The Hidden Value—Packaging for Appearance

Abstract

Discussions involving appearance design are often poorly received by engineering groups because in discussing appearance we are forced to consider the aesthetic quality of a product. This does not mean engineers are not aesthetically inclined. However, they take professional pride in an analytical and unemotional approach to their work while appearance design is dictated by sensory impressions of objects and not the objects themselves. Yet, appearance and engineering have much in common, for the ability to design a meaningful appearance into a product is based on intuitive power, insight, and knowledge. These same prerequisites are necessary in all creative work, not only art, poetry, and philosophy, but science and engineering as well. The basic creativity in appearance design eliminates graphs, scales, and charts which can be consulted by designers, and from these evolve an acceptable appearance. Each design has its own unique criteria from which the final appearance is developed. Nevertheless, it is possible to present standard procedures and methods using these as guidelines to develop specific designs.