Every day, I notice numerous issues with everyday objects — gates, bottles, railings, books, you name it. As a UX Designer, I’ve taken it upon myself to tackle these problems head-on by starting a weekly mini blog series where I’ll take a closer look at these items and attempt to give them a much-needed makeover.

Beauty and brains, pleasure and usability — they should go hand in hand.
— Don Norman

Series 1 : Day 1

Vaseline Body Lotion Bottle

Today, we’re tackling the Vaseline body lotion bottle — a winter staple at my parents’ house. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary container, complete with a lid that can be secured by twisting it 90 degrees to align with the bottle. But we’re going to dive deeper and see how we can make it even better!

The issue we’re facing today lies with the pump’s design (see image below)

Its symmetrical, almost oval shape has left users scratching their heads, trying to figure out which side is the correct way to open it

Although there are countless bottles out there with a variety of lotion pumps, I’m not aiming to reinvent the wheel. Instead, I’m taking this challenge head-on and using it as an opportunity to brainstorm various nozzle styles — some practical, some not so much. My goal is to explore every possible option and see how we could redesign the lotion pump to make it better. 😬

Final design sketches for a lotion pump. P.S. Please avoid the smudge 😢

Although my drawing skills may not be top-notch, this brainstorming session proved to be incredibly beneficial in getting my creative juices flowing and thinking outside the box. It’s easy to get caught up in making things visually appealing, but it’s essential not to forget one of the most critical aspects of any design — usability.

Business Impact

Sprucing up the nozzle design with something more user-friendly could definitely make customers happier and more loyal, resulting in a much more positive experience. And if the experience is better, sales could soar, and the brand could shine brighter than ever before! But hold up, redesigning the nozzle could be pricey, and if folks are already used to the current design, they might be reluctant to switch. In some cases, a new design might even leave customers scratching their heads, leading to fewer sales.

So, it all boils down to things like the redesign cost, how much change we’re talking about, and whether the customer base is open to the new design.

The best design is the simplest one that works.
— Albert Einstein

References:

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