The Swedish Rheumatism Association constantly works to influence the market so that packaging will function for everyone. We know a great deal about the consequences of poorly designed packaging. We are not experts in product design, which is why we have collaborated with Professor Lena Lorentzen for many years. She is responsible for the Swedish Rheumatism Association’s testing of packaging and products.

How did your commitment to inclusive design begin?

When I was young, I worked in the rheumatology department at Karolinska Hospital and saw how many patients could have managed on their own if products had been better designed. That was when I realized I wanted to work with inclusive design. Already during my studies, I began developing solutions for people with reduced hand function, and since then, it has been my calling.

How do you design packaging that is easy to open and handle?

Today, many people with reduced hand function are excluded because packaging often requires a great deal of strength and can only be opened using one specific grip—something that may be severely impaired. Instead, the needed force should be minimized, and multiple ways to grip and use the packaging should be made possible.

It is also important to design packaging so that both hands can receive support and counterforce. That way, the limited strength a person has is not used merely to hold the package steady to prevent slipping but can instead be applied to the actual opening action. To truly create inclusive design, people with different types of impairments must be involved in product development, with their needs serving as a starting point for packaging design. By co-creating with them, you not only achieve an inclusive result but also a shorter design process.

Is it possible to make child-resistant packaging that's not hopelessly difficult to open for people with reduced hand function?

Yes, it is. I have personally designed two different solutions. Both are based on performing certain actions in a specific sequence, but without requiring strong hands or combined movements such as push-and-twist—something that has almost become the standard today. You can also work with hand size to exclude children. Most packaging is designed in a very traditional way. There is a real need for innovations in this area. 

Many packages with tethered caps are both challenging to open and difficult to handle. Why do you think that is?

A central reason is that tethered caps have primarily been developed to meet environmental and regulatory requirements rather than user needs. EU directives aimed at reducing plastic litter have led to technical solutions where the cap must remain attached to the package, while ergonomics and usability have often become secondary considerations.

Another critical factor is that many of these solutions build on existing standard caps and production lines to minimize costs. There is also a lack of understanding of the variation in human hand function. Design often assumes a “norm user” with good strength, mobility, and sensory ability. When user testing is conducted, it rarely includes people with reduced hand function. As a result, problems are not identified until the product is already in use.

All of this has led to many tethered caps being poorly designed from an ergonomic perspective. They are often small and low, providing a limited gripping surface. The ridges are, in many cases, dense, shallow, and sharp, which does not provide sufficient friction and can also cause discomfort or pain during use. Combined with the fact that these caps often require relatively high torque to open, they become particularly problematic for people with reduced hand strength, pain, stiffness, or fine motor limitations.

Another issue is that the cap's function in the open position is not always well thought out. If the cap does not remain in a stable, fully open position, it risks getting in the way when pouring or drinking directly from the package. This can lead to spillage and unsafe handling. In some cases, the user must hold the cap aside with their fingers, which further increases the demands on coordination and grip ability. In summary, these difficulties result from prioritizing environmental requirements, cost efficiency, and existing technical systems over ergonomics and inclusive design.

Why do you think more packaging has not been developed to work for all consumers?

Most packaging is developed by people who themselves do not have reduced hand function. At best, they imagine users who are like themselves, just a bit weaker. But reduced hand function can manifest in many ways other than reduced strength. It can involve fine motor control, sensation, pain, joint mobility, numbness, and more.

Product developers assume this leads to packaging that is more complicated to manufacture and requires more material. But that is often not true—small design changes can make a big difference. I wish more people would dare to try, and I am happy to help. A good opportunity is right now, when packaging must be redesigned anyway for a more sustainable future.