Video Reflection: packaging

Packaging are more often taken for granted but they play a very important part of product design.
Packaging serves multiple functions; to protect the product, labeling, instructions of use , temper proofing, portion control, marketing strategies, the list goes on. So when we are designing the packaging for a product we not only need to consider all those things, but we also need to consider the environmental impact when manufacturing the packaging, as well as the afterlife when the packaging is discarded. After watching the videos which demonstrates how different kind of material is processed into packaging, as well as how they are sorted when recycled really makes me more aware of the impact that us designers have on our environment. we need to carefully plan the design for packaging so to make maximum utility out of it using minimum material as well as making it desirable. to be honest, that sounds extremely hard. there are so many considerations in designing a packaging that they are considered a separate product itself. but then again, good packaging design can make all the difference in the success of a product. the emotion and excitement of opening a thoughtfully designed packaging can create that extra desire for the product and making it a lot more successful. that is how powerful packaging can be.
one thing that was very interesting to me in the video is the speed and accuracy of the machines in creating packaging and recycling material. i have always wondered how materials are sorted from a monstrous mountain of waste. it was really interesting to know how just by scanning a material the machines can identify and sort the material.