Carrier for Macaron

Studio Project 2

20 min readSep 25, 2018

Part 1: Exploring Carriers

Essential qualities of carriers

Based on the items’ specific needs, carriers serve multiple functions including protection, transportation, and even enhancing the appearance. After brainstorming with our class, I determined that form, interaction, and practicality as the main criteria in planning out the carrier. While the carrier revolves around the object’s overall form (basic size and structural components), it should also be practical in assembly (without the use of glue or tape) and interact with the consumer in a meaningful way. Moreover, within our context of a “dinner party,” the aesthetics and presentation of the carrier must also be considered; the carrier should enhance the value of the product, as it is the first step in opening up the user’s experience.

1. Creating Two 6'’ by 6'’ Cube Corners (one fixative and one without)

As it was my first time using corrugated cardboard, I first created sample corners with 2'’ by 2'’ cardboard. But already from there, I faced a number of unexpected challenges.

Addressing Challenges:

Cutting and folding the cardboard: I discovered that on certain areas of the cardboard, it was really difficult to fold or cut; this was solved by folding along the corrugation and using the bone folder to make an initial crease beforehand.
The thickness of the cardboard (0.5 mm): This was the most unexpected part, as I didn’t realize how 0.5 mm could completely distort the dimensions. As such, I had to redo my measurements entirely, taking away 0.5 mm on specific sides.
Working with friction: I encountered this problem while working with the non fixative corners that needed tabs. For the puzzle piece tabs, my first model did not tightly clip on together (they were too loose); with this, I discovered it was easier to cut out the tabs along the way by fitting each time, rather than pre-cutting all of them.

2. Creating Macaron dummy

During the weekend, I visited Gaby Et Jules to buy a box of six macarons. But that day, rain suddenly came pouring down without warning, and I had to run back to the studio without an umbrella. When I came back, all the macarons were literally broken, except for one. This particular experience affected me, as I recalled how expensive these macarons were.

Observations of the Macaron

4.5 cm in height and 2cm in width (small and light)
Delicate surface (could easily be crushed with even slight pressure) enclosing the creamy fillings within
Visually pleasing to the senses (Sugary taste, sweet smell)— the fancy appearance of the macarons is what enhances their value

Building off from the real macarons, I simulated the basic shape and form by stacking four cardboard pieces together. I distinguished the fillings and the macaron shells by making the inside slighly shorter in width.

Macaron Box Study

Sample box that I found in a recycling bin at the University Center

Part 2: Brainstorming/ Creating Variations

Goal: Generate various carrier ideas that address the unique challenge of transporting macarons

Prototype 1: Winged Box

My first prototype was quite primative in form, as I wanted to explore the box like structure of using tabs as the openings. By lengthening the wings of the box, I realized they could also be utilized as simple handles to be carried around. To close the box, I sliced the corrugated cardboard to create an empty space for the tab, and the friction created in between would hold the lid together.

Pro: Simple and easy to carry around, quick to assemble, highly protective
Con: The simplistic appearance may potentially degrade the value of the macarons. As one student told me, she imagined the macarons to look more like cheap, quick- baked ones, rather than macarons for a gift purpose. Also, Steve and Stacie expressed how they couldn’t figure out what was inside the box as it completely concealed the inside.
How could I hint that the carrier is specifically a macaron box? How could I enhance the user experience?

Prototype 2: Sliding box

Expanding from the simplistic box like form, I decided to experiment more with the range of how we can get to the item. From here, I decided to stop thinking about the limitation of not using glue, and decided to just freely explore. And focusing more on the interactive experience of opening a box, I tried creating a sliding motion so that the center of the box can move out like a flap.

Sliding motion creates a more interactive experience, but not very practical to hold

Pro: More entertaining and interesting to open the box, the visual appearance of the box resembles a big macaron.
Con: Not very practical to carry around due to the lack of visual cues. The “wing” like features may not be as protective, since the macarons are randomly placed on the sides and they could potentially move around while being carried. There are no handles on the box, so the person may accidentally carry it upright and the flaps would swing out and the macarons would fall out.

Prototype 3: “Cake” box

The two previous carriers showed the two extremes—while one focused on the practicality, the other primarily delved into the interactive experience. So this time, I hoped to find a balance in between. I was intrigued by how the cardboards could hold each other up purely through friction, and I hoped to explore this unique quality a little more. The inside structure was quite simple, as I attached the three semi-circles to form the dividers. By pulling this structure upwards, the macarons would be resting above so they can be eaten from any side.

