We’re excited to introduce a brand new sub-category in this year’s Pentawards annual competition, celebrating companies and designers who have taken a step forward to deliver packaging designs that have been optimized to be accessible to individuals with specific needs or disabilities.

Take a look at the examples below:

Surface Adaptive Kit by Microsoft, 2022 Pentawards Silver Winner, Brand Identity & Connected Packaging

The Surface Adaptive Kit, developed in collaboration with disabled individuals was created to support a variety of needs, and offer simple unboxing, personalizing, and installation on Surface PCs and peripherals". The Adaptive Kit's packaging was designed to be easily accessible, reusable, and environmentally friendly. The moldable fiber box has a Surface brand emboss and a re-closable hinge, making it simple to save your label for later use. The folder that houses the cards has an inbuilt loop for simple removal and a Braille "QR" with an embossed QR code leads to a screen reader-friendly product overview of frequent applications.

Find out more about Microsoft’s Surface Adaptive Kit here .

Only For Your Eyes by SupperStudio, 2021 Pentawards Gold Winner, Beverages

Crafted by Supperstudio, "Only for Your Eyes," is a cold brew drink that aims to raise awareness for the 1.3 billion blind people worldwide. Created entirely in Brailled, the label represents a series of raised dots, making it accessible for the visually impaired. The raised dots are screen-printed on the labels manufactured from R Naturel Blanc FSC, an environmentally friendly extra-white felt-marked paper, made from 100% recycled fibers and varnished to add a finished look.

Find out more about Supperstudio’s design here .

Olay's inclusive Easy Open Lid

Olay unveils its first-ever Easy Open Lid, designed to appeal to a broader spectrum of consumers, with the design available for others to download and customize. With such a diverse spectrum of consumer needs frequently overlooked in container design and accessibility, Olay has taken a crucial step toward meeting those needs with its new Easy Open Lid.

The lid, designed for their cream jars, features Braille lettering, matte material, and winged edges for enhanced grip, as well as high-contrast labelling throughout the packaging design. The design aims to provide a far more pleasant and delightful experience for persons with visual impairment, dexterity challenges, and limb differences and will be offered at no additional cost and integrated into Olay's most popular products.

Find out more about Olay’s Easy Open Lid here.

Kellogg’s Accessible Packaging

Kellogg’s packaging now features NaviLens, making the packaging accessible to all. Their accessibility move began by adding NaviLens codes to all cereal boxes in Europe. Designed for the visually impaired, NaviLens is an innovative technology that allows users to have information narrated by simply pointing their smartphones at the code, making Kellogg’s the first brand in the world to use this technology. The initiative began when, acting on the frustrations voiced by the children of St. Vincent’s School with sensory impairment, an IT colleague, Zuleikha Karolia, took on the challenge to make the pack inclusive, diverse, and equal.

Find out more about Kellogg’s Accessible packaging here.

Unilever's Degree Inclusive

Unilever launched its first-ever deodorant packaging for people with disabilities. Designed to cater to those who are physically challenged, the "Degree Inclusive" is a looped container that is operational with one hand. Users with restricted grip or sight should find it easier to remove and replace the cap due to the enhanced grip location and magnetic "click" closures.

A larger roll-on applicator allows the product to cover a larger surface area with each swipe. The label also includes Braille instructions. Crafted in association with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and a team of engineers, designers, and occupational therapists, the Degree Inclusive was solely designed with the physically challenged in mind.

Find out more about Unilever’s Degree Inclusive here.

P&G's Ariel Laundry Box

P&G's Ariel has introduced the EcoClic laundry care box, which is ecological and inclusive and includes a kid safety certification. The pack checks every box; it is FSC-certified and has the potential to save 6500 metric tonnes of plastic. It also accommodates persons with dexterity challenges due to its one-click closing, making it suitable for toddlers. The new box includes a tactile marker and NaviLens for persons with vision impairment. A washing machine sign on the top of the box would allow kids to identify it with their fingers. A QR code can also be scanned for information.

Find out more about P& G’s Ariel Laundry Box here.

If you have a packaging design that eases user experiences regardless of age, gender, and disability or appeals to a diverse audience, this is your chance to showcase your work at the Pentawards Competition 2023.