The appearance design of dishwasher capsules should revolve around functional compatibility, user experience and commercial value. The following is a professional analysis from dimensions such as core elements, user demands and industry trends:
First, functional compatibility design
The shape and size match the structure of the dishwasher
Standard compatibility: The capsule size should be compatible with the dispensing ports and dispensers of mainstream dishwashers to avoid jamming or residue. For instance, the diameter of the capsules is usually designed to be 20-30mm and the height no more than 40mm to ensure smooth passage through the mechanical structure during the dispensing process.
Water flow guidance: The capsule shape can be optimized to be streamlined or conical to reduce water flow resistance and facilitate the rapid diffusion of the dissolved liquid to the surface of the tableware.
Material selection and durability
Water-soluble film strength: The outer layer of the film needs to withstand transportation and storage pressure in a dry state, and dissolve rapidly upon contact with water. For instance, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with a thickness of 0.1-0.2mm are adopted, taking into account both flexibility and dissolution speed.
Moisture-proof packaging: Capsules are usually packed in aluminum foil sealed bags or individually to prevent premature dissolution or loss of ingredients due to moisture.
Second, user experience optimization
Convenience of placement
One-handed operation design: The surface of the capsule can be added with anti-slip textures or grooves, which is convenient for users to grasp and drop it with one hand, especially maintaining operational stability in a humid environment.
Placement guidance signs: By using color coding (such as green for universal type and red for powerful type) or symbol marking (such as “↑” indicating the placement direction), the risk of user misoperation is reduced.
Visual feedback and interaction
Transparent window design: Some capsules are partially transparent packaged, allowing users to directly see the state of the liquid inside (such as color and concentration), enhancing trust.
Dissolution progress prompt: Through the stratified design of water-soluble membranes (such as the outer fast-dissolving membrane and the inner sustained-release membrane), users can observe the gradual changes of the capsules during the washing process.
Third, safety and environmental protection considerations
Child protection design
Anti-ingestion structure: The capsule size should be larger than the diameter of a child’s throat (usually over 30mm), and packaging materials that are easy to tear should be avoided. Some products adopt a “double-layer nested” structure and can only be opened by pressing both sides simultaneously.
Bitter agent addition: Add bitter agents such as denatamine benzoate to the outer layer of the capsule to prevent children from accidentally ingesting it out of curiosity.
Application of environmental protection materials
Biodegradable packaging: The outer film and sealing bags are made of biodegradable materials (such as PLA) to reduce pollution to the environment.
Recycling label: Clearly mark the recyclable symbol on the packaging to guide users to sort and handle it correctly.
Fourth, brand recognition and differentiation
Innovation in color and shape
Brand color system application: Strengthen brand memory points through a unified main color tone (such as blue representing cleanliness and green representing environmental protection).
Irregular design: Under the premise of ensuring functionality, unique geometric shapes (such as hexagons, stars) or cartoon characters are adopted to attract consumers’ attention.
Information transmission efficiency
Key information in advance: Directly print the applicable model, dosage and core ingredients (such as “containing active oxygen” and “low-foaming formula”) on the surface of the capsule to avoid users having to consult the manual separately.
Multilingual support: For the export market, simultaneously mark English, Spanish and other languages on the packaging to enhance global adaptability.
Fifth, industry trends and future directions
Intelligent integration
RFID tag embedding: Microchips are implanted in capsules to interact with smart dishwashers, automatically identifying washing programs and adjusting water volume and temperature.
AR interactive experience: By scanning the AR code on the packaging with a mobile phone, users can watch a 3D animation of the capsule dissolution process, enhancing the sense of technology.
Sustainability upgrade
Replaceable filling design: Introduce capsule shells with replaceable inner cores. Users only need to purchase liquid refill packs, reducing plastic waste.
Water circulation compatibility: Optimize the capsule composition to ensure efficient dissolution in areas with low water hardness, while reducing chemical residues in wastewater.
Sixth, design risk and avoidance strategies
Risk of overdesign
Functional redundancy: Avoid adding unnecessary decorative elements (such as hollowed-out patterns) to prevent increased costs or impact on dissolution performance.
User confusion: Simplify the information hierarchy, avoid marking too many technical parameters (such as pH value, viscosity) on the capsule surface simultaneously, and prioritize highlighting the core selling points.
Regulatory compliance
Ingredient transparency: All ingredients (including flavors and preservatives) are clearly labeled on the packaging, in compliance with the EU REACH regulation or the US FDA standards.
Warning signs: For ingredients that are prone to cause allergies (such as citrus essences), a prominent position should be marked with instructions such as “May cause skin irritation”.
Conclusion
The appearance design of dishwasher capsules needs to strike a balance among functional compatibility, user experience, safety and environmental protection, and brand differentiation. The competitiveness of the product can be enhanced by optimizing the shape and size, material selection, deployment convenience and information transmission efficiency. At the same time, pay attention to the trends of intelligence and sustainability to reserve space for future upgrades. During the design process, excessive decoration and regulatory risks must be strictly avoided to ensure that the product is both practical and compliant.
