In my thesis I am exploring the role of pharmaceutical packaging design in relation to the user. This topic is becoming increasingly relevant as the number of issued prescriptions in Slovenia is rising every year. Symptoms that eventually require prescription medicine are experienced by almost everyone. Prescribed medicine packaging must therefore provide essential information effectively and efficiently.
The purpose of this thesis is to improve current heterogeneous conditions by developing a standardized design system for all prescription drugs, by taking into account all users’ needs at each stage of the process. The final goal is a simpler and more effective use of products for everyone involved.
In the introductory research, I analyzed the context of the pharmaceutical industry as well as information and packaging design theory. Two focus groups, the patients and the pharmacists, have been interviewed in order to thoroughly define the problem and its characteristics. Furthermore, I analyzed the present conditions, explored some examples of good practice and developed the practical part of the project. I dealt with the identified problems by design thinking through various graphic and typographic approaches. I used the extreme cases to define the variables that compose the system.
I found that a standardized system that employs the principles of good information design can solve most of the problems and improve everyday experience of many people, including medicine takers and healthcare workers dealing with prescription drugs. However, some issues remain, but they require systemic change within legal regulations.
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