Pro: More interactive experience for taking out the macarons. The macarons could be displayed and be eaten at the same time (fits better within the context of a dinner party).
Con: Though the macarons are safely protected along the sides, there is no protection on the top surface, which could be a problem when it is raining or for keeping out the dust. Also the overall size of the carrier may look quite bulky compared to the delicate, soft macarons. Also the dividers don’t really secure the macarons perfectly due to the round shape.

Prototype 4: “Two- way” opening box

After looking around the other cool carriers created by students, I liked the idea of a hinge, where the box could open on the side to reveal and close. To keep the macarons secure, I created small slits that would enable macarons to be moved up and down without falling out.

My initial model worked so that you would have to pull on each side to close the box. But one problem with this was that the empty, useless space in the middle was not very practical.

I further developed the model by cutting away the middle part and securing the macarons on both edges.

Pro: The interactive experience of opening and closing the box may potentially enhance the value of the macarons as they are displayed in an interesting way. This carrier is also more secure compared to others, as the combination of slits and the walls on every side protect the macarons.
Con: When closed, the carrier is still ambiguous in what it carries— the only hint it offers is the slight gap near the side. Also, the empty gap in front of each macaron still seems to be a little empty when the box is opened.

Part 3: Mid Critique + New carriers without glue

*Discussion with Steve and Stacie

Observations and Insights from other students’ works

Learning about the Design Process from Steve and Stacie

Prototype 5: “Accordion” box

At this stage, I noticed a similar problem within all the previous carriers I’ve created so far. Particularly, I realized there were too many components that needed to fit together like tabs.

Likewise, I wondered how I could create a more simplistic carrier that utilizes the special qualities of the corrugated cardboard material as much as possible. This time, instead of spending so much time trying to plan and straining for ideas in my sketchbook, I decided to simply play around and feel the cardboard more.

I cut out a long strip of cardboard and tried folding them in various ways. Just by doing this, I created a very basic structure that resembled an accordion, which could be either contracted or expanded, while also acting as dividers for the macarons.

Contracting and Expanding motion of the cardboard

Moreover, I noticed the strip could also easily be secured like a belt by creating a small slit for sliding in. From this, I attempted to build an outer structure for the macaron to protect the sides. When opened, the inside structure could be pulled out like an accordion with the macarons resting on each side.

Pulling out the tab to unravel the accordion folds

I utilized absolutely no glue for this carrier, which was one aspect I was very proud of. Also, I felt that the pulling motion of the cardboard folds created an interesting user experience, while also displaying the macarons in a unique way. Though not perfect, I was captivated by the idea of using the cardboard creases, so I decided to select this carrier to take with me for the next critique.

Part 4: “Speed Dating” + Reorganizing Thoughts from the Accordion Box

During our speed dating, I talked with Franklin, Tay, and Elizabeth about my carrier, and I gained so many new insights. By simply having the students try to open my box without telling them anything, I observed a similar trend that was problematic. The natural instinct was to pull out the “belt” like structure as if it was a lid, and simply take out the macarons out from the box. Though I did expect this, I had also hoped they would pick out the tabs on the side and pull out the accordion folds, which nobody did. Only after I showed them this function, their reactions completely changed, showing more fascination with the carrier.

Pro: Interactive element with the consumer and the carrier
Con: Unclear visual cues (too many components within the box that confuses the user), not much protection on the cover, not as visually pleasing as expected (doesn’t appreciate the form of the macarons)

Overall, this has been the most helpful moment throughout our entire project. While the idea was pretty cool, this particular model once again deemed to be quite impractical after talking over with my classmates.

Part 5: Expanding from the “Accordion” Box → Utilizing the “Folding Method”

After the critique, I found myself hitting a wall, trying to figure out how to improve my accordion box. I spent hours making sketches, cutting holes, trying to put macarons on different ways in the creases, but in the end, this just didn’t seem to work out. As a result, I decided to boldly turn away from the accordion box, but focus on utilizing the cardboard folds to create something new.

The creases allowed the cardboard to flexibly bend and wrap around each other to create arcs. With this, I created a staircase like structure that reminded me of inner dividers; by cutting out slits, I could easily insert the macarons in a more secure way.

The back arc is more elevated compared to the bottom, so that the viewer can see the macarons on both heights.

This structure was quite simple to create, utilizing just a single long piece of cardboard. But it still needed an outer case for extra protection as the macarons were too exposed and there was no way to carry this. As such, I started looking for ways to enclose this inner part:

Attempt to create an “outer” box to protect the inner carrier.

