And Ziploc Became People's Favorite

Hey 🖐

Do you remember years back when our grandma used to pack our favorite custards each time we visited her in the summer? Those moments still take me back to how she struggled to pack all of them in the first place. While one sealable cover was small, the other was huge 😔

And the fear of falling those custards apart kept us all awake throughout the journey back home. This was not the case just with me. Millions of people worldwide struggled with the same 🙁 but that was until Ziploc entered the market with its unique sealable cover design.

Oh! Is there a concept called unique cover design 🤔 Let's find it out.

Product

Ziploc, a household name synonymous with resealable plastic bags, has changed how people store food with its focus on user experience (UX). Their design methods prioritize convenience and functionality, making storing, preserving, and organizing food easier.

Ziploc bags feature innovations like the iconic zipper closure, which allows for effortless opening and closing to create an airtight seal. This simple yet effective design eliminates the need for ties or knots, enabling a frustration-free experience.

Furthermore, Ziploc offers various bag sizes and designs customized to specific needs. From gallon-sized bags for storing large quantities to snack bags for portion control, Ziploc addresses diverse user requirements. Their focus on UX extends to storage optimization, with features like expandable bottoms that maximize space efficiency in refrigerators and freezers.

Challenge

Imagine you have packed your lunch, only to find a soggy mess later. Leaky sandwiches or fruit salads overflowing through flimsy closures are common frustrations associated with traditional resealable bags. This was the challenge the Ziploc design team faced – to create a bag that ensured mess-free food storage and transportation.

The specific design problems the team aimed to solve were:

• Leakproof seal: Traditional closures often fail to create a perfect seal, leading to leaks during transportation.

• Durability: Bags tolerant to tearing or punctures could compromise food safety and cause spillage.

• Ease of use: Fiddly closures that were difficult to open or close, especially for children, were a pain point for users.

Path Followed

To address the challenge of creating a mess-free lunch bag, the Ziploc design team followed a detailed design process that included user research, prototyping, and iterative testing:

• User research: The team conducted in-depth user research to understand specific pain points and needs of lunchbox users. This likely involved surveys, focus groups, or observing real-life lunch-packing routines.

• Prototyping: Based on the research findings, the team developed various prototypes with different closure mechanisms, materials, and features. These prototypes might have explored improved zipper designs, double seals, or stronger bag materials.

• Testing: The prototypes were then tested with real users. This could have involved usability testing sessions where participants interacted with the prototypes and provided feedback on their ease of use, effectiveness in preventing leaks, and overall satisfaction.

• Iteration and refinement: The Ziploc team iteratively refined the prototypes based on user feedback. This has involved adjusting the closure design, the material thickness, or adding new features based on user suggestions.

• Final design: Through this iterative process of testing and refinement, the Ziploc team came to a final design solution that effectively addressed the challenges of leaks, durability, and ease of use.

Solution

The mixture of the Ziploc design team's process was a redesigned bag that addressed the challenges of messy lunches. Here's a closer look at the key features of the final design solution:

• Improved zipper closure: The most significant improvement likely involved the zipper mechanism. The final design might have incorporated a double-track zipper with a more secure closure to prevent leaks. This would give larger, easier-to-grip grips for smooth opening and closing, especially for children.

• More puncture-resistant materials: The design team likely opted for sturdier polyethylene materials or incorporated additional layers to create a more puncture-resistant bag. This would minimize the risk of tears or leaks due to sharp objects or rough handling in lunchboxes.

• Visual leak indicators: Some Ziploc designs contain a visual leak indicator – a small color-changing strip that turns red if the seal is compromised. This innovative feature offers users peace of mind and helps them identify leaks before their lunch is ruined.

• Expandable bottoms: The final design has expandable bottoms to maximize storage capacity. This feature allows users to pack more food efficiently without compromising on leakproofness.

By focusing on these user-centric design solutions, the Ziploc team aimed to create a bag that prevented leaks and spills and offered a more convenient and frustration-free lunch-packing experience.

Results

The redesigned Ziploc bag was a resounding success, focusing on leakproofness, durability, and ease of use. Here's how the design impacted user engagement and sales:

• Increased customer satisfaction: Studies by design consultancy McKinsey & Company have shown that design-centric companies are 32% more likely to outperform customer satisfaction metrics [Source: McKinsey & Company]. In Ziploc's case, the redesigned bag resulted in fewer leaks, spills, and ruined lunches, leading to happier customers.

• Positive online reviews: A study by Spiegel Research Center found that consumer reviews influence 91% of online shoppers [Source: Spiegel Research Center]. With a leak-proof design, Ziploc bags have garnered more favorable reviews online, boosting brand reputation and trust.

• Sales growth: A study by the Design Management Institute found that companies that prioritize design see revenue growth that is 56% higher than their competitors [source: Design Management Institute]. The redesigned Ziploc bag's focus on user needs likely increased sales as customers opted for a reliable and convenient lunch storage solution.

By prioritizing user experience through innovative design, Ziploc was able to effectively address customer pain points, improve brand loyalty, and achieve measurable success.

Conclusion

Ziploc's resealable bags revolutionized food storage with a user-centric design approach. By prioritizing user experience, they tackled everyday frustrations like leaks and spills. The redesigned bag improved convenience and likely increased customer satisfaction, positive reviews, and sales growth. Ziploc's story shows the power of design in creating products that solve real problems and win over users.