For a large proportion of the Western population, issues like global warming, war in Africa, loss of rainforest, and others, seem distant and disconnected. We feel helpless. With increasing globalization, consumer products impact society, culture, environment and politics on a global scale.

The packaging is opened as the user unwraps the produce to reveal more detailed and graphical information about the background story of the main ingredient (for this project; chocolate).

Companies voluntarily place information (including and expanding upon information already found on existing packaging) about where their product is produced, under what methods, and where it originates from… directly on the product. Presenting information positively, the design facilitates the recent push toward corporate transparency.

This system provides consumers layered information which they can peruse at their own pace. Reviewed by external organization and functioning much like the U.S.’s Nutrition Facts, the intent is to increase consumer awareness of the connections between this product and the world – gradually – to
establish a personal relation over time.

Links

Background stories
Alene Birt's site

About the Author:

Arlene Birt (US)
arlene@arlenebirt.com
arlene@habermaninc.com