This student packaging project set out to reimagine everyday cocoa packaging to better meet the needs of its target audience - time-poor, budget-conscious, and environmentally aware millennials. My goal was to create a no-fuss, affordable, and sustainable solution that would improve the consumer experience - from supermarket shelf to kitchen cupboard. Primary research highlighted frustrations with existing products - messy to open, awkward to store, and often unsustainable - so my challenge was clear: design packaging that was simple, functional, and responsible.

 

Adopting a “less is more” philosophy, I focused on usability and sustainability. I researched existing food-grade packaging technologies that could be adapted for cocoa, allowing for a more cost-effective design. I selected a single-material solution that was moisture-proof, airtight, easy to recycle, and straightforward for consumers to open, pour, and scoop from. Multiple iterations and user testing refined the design, following a non-linear, human-centred design process.

 

The outcome was Pod Cocoa’s distinctive carton, made from unbleached, curbside-recyclable Tetra Rex. Free from soft plastics and low in cost, it stands apart from competitors while delivering genuine ease of use. Branded with a cocoa pod motif shaped like a heart, the design reflects the simple joy and warmth cocoa brings, embodying both purpose and delight.