The Surface Earbuds faced distinct design challenges in both hardware and software. Besides the earbuds themselves, the product included specially designed earbud tips tailored for specific ear sizes to ensure comfort. During the initial design phase, I conducted an audit of similar products on the market and noticed the earbud tips were hidden, and not prioritized in the unboxing experience, leading users to attempt to attach the tips without any instructions.
My goal was to create a packaging structure that emphasizes the significance of the additional accessories and their purposes. Instead of placing these accessories inside a bag or leaving them loose at the bottom of the box, I designed a packaging form factor and folio structure that securely holds the earbud tips in place. This structure also clearly displays different sizes and includes illustrations on how to install them.
The team also wanted users to have easy access to the Surface app, allowing us to provide more detailed setup instructions without the need to print extra material on the packaging for sustainability purposes. We developed several concepts and conducted multiple unboxing studies. The concept shown below features a landscape form factor, highlighting the equal importance of both the product and the folio.
Role
Lead Packaging Designer
Packaging Structure
Senior Graphic Designer
3D renderings of packaging
Year
2021
