I've always been intrigued by clever product and packaging designs.
This page shows some of the ideas I consider notable.

The "Squeeze & Sniff" coffee bag lets you sample the flavor before you buy, and it works whether the beans are whole or ground.

Whoever figured out that slots in thin cardboard would not simply tear apart was a genus. I still don't understand how this works. The opening at one end to dispense the cans is equally brilliant.

Related to the soda carton above, some boxes for crackers and other foods stay shut just by the interlocking design of the box top.

The Zip-Lock bag lets you quickly seal food and even liquids air tight. But some are poorly made and difficult to seal.

The twist-off bottle top might not seem like a big deal, but it's vastly better than the old metal style that requires a bottle opener and can't be resealed. Some of the older types can also be twisted off.

The Sippy-Top lets you drink your coffee with less risk of spilling it all over your lap. Some even have an extra hole in the center for a straw when drinking soda or juice.

I really appreciate using an actual size photo instead of a plastic window that makes the box more difficult to recycle.

Handles on a shopping bag are a big help, as long as they're strong enough!

And finally, the spork is clever because it works equally well for eating salad or sipping soup.

Ethan Winer has been an audio engineer and professional musician for more than 50 years, and is a principle at RealTraps where he designs acoustic treatment products for recording studios, home theaters, and istening rooms. Ethan's Cello Rondo music video has received nearly 2 Million views on YouTube and other web sites, and his book The Audio Expert published by Focal Press, now in its second edition, is available at amazon.com and his own web site.

Entire contents of this web site Copyright © 1997- by Ethan Winer. All rights reserved.