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August 02, 2006
Glass Simplicity
The Pom Tea glass is a very interesting example of product design. First of all, it was an adventure trying to find it in the super market. One would suppose that these wonderful juices are located next to other beverages. Wrong! After approximately 21 minutes of searching, I found the Pom Teas next to the beer in a refrigerated corner of the market. (Very bad placement but that might be the grocery store's fault.)
Despite my struggle to find the POM drinks, the bottle design caught my attention when I finally found them. There are a couple of reasons why I think this is an appealing object. First of all, it is clean and clear, already nice and elegant to the eyes. The proportions of the glass bottle is also very attractive. Take a look. Would it be appealing if it were much more round and squat, or really tall and thin, or just a gigantic bubble-like thing? Proportions play a big role in a form's beauty. Too much or too little dimension in one direction can really create discrepencies with a product's form.
Now we will discuss the functional aspect of the product, which is the purpose of every object. (By the way, that was a very controversial sentence. Two words to further the thought: kid robot. I'll save that topic for later.) The glass' size fits nicely in your hands and it is a sensible shape. The cap and rim of the glass (where you sip) is very, very interesting. It is a huge freakn' opening! Just look at its proportions compared to a soda can, bottle of water, or even a bottle of beer. This quality in itself is fun, reminiscent of drinking from a traditional glass. This is not a good bottle for someone on the go (unless you are really careful), but rather a excellent bottle while keeping relaxed and sedentary. I have not done any experiments yet, but despite its tight seal, I would not want this container in my back pack. With a lot of movement and other objects in your bag, this cap could accidentally pop off. The bottle design forces you to stop, relax, and enjoy it in a calm manner.
I find the packaging strategy to be very innovative. The bottles are sold individually. But I can see them being bundled like a six-pack, so why not? Coke bottles have 3 or more fl.oz and they are sold as a pack. However a bunch of these POM bottles can get heavy and bulky. I think it is clever to only advertise the liquid and the bottle. No hyped-up, color crazy, trendy designs (vector graphics and gradients!) on the bottles or excessive packaging such as cardboard carrying cases, etc. Extravagent advertising is appropriate for some beverages but not POM tea. My point here is that POM emphasizes its unique branding and somewhat lack of a package design. This reflects the brand's mission statement, to advocate good health. They are not selling oversaturated sugar pop or decadence. No, they are trying to give you truth and well-being reflected through a very simple, understated, and beautifully designed glass.
Its shape and appeareance reminds me of a few things. The glass is almost shaped like a masonry jar or some kind of preserve bottle. But does its simplicity cause it to get lost amongst other bottles? Truthfully the POM glass does not "look" as entertaining or flashy compared to other beverage products competing for consumer attention. Does this mean that it is cheap looking? I think not. At the most, I would say that this is an odd-ball amongst its competitors. It does not have a screw-on top, yet it contains a liquid. If you notice, you will see that most containers have screw-on tops, caps (beer), pull tabs, or squeeze spigots (sport bottles). There are many ways to drink from a bottle. The Pom experience is reminiscent of drinking from a glass at home. Perhaps that's why I like it so much. The experience is comforting and familiar.
Another great attribute of this product is its sustainability. Besides being made of a recycleable material, this glass has the appeal of being used over and over again. 95% of products are turned into trash very quickly, from cradle-to-grave in the flash of a couple of months. However, when the POM bottle's jacket is removed (at first glance, you can't tell there is a piece of clear plastic wrapped around the bottle) it transforms the glass into something else, a keepable dishware with no advertising on it except for the POM logo. The removable plastic jacket contains all the ingredients and other adverising information. I know that as soon as I am finished drinking the juice, I will keep the glass. I think it would look nice as a longstem flower vase. Or a cup to drink cold iced tea. But obviously you could fill it with anything you desire.
Posted by Will at August 2, 2006 12:39 AM
Comments
Good article. I have seem POM drinks before at Costco, but I think the packaging was different (I could be wrong, I must consult with PJ).
I really like the packaging. Upon first glance, it reminds me of my mom's homemade pomegranate jelly. I think that with the organic trend becoming more popular (even Wal-Mart is getting on the organic train), packaging for more healthy food and beverage choices will start to reflect the product. The glass bottle can be recycled through traditional means or used as an alternative everyday object, such as a regular drinking glass, vase, or container to hold other things. I often use these kinds of glass jars to hold bulk spices or leftovers, such as soup.
Finally, I appreciate a clear package as it showcases the actual product inside. Another classic example is olive oil. Manufacturers try to trick the consumer into buying cheap olive oil by using green tinted bottles instead of using clear glass and allowing the olive oil to sell itself. This becomes a kind of make up for products that is unnecessary if the product is a good product.
Good article - keep up the good work :)
Posted by: Leah at August 2, 2006 09:53 PM
Your olive oil comment made me think of an accessory to the Pom Glass. It would be cool if a consumer could pick up a pack of tops with different nozzles. Then it could be used as an olive oil dispensor with those nifty pour thingees.
Posted by: Will at August 2, 2006 11:01 PM