Innovations in packaging so that everyone can use them.

As we marvel at the athletes at the upcoming Paralympic Games, we look at the latest innovations in packaging designed for the disabled.

Anyone who has ever struggled with a package that seems to have been designed to be as difficult to open as possible should consider that no matter how difficult the task, it is much more difficult if you are disabled. From the simplest cardboard box to the most complex multi-layered system, packaging is often designed around the product rather than the person, which can make life much more challenging for people with disabilities.

But companies and brands are starting to realise that packaging should be designed for everyone, regardless of disability, and that good packaging can also serve as a vehicle for inclusion, personalisation and social connection. “With accessible packaging, you want to give the customer choices and design as many routes as possible,” says Kevin Marshall, Creative Director of Design at Microsoft. “Users should interact with the product on their own terms.”

Boxes for the blind

Navigating a supermarket and finding the right products can be a big challenge for people with vision loss, so Kellogg’s has added a scannable code to its cereal boxes to make them more accessible. The ‘Navilens’ code allows those with a smartphone to scan their surroundings and access information about the products they are looking for. Thus, in a food shop, a person with vision loss can walk up and down an aisle and quickly locate an item, as well as receive spoken information about ingredients and allergy warnings.