A Box for Every Area of Ergonomic Research :)

          Is there an object that you have around you that is just simply amazing? You really can’t believe how someone came up with the idea because it’s just that good?

          For me, there are a lot of objects that hold that prestige. But today, we are going to talk about the gum box. Haven’t you noticed that those small things that we often overlook, are getting more and more sophisticated? Yes. It’s crazy isn't it? This can cause one to wonder how the gum companies decide which design to adopt.
          The way that you can tell if an object is worth manufacturing is by putting it through the test of design criticism. The basic test has 5 areas. These are called the 5 areas of ergonomic research. They are: safety, comfort, ease of use, performance (productivity), and aesthetics. So lets put the gum box to the test!

          How safe would you say a gum box is? Would you trust it with a 3 year old? Well maybe not a 3 year old, but anyone that is old enough to chew gum should be able to handle it! It’s made out of thick paper, making it light and portable. Yesss gum boxes have proven to be very safe.

          How comfortable are gum boxes? Well I would say they are very comfortable! They fit in the hand quite nicely, but they are large enough so that they don’t get lost in a purse or a pocket. They are easy to hold so that you can offer any of your friends a piece, making you the bell of the ball! And who doesn’t want that?

          How easy is it to use a gum box? Well. It’s very easy to figure out how to use them. You don’t even have to know how to read. All you do is flip it open and viola! Gum for you and gum for me.

          How is the performance of the gum box? Gum boxes perform pretty well if you ask me. They are durable enough to last till the last piece. Even with all that traveling, the boxes do not usually tear. They are also fitted so that the gum does not fly all over the place. They also have a latch that you can use to slip the cover under, so that the box does not open and close at any time it desires.

How is the aesthetic aspect of the gum box? Gum boxes are being given fancier and fancier designs each day, lots of colors and lots of lure. They are almost mesmerizing! The boxes  used to be just a piece of foil holding the strips of gum together. Then they went to the path of being “pop out” gum. Now they are back in the boxes, but now these boxes are fold-out boxes, laying out all the pieces in two rows. They are really quite fun to open and close.

All in all, the design of the gum box is very well planned. It complies with the 5 areas of ergonomic design, and successfully passes design criticism. It combats all the trials of daily wear and tear nicely, and has also kept up with modern day trends! The boxes have become a bit artsy and have that certain sense of ‘cool’ about them. The brands that have been changing their presentation to fit the ages have had the most influence over the gum market. So the next time you buy a pack of gum, appreciate the box that it comes in.


images found from:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4IYBV56YD3I/SXijB-KKYcI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QEobScudMCw/s400/5gum.jpg
http://www.globalpackagegallery.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=102277&g2_serialNumber=2
http://www.stillwondering.ca/ourbrands/PublishingImages/trident_base_product.jpg
http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/extra-gum-polar-ice.jpg