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Pillzzle: Award-Winning Puzzle-Based Medicine Packaging Eases Children's Medication Experience

Pillzzle, designed by Yichi Chen with support from Yuanyuan Liang, is a breakthrough in children's medicine packaging that aims to reduce resistance and anxiety associated with taking medication. Drawing inspiration from children's attraction to playful shapes, colors, and interactive rewards, Pillzzle replaces traditional, impersonal packaging with a fun, puzzle-based system. Each medicine board contains four pills, each corresponding to a puzzle piece, and when all pieces are collected, they form a cute animal, turning the medication routine into a rewarding game.

The design leverages emotional and behavioral insights gained from interviews and surveys with children and parents. By integrating a progressive reward mechanism, Pillzzle encourages children to complete their treatment courses willingly, while also relieving stress for families. The packaging is crafted from plastic, aluminum foil, and TPU, ensuring safety and durability, and features easy-tear marks for parents to dispense individual doses. The product's dimensions are thoughtfully tailored for small hands, and the animal puzzles are carefully designed to balance geometric harmony with child-friendly aesthetics.

Pillzzle's development involved extensive research and prototyping, including the use of high-weight cardboard for early models and iterative sketching to perfect the animal puzzle concept. The team overcame significant challenges in creating visually appealing, geometric animal designs that fit together seamlessly, as well as in devising packaging that integrates instructions and is easy to open and close. The result is a product that not only improves the medical experience for children but also fosters a more caring and supportive environment for families and healthcare providers. The project, completed in Beijing in September 2024, has been recognized with the Iron A' Design Award for its innovative approach and positive impact.

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