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The One Handed Condom Wrapper: An "Extreme-User" Story

By Sam Dunne - September 5, 2012

in Object Culture | Product Design | Strategy & Research

Man and condom have been locked in a bitter struggle of begrudging codependency since the beginning of time (or sometime in the 1920's). Latex may have got tougher, lubricant may have got lubricantier, but we have seen surprisingly little noteworthy product or packaging innovation, short of the occasional rubbery ridge or a mildly disconcerting flavouring.

'The One Handed Condom Wrapper'—brainchild of London based designer Ben Pawle—could be the long awaited answer to fumbling lovers' cries across the globe, and is, perhaps, the biggest coup for seamless love making since the days of bra burning.

Taking aim at the impractical impenetrability of contemporary condom packaging, Ben's foil wrapper redesign imagines the contraceptive being applied with the use of a single hand—opened, quite literally, with a click of the fingers. (Check out his video after the jump)Interestingly, Ben's concept was not the result of a sudden flash of designerly inspiration, nor was there (we are sure he would be keen to add) any Eureka moment following awkward personal experiences. The easy open condom wrapper was, in fact, one outcome of a lengthy user research project at the Glasgow School of Art, exploring the difficulties faced by semi-parlysed hemiplegics and is, perhaps, an archetypal example of how insights gleaned from the experiences of 'extreme users' can inform innovation for the mass market.

Ben admits his concept still needs some serious development and detailing before we see it on pharmacy shelves, but reflects on the value of his work lying largely in the strategic and conceptual "crafting of experiences" that can lead to future product developments.

Ben's prototype will be on show at the V&A during the upcoming London Design Festival, as part of a showcase of progressive British design.

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Ebele

12 years ago

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I think its a nice concept because it looks swift and easy to open but as adora said, a space should be left at the tip of the condom where the sperm would store. I think a mess will be made after ejaculation.
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weston

12 years ago

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thats sick as hell, where do I get one?
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Adam

12 years ago

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Paul: If you click on the link below, it explains Ben's product a little more thoroughly. There's a thin inner sealed plastic membrane inside of the foil exterior. I believe the idea is that it would help protect from anything that might get through those perforations.

http://benpawle.co.uk/onehandedcondomwrapper.html
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Ja6er

12 years ago

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I guess with the friction required to snap that packet open, it's not assuming your fingers are covered in lube or other fluids, which is (well in my experience) the biggest issue when opening the current condom wrappers.
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Paul

12 years ago

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Great idea, but does it still work if you're left handed? Seems like the condom would be the wrong way up to unroll in this instance...

And Ben makes a good point about the perforations, there's a hygiene issue that might render this application unfeasible.

Oh, and Elastic, grow up.
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elastic

12 years ago

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wow ben griffen i think the packaging is ideal for you, so you can write wanky comments with one hand and do the real thing in the other... no mess.

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emansterProvolone

12 years ago

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Condom wrappers are ALREADY one handed! Every real man knows you're supposed to use your teeth.
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adora

12 years ago

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I don't know man... you'd look like you have too much practice. Instead of being impressed, I'd be worried.
Besides, who's penis stays upright so rigidly? And don't you need another hand to pinch the tip to leave a reservoir for ejaculate? It'll leak from the side if there isn't room at the tip. I'd like to see what Consumer Reports says about this.
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Ben Griffin

12 years ago

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Very neat. I'm pleased to see designers promoting the benefits of a thorough, professional and insight-driven approach to problem solving, rather than perpetuating the idea of design as an unpredictable "creative black art".

Good ideas can be triggered by unplanned moments of inspiration, but a methodical approach is nevertheless required to validate and realise those ideas in a commercial context.

I'm interested to know how the fast opening would be achieved technically. I'm guessing that perforations in the foil wrapper wouldn't be acceptable?
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