Tag: Product Design

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The new container for the discount brand of detergent at Costco much more difficult to use than other containers. Notice there is no traditional handle you can use to carry the container. Instead there are two indentations in the plastic where you are supposed to place your hands, both hands mind you. As I prefer lifting these containers with one hand because it allows me to carry another bag with the other hand. I couldn’t get my hand to stretch across both indentations to carry so I was forced, after several attempts, to use two hands.

Now some people might not quibble about this but it was a hassle for me because my car is parked 30 plus stairs away from the landing where my house is. It means an extra trip to carry this one item that easily could be carried with one hand if it had a proper handle.

It’s not much better for simple pouring into the washing machine. With a proper handle, I can pour with one hand. With this container, I need two hands. It is an awkward process akin to a small child pouring milk into a glass.

I am entertaining the possibility that I don’t know the proper way to hold this container but then isn’t this just another product malfunction. If a customer has to read instructions in order to pick up your product comfortably and without awkwardness then the product has a design problem. Color me unimpressed.

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I don’t know who came up with this ubiquitous milk carton spout (see directly below) but it is robbing me of small portions of milk every day. And I want them, Captains of Industry and Product Engineers, to know I am mad about it. Damn mad in fact. I can’t tell you how many times I successfully poured milk out of one of these spouts without spilling at least a few drops. I am pretty certain it is less than 5 and maybe even bordering on less than 3. This is particularly true when the milk carton is full. It is simply impossible to control the milk flow with any dexterity.

Why this spout has become the answer to the milk carton spout question is baffling. The damn spout is a complete failure of product engineering. And when you consider the previous spout (see example below) where the top part of the carton opens up into a spout, the new spout fails colossally. The old spout was a much easier pour because you can practically put the spout into the bowl, cup or glass without fail. You know the spout is in the container. The same can not be said for the new spout. I think I have the spout in the cup before I begin to pour. I play with my placement to ensure the spout is where it needs to be. Despite the focus I give my pour, I’m always wrong. Milk goes flying everywhere.

Not to mention it is better for the ecology as you are only using the carton for both the container and the spout. It is genius of simplicity. What exactly does the plastic spout add to the product — nothing as far as I can see, and you do have that plastic bit which will be be tossed into a landfill somewhere. And just so the titans of industry have some skin in the game, it has to be cheaper too. I mean you need the carton anyway, why not save a few pennies by using the carton as the spout too. See no plastic spout needed.

There it is. This spout is bad. Bad for the environment. Bad for business. Bad for pouring milk. Bad for me.

My rage now is vented.