3 Items of Good Design
Toothbrush Case
The design of this toothbrush case is simple yet effective. Although it stands at no more than two inches tall, it is easily able to cover the area of the toothbrush that goes into a person’s mouth, protecting them from germs. It is made out of a soft plastic material, which allows the toothbrush to easily bypass the stopper at the entrance of the case with minimal force. The stopper at the opening also helps keep the case stable and enclosed on the toothbrush. In addition, the softness of the plastic also makes the case easy to clean since the stopper at the entrance can bend in different directions without breaking. The sides of the case have a risen ridged surface all around, allowing the person to grasp onto it even if it gets wet. The pink color of the case allows the person to identify it easily, even though the item is small in scale. A tiny size for the case is helpful and preferable. It is not too bulky, making it easy to store in the home and to pack while traveling. The shape is also important. It is wider at the base to make room for the toothbrush, but the case gets thinner at the top to keep the toothbrush from moving around and picking up more germs. Overall, the construction of this basic tool, necessary in everyday use, is designed well because it is easy to use.
Toothpaste Container
Toothpaste is an item we all use everyday, multiple times a day, until the last drop has been taken and we need to buy a new one. But we don’t always think about why we’re able to extract it out of the tube so easily and how quick the action of putting it onto the toothbrush is. The design of a tube of toothpaste is simplistic but ingenious. The example I’m using is my own container of Crest mint toothpaste. The actual tube of the toothpaste container is the most important part of what makes the extraction so easy. The plastic material it’s made out of is soft and is very easily bendable. This allows us to squeeze the toothpaste out with as much force as is necessary. And when there is only a minimal amount of paste left the tube can even be rolled so that the last bit at the bottom can make its way out. A material like this helps us use all of the product and stops us from wasting any of it. The design of the nozzle at the top of the tube is made of a more structured plastic and is thinner than the rest of the tube so that the paste can come out in a controlled manner. This again helps with waste management so that we can put the correct amount of toothpaste onto the toothbrush. The outside of the nozzle at the top of the container has risen hoop-like edges so that the cap can easily fit back on. The cap itself also has rigid edges, but this is so we can easily grip and twist it back on the nozzle. Color is also important with toothpaste containers. The flavor of mine is mint, so the blue mixed with a mint green color on the tube is important so people know what they’re buying without having to look at the fine print on the box. Toothpaste is an item we use each day without thinking, but the design is so well done that it is universally used by most brands.
Shampoo & Conditioner Bottles
When purchasing this set of shampoo and conditioner, I did something that one should never do. I bought it because of the way the bottles looked. I was drawn to their simplistic shape, as well as their calming and pretty color. Luckily for me the product works well with my hair, but that was just a side thought when I found the Monday brand at my local Target. The design is clever because their logo is engraved in the plastic bottle, allowing it to stay there indefinitely. The indentations of the logo also make it easier to pic up the containers when they are wet. The hand can get a better grasp on them. Although the words “shampoo” and “conditioner” are painted on the front of each bottle, an “S” and “C” are also engraved on the top of the correct nozzle so you don’t have to worry about getting them confused if the paint comes off the front. The top of the nozzles also have an arrow engraved as well, telling you which direction to turn the nozzle to open the product correctly. The bottles are made out of a light plastic, so they do not add to the weight. The material is also soft, so if needed I can remove the nozzle and squeeze the product out if it’s running low. As mentioned earlier in the post, the color is what caught my eye first. It’s pink, but aesthetically it’s a shade of pastel pink that seems to be very popular right now. Having the product be this color eliminates the need for unnecessary or overwhelming design choices. Not only is this set of shampoo and conditioner appealing to look at, it is also very functional and easy to use.