However, after multiple attempts, I soon sensed that these secondary carriers were not practical either—other students also expressed how once you put the box around the carrier, this concealed the identity of the macarons. Even if I cut holes on the top of the boxes, it looked like a prison, leaving no room for the macarons to breathe.

What other ways can this specific model be used beyond the purpose of dividers?

Pulling out the extra cardboard piece and wrapping it around created a unique “lid” structure.

How might this look with a second layer of macarons on the bottom or adding more macrons along the sides?

2. Turning the carrier upside down (vertically) created a display stand.

Is there a way to carry this structure around so that its function could extend beyond a simple display?

Experimentation of the “Display Carrier” Prototype

Looking at the folded structure of cardboard in diverse angles allowed me to create the new model below, which holds both qualities of a carrier and a display stand.

This mini form of display quite convenient as it was created from a single long strip of cardboard piece that was folded along the corrugation, allowing for quick and effective assembly. And rather than forcing small tabs to fit in with each other, the method of folding and inserting cardboard strips into the holes created a tighter, stronger bond. And while a total of six macarons could be currently displayed on both layers, more macarons could be inserted by simply lengthening the sides.

Furthermore, by laying out all the colorful macarons on each row, I personally felt that this enhanced the joyful, exciting experience of scanning and eating the macarons. Imagining the context of a dinner party, I visualized a similar model sitting on the table for guests to easily pick out the macarons.

Cutting out the slits so that the macarons wouldn’t fall out

Placing real macarons inside the carrier

The top layer could also be elevated for the user to reach the bottom macarons

Questions to think about:

Do the macarons need more protection or are they way too exposed on the top? I assumed that as long as the macarons could stay still while being carried, it would be alright. But some students were concerned about dust getting on the macaron surface, or if they were to carry the macarons during a rainy day.
Are the handles too weak? The long thin strip of cardboard feels slightly flimsy due to the numerous folds along the surface. Also the tiny finger holes may also cause the user to feel nervous about holding the macarons, particularly for people with bigger hands.
How can I effectively balance the weight of the macarons on the carrier? Every time I pick up the carrier, all the macarons would roll over right to the edge, causing the whole structure to bend over. Although the macarons do not fall out immediately, it still creates a sense of vulnerability when walking longer distances with the carrier.

Part 6: Macaron Group Critique with Steve and Stacie

As it was our first group discussion focusing specifically on macarons, I took this as a valuable oppurtunity to ask for opinions on my questions (above).

Positive feedbacks)

Effective use of cardboard : Utilizing the corrugation to form a “zigzag” fold was a clever means in holding the macarons
Simple and quick assembly: Using only a single piece of cardboard
Appreciation of form : The zigzag structure along the sides allowed the macarons to be visible, letting the users know this is a macaron- specific carrier

Specific Problems)

Feels more like a “display” than a “carrier” : The first problem was something I didn’t expect at all. Before, I assumed that a display like structure would be quite appropriate for a dinner party; however, both professors stated that I may have went too far. Particularly the tiny handle created a visual cue as if it’s meant to be hung up on the wall, rather than being carried.
Consensus on the need for a cover : For this problem, I specifically asked about my previous attempts in creating a separate outer box for protection and using this display stand as the inside part. This immediately raised some disagreements, as it would once again create the new problem of “what’s in the box” question with ambiguous cues. Moreover, my current design was effective due to its simplicity, so the professors advised me to take advantage of the single piece structure to form a functioning cover.
Better handles: As I expected, the tiny holes in the handles created some discomfort when being carried around. However, I gained some great inspiration by Janet’s macaron model, where she enlargened the handle hole and bent the cardboard so that it allows for a comfortable grip.

In response to the problems above, I experimented more with the form and structure of the cardboard carrier.

Attempts to create the cover for carrier

*Goal: Somehow adding on to the single piece of cardboard to create an effective closing mechanism (without adding another structure onto it)

Extending the top edge of the “zigzag” fold to create a new layer that goes through the handle

Along with similar feedbacks from other students, I decided that the second method of creating a top lid was the best choice due to several reasons:

More protection: The top lid would curve down and cover up the macaron sides on both top and bottom layers, so there is a greater sense of closure. Meanwhile, for the winged lid, air and dust could enter directly into the large gap on the front.
Still appreciates the form of the macarons: The unique zig zag design along the sides of the carrier stands out more with the top lid—this still keeps in touch with the form of the object.
More feasible to use: The winged box was impractical once the lid opened, as it would take up greater unnecessary surface area on the sides. However, the top lid could simply open and close on its own without taking up extra space.

