Case Study:
Pantene - Patent Data-Driven Innovation Study
AULIVE
Procter and Gamble (P&G), an industry-leading health and personal care corporation tasked our team to use innovative methods of design research to conduct a study on solutions for a reusable packaging system in their subsidiary company, Pantene.
The Method
To conduct this research, we used a method of design thinking called Patent Data Driven Innovation Logic. This involved dissecting products and industry methods into their core attributes and features. This is done not only for the existing client products but also for products across all industries to find attributes and features that can be adapted for the purpose of our brief.
Patent, Property and Product Exploration
An exploration into patent databases was performed to retrieve instances of relevant incorporations of solutions around keywords such as “Refill”. A similar search was then performed for properties of products containing “Refil”. Finally, we returned a collection of products that were described or titled as “Refil Products”.
Feedback was positive and through meeting with the client we narrowed the focus to “solid forms”. With this, the products could be purchased in-store or be used for on-the-go bulk dispensing.
In Domain Systems
Solutions from current competitors and similar business models were analysed. Health and personal care companies and cleaning supply manufacturers already had a strong background in refillable and reusable products. We looked into how they were being used and dissected the features and attributes of each system.
A study on materials was also conducted to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the properties and implementation of each commonly used material.
Findings included but were not limited to refilling stations, refilling stores, to-your-door refills, concentrates, reusable and refillable systems, at-home dispensaries and subscription models.
Out Of Domain Systems
How might solutions to similar problems from outside the domain of P&G be used to develop ideas to be used for Pantene products?
Property Variation
How does...
State - changing a product's state from solid/liquid/gas...
Fragmentation -causing or using fragmentation...
Shape - size/form/ergonomics...
Porosity - using porous properties...
Senses - scent/taste/touch/sound/visuals...
Flexibility - the ability to change the form of a material or product...
Integration - a product combining two or more material or chemical properties at different stages in the product's life-cycle...
Information - a product’s ability to be changed by or display information...
Automation - a product’s ability to dispense/dissolve/release/interact autonomously...
...impact the packaging/logistics/purchasing/application/end of life of the product?
Solutions
A range of solutions that outlined opportunities for further research and development were developed.
A refillery to take advantage of the growing refillable hub market.
These solutions included ideas focused around the following:
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In-store refill
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Replace component
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Reduce packaging
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Reduce Ingredients
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Product application
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Product activation
Basic interpretations of how Pantene could use our research to develop new products