Research Interests

I am interested in the intersection between human behavior and packaging design.

Communication Function of Packaging Design

Traditionally, packaging has been said to have four primary functions: containment, convenience, protection and communication. I am interested in developing a deeper understanding of how packaging communicates both intended and unintended messages with its users. My previous research and proposed future projects aim to address gaps in knowledge about how packaging systems communicates effectively with its users by addressing affordances in structural design, label design, and usability. I am particularly interested in exploring the impacts of design choices on perception and use of packages, specifically in the realm of how to optimize the communication function of packaging to bolster consumer acceptance, ease of use, specifically for sustainable packaging solutions. 

My research interests of examining consumer behavior with product package systems to optimize the communication of product information utilizing eye tracking, behavioral studies, and mixed quantitative-qualitative methods will enable clearer communication and thus enable healthier, more sustainable, decision making.

Additionally, I am interested in packaging communication over time. Packaging history and material culture perspectives on package and branding information can inform us of the values of society. Understanding the history of packaging and the role branding plays in consumers views of themselves is one way we can better understand the desirability of different products features, and through that, better understand the society consumers belong to.

Over the Counter Drug Packaging

Over the Counter (OTC) Drugs are a unique category of medications that are available to consumers without any oversight of a medical professional. While prescription drugs require both prescriber and a pharmacist to evaluate whether or not a medication is appropriate for a patient, OTC's are deemed acceptable by the patient themselves. This self determination of OTC drugs means there is a different type risk of accidentally inducing a drug-drug interaction or miscalculating a dose; the risk of misusing OTC drugs is entirely dependent on the consumer's health literacy, and ability to interact with the packaging and labeling easily and effectively to ensure proper usage behavior. I am interested in further exploring different OTC categories and seeing how consumers use the current packaging to determine appropriate dosage, and whether that matches up with the appropriate doses recommended by medical professionals and the FDA. 

Risk Perception

Another one of my research interests is the process of people perceiving an object or a situation as risky. Whether or not a person thinks a situation or product is likely to cause them harm has impacts on how they behave in that object or situation, and familiarity can decrease the likelihood that they will behave cautiously. This interest in Risk Perception ties into OTC medications by giving a context to the amount of time and effort the consumer takes when determining whether or not a medication is appropriate to use, and how much of the label they think they should read. 

Affordance Theory and Human Package Interactions

Affordances can be defined as anything a person can do to or with an object. Affordances were first applied to design by Don Norman through his idea of perceived affordance- or, anything a person perceives as an appropriate action to do with an object. Affordance Theory has been applied to packaging through the Human Package Interaction Model as proposed by Dr. Javier de la Fuente. The Human Package Interaction Model proposes that use of packaging is a two way interaction between person and object, with the person gleaning new information at different stages of the interaction depending on the task they are trying to accomplish with the package. I am striving to apply the Human Package Interaction Model and the Theory of Affordances to propose user centered design to problems related to risk perception and over the counter drug use.