Experimentation with cardboard textures for cover

Another concern with the carrier cover was that it was way too stiff and rigid to be moved up and down. So I attempted on removing an extra cardboard layer or two for greater mobility and flexibility.

In the first photo, I expereimented with the rugged cardboard surface on top and smooth layer underneath. This was practical as the smoother side would gently protect the oily macaron surfaces. However, visually, it was not very attractive as the corrugation would immediately draw attention of the viewer and created a rugged, rough outlook.
For the second one, I removed both the top and corrugation layer of the cardboard, leaving only a flimsy brown sheet for the cover. It was very light and flexible, but this offered almost no protection.
The third photo is the opposite of the first, whereupon I decided to make the inner surface of the lid as the corrugated part. I initially presumed that the corrugated texture may be too rough on the macaron surfaces, but once I inserted the macarons inside, it wasn’t as problematic as I had expected.

Creating more effective handles

Gaining inspiration from Janet’s carrier, I implemented the idea of widening the hole for the hand and utilizing the cardboard piece as a “grip” for easier hold.

Experimenting with handles using smaller prototypes

Finally, integrating all the improved design choices, I assembled an enhanced version of my carrier. To implement the wider handle, I had to fold the handle on each sides to initially pull it out of the hole, and then unfolding it to show that this is only meant to be used as a handle.

Integrating both the corrugated top lid and the wider handle

Pulling the handle out of the cardboard holes

Part 7: Final Adjustments

Finally going into the weekends, I turned my focus onto the smaller details and the overall craftsmanship of my macaron carrier. I asked several students to interact with my carrier, and I found some similar problematic patterns across, such as trying to pull on the bottom latch of the carrier to open it, as well as nervously holding up my carrier while the macarons seemed to all slant forwards. Thus, I decided I needed to make much more obvious visual cues and a way to balance the weight of the macarons.

1. Editing the Tabs

The bottom latch makes the users want to pull it, instead of removing the cover from it. Even though I tried cutting the surface above more, this didn’t do much help.

Upward latch is a more clear and direct approach in signaling how to close the lid.

Rather than having the latch protrude forwards, I decided to change it so that the user would have to insert the cover lide into the bottom layer. However, a problem with this was that the corrugated surfaced tab was slightly too flimsy and thin to create an effective tab. Also, the tab could interfere by touching the macarons on the bottom row.

2. Resizing and Relocating the macarons in the carrier

While adjusting the tab, I naturally had to relocate the placement of the bottom macarons, so that they don’t interfere with the tab piercing through. By pushing the macarons further back, I also noticed that it was a lot easier to carry the macarons around as the macarons’ weight provided more stability to the back.

*3. A way to hold the lid still? → Creating a new “tab”

With a little more time in hand during the long weekend, I decided to experiment with one more minor part of my carrier. Something that continued to bother me was how the lid could not stay open on its own, and that the user would constantly have to open and close each time. I wondered if there could be a simple way to stick the cover onto the handle, so that the user can easily pick and eat the macarons.

Progression of the carriers from left to right

I sought out some different types of visual cues that would prompt the users to want to insert the latch onto the handle. After several trials, the model on the third photo worked best, as the students were able to figure out. I feel that the first one (very left) didn’t work as well because there were too many cuts and folds of cardboard that made the form a little confusing and ambiguous.

Final Work & Reflection

Overall, this project was a valuable learning experience, especially as it was my first time crafting with corrugated cardboard. Understanding how to appreciate and work around the form of our objects and bring forth a meaningful interactive experience for the users was the shared goal. Now reflecting on my work, I feel that experimentation was what really allowed me to progress on with my work, despite the unexpected challenges in between. For me “playing with cardboard” meant becoming more familar with the unique characteristics of the cardboard—by simply folding along the corrugations and exploring shapes and structures from various angles, I gained so many inspirations than trying to sketch out a design out of scratch.

Also, an important lesson I learned was how to manage time effectively especially when building models. Rather than forming large scale models from the beginning, simply trying out on smaller pieces of cardboard first or even using glue gun to attach pieces onto the prototype can help us reduce more mistakes. It is also important to be able to make decisions on an idea, but also leave room for flexibility; often times, we are nervous about unintentionally wasting a model, but those mistakes could also be what push us forward to the next step.

Personally, I am satisfied about the outcome of my carrier project, as I feel it hits some of the main criteria, such as the feasible assembly and appreciation of the macaron form. However, a room for improvement could still be in regards of exploring how to effectively distribute the weight of the macarons to prevent the carrier from slightly drooping down.