
-
Makeshift displays for bouquets.
Neha
College Student
"I want to buy flowers but I don't have a vase at home and have no way of displaying them."
"I wish flowers lasted longer than a few days"
"I gifted flowers to my mother through a delivery app but they were in a terrible condition when she received them."
Aspirations
-
Wants to elevate her space with fresh flowers.
-
Wants to preserve the freshness of the flowers for as long as possible.
Behaviours
-
Explores social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest for flower arrangement ideas.
-
Explores alternatives for vases.
-
Is highly interested in dry flower preservation but doesn't know how to do it.
Constraints
-
Doesn't own a vase or vessel for displaying the flowers.
-
Finds that flowers are a bit too pricy for their shelf life.
-
Has time constraints that prevent her from storing the bouquet accurately.
Dependencies
-
Depends on online resources and social media for DIY vase ideas and care tips.
-
Depends on public transportation to carry flowers home safely, influencing her choice of size and type.
Environment
-
Academic setting with potential stress, making her living space an important retreat.
-
Digital environment heavily influenced by social media trends in home decor and lifestyle choices.
Preeti
Picky Customer
"I have guests coming over today, I don't have time to waste."
"I need the best quality flowers for display"
"I don't like the wrapping that's done because it takes so long to remove the layers of tape and paper."
Aspirations
-
Wants her home to look beautiful as she frequently hosts dinner parties.
-
Wants to ensure that everything goes according to plan.
Behaviours
-
Highly organised.
-
Easily irritable.
-
Very specific about what she wants.
Constraints
-
Doesn't have time to supervise everything.
-
Has to coordinate with too many people.
Dependencies
-
Driver and house staff to execute minor tasks.
-
External service providers (florists, caterers) to provide high quality flowers and food.
Environment
-
Has a spacious and well adorned home.
-
Part of a wealthy family that mingles with high society.
Findings
Ideation
Exploring collapsibility and convertible packaging that allows a range of bouquet sizes.
Prototyping
Preliminary Prototype
Testing convertibility of the packaging.
Revised Prototypes
Revising the prototypes to incorporate both expandability and convertability.
Final Prototype
Optimising the design to minimise the drawbacks.
Plico
Construct
Carry
Convert
Expandable
The ribbon acts as a drawstring, ensuring that Plico can accommodate a wide variety of bouquet sizes. Folds are premade in the packaging before reaching the florist ensuring seamless collapsibility.
Intuitive
After receiving the bouquet, users can easily identify the pull tab. The perforation allows for easy tearing and converting the bouquet into a vase. For users that don't need a vase, it acts as a hassle-free way of accessing the bouquet without damaging the flowers.
Ease of Construction
Plico is 28 cm in height, and has a 10 cm square base. Its net fits on a single A2 sheet, drastically reducing the amount of material used in each bouquet. It is also easy to assemble and ship to florists.
