Comments on: Solution, or Mess? A Milk Jug for a Green Earth http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/2008/07/solution-or-mess-a-milk-jug-for-a-green-earth/ User Experience, Usability, Interface Design and Real-World Design Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:32:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rene Olivier http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/2008/07/solution-or-mess-a-milk-jug-for-a-green-earth/#comment-27692 Rene Olivier Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:30:01 +0000 http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/?p=79#comment-27692 I stumled upon this while doing a search for milk jug. Yes, they are changing the milk jug for among other things, carbon footprint reasons, but you should consider moving to milk sachets or bags as some might call them. Liquid Living has developed a new product that makes the use of sachets so easy without spilling a drop and the milk stays fresher longer. The developed tap instantly seals with the wall of a sachet and the dispenser is very user friendly to put in your fridge or to even mount on a wall.This will allow you to contribute to the environment by saving 75% plastic. Further, as the end consumer, you will save even more by buying sachets! I stumled upon this while doing a search for milk jug. Yes, they are changing the milk jug for among other things, carbon footprint reasons, but you should consider moving to milk sachets or bags as some might call them. Liquid Living has developed a new product that makes the use of sachets so easy without spilling a drop and the milk stays fresher longer. The developed tap instantly seals with the wall of a sachet and the dispenser is very user friendly to put in your fridge or to even mount on a wall.This will allow you to contribute to the environment by saving 75% plastic. Further, as the end consumer, you will save even more by buying sachets!

]]> By: michael http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/2008/07/solution-or-mess-a-milk-jug-for-a-green-earth/#comment-11986 michael Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:27:37 +0000 http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/?p=79#comment-11986 But if the new design causes you to spill, which then causes you to buy milk more often, where's the downside for Wal-Mart? It's not like their customers are going to go elsewhere just because they don't like the milk containers. Sounds like *smart* design to me! But if the new design causes you to spill, which then causes you to buy milk more often, where’s the downside for Wal-Mart? It’s not like their customers are going to go elsewhere just because they don’t like the milk containers.

Sounds like *smart* design to me!

]]> By: Theo Mandel http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/2008/07/solution-or-mess-a-milk-jug-for-a-green-earth/#comment-11941 Theo Mandel Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:45:46 +0000 http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/?p=79#comment-11941 I agree that you need to weigh usability with (hopefully not against) other factors, such as cost benefits. However, I would hope with the skills and expertise involved in the design of the new containers, they even addressed the human factors issues of actually using the containers and not just the other issues of storing, shipping, etc. If they did, and found these usability issues before completing the design, maybe they could have come up with a design and met the other requirements AND was actually usable by human beings just trying to pour a glass of milk without making a mess! I agree that you need to weigh usability with (hopefully not against) other factors, such as cost benefits. However, I would hope with the skills and expertise involved in the design of the new containers, they even addressed the human factors issues of actually using the containers and not just the other issues of storing, shipping, etc. If they did, and found these usability issues before completing the design, maybe they could have come up with a design and met the other requirements AND was actually usable by human beings just trying to pour a glass of milk without making a mess!

]]> By: Dr. Pete http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/2008/07/solution-or-mess-a-milk-jug-for-a-green-earth/#comment-11940 Dr. Pete Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:14:14 +0000 http://www.theomandel.com/usability-blog/?p=79#comment-11940 That gets into a very interesting question that you don't hear much: how much is usability worth when you have to trade it against other factors? I've used the new milk jugs (from Costco) and they are a bit harder to use, at least in the sense that I'm not used to them. On the other hand, being a bit green and concerned about the economy, it's a tradeoff I happily make. In other words, I feel that it's a better product, even if it's a bit harder to use. Thinking about it, that's a pretty complex equation. That gets into a very interesting question that you don’t hear much: how much is usability worth when you have to trade it against other factors? I’ve used the new milk jugs (from Costco) and they are a bit harder to use, at least in the sense that I’m not used to them. On the other hand, being a bit green and concerned about the economy, it’s a tradeoff I happily make. In other words, I feel that it’s a better product, even if it’s a bit harder to use. Thinking about it, that’s a pretty complex equation.

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