February 2023 – TwonaBlog

February 27, 2023February 27, 2023

Trabajando en remoto recordando el trabajo en la oficina

El trabajo remoto o teletrabajo ha ganado mucha popularidad en los últimos años debido a las facilidades que brinda en términos de flexibilidad, reducción de costos y mejora en la calidad de vida. No vamos a mencionar la causa que, no hace mucho tiempo, nos obligó a trabajar de esta manera temporalmente. Sin embargo, como toda modalidad de trabajo, tiene sus puntos positivos y negativos que es importante tener en cuenta si puedes tomar la decisión de trabajar de forma remota.

En este articulo vamos a numerar algunos pros y contras de a ambos modelos donde aportaré mi experiencia personal al respecto.

Trabajando en remoto

Uno de los mayores beneficios del trabajo remoto es la eliminación del tiempo de desplazamiento. Al no tener que desplazarse hacia y desde la oficina, los trabajadores pueden ahorrar tiempo y dinero en transporte. Además, al evitar el tráfico y la aglomeración de personas en el transporte público, se reduce el estrés y se mejora la calidad de vida.

En mi caso, tengo una dicotomía al valorar el tiempo de desplazamiento, por un lado no puedo decir que fuera estresante dado que trabajo en Málaga y mi desplazamiento al trabajo era en bici por un precioso paseo marítimo, no me odies, no es culpa mía..jajajaja; cero estrés a mencionar, en cualquier caso si he tenido algún día de mucho trabajo y estrés, ¿y quién no?, donde he echado de menos un tiempo de desconexión de la vida laboral a la vida familiar, a veces no es sencillo cambiar el chip en los dos minutos que tardas en cerrar la sesión de tu portátil y tener que lidiar con una pelea de hermanos, la razón es clara, no somos máquinas.

Otro beneficio del trabajo remoto es la flexibilidad en cuanto a horarios y ubicación. Los trabajadores que producen en remoto pueden establecer su propio horario y trabajar desde cualquier lugar con acceso a internet, lo que les permite equilibrar su vida laboral y personal de manera más efectiva. Esto es especialmente útil para aquellos que tienen responsabilidades familiares o que necesitan trabajar en horarios no convencionales.

He trabajado con un compañero que por razones que no vienen al caso tuvo una experiencia en Australia durante 2 meses, es un front-end developper y adecuando los horarios pudo tener esa experiencia y hacer su trabajo sin ningún problema. Es cierto que puede ser un caso extremo ir a la otra parte del mundo, pero es una experiencia real y de éxito.

Además, el trabajo en remoto puede mejorar la productividad. Al trabajar desde casa, los empleados pueden evitar distracciones y ruido excesivo, lo que les permite concentrarse mejor en sus tareas. También pueden establecer un ambiente de trabajo personalizado y cómodo, lo que les permite ser más eficientes.

Respecto a distracciones y ruido en realidad es una cuestión de profesionalidad respecto a la implicación con tu trabajo, puedes tener la mala suerte de que todos tus vecinos decidan secuencialmente hacer obra en su baño pero eso no tiene nada que ver con tu lugar de trabajo, si no te sientes implicado e ilusionado con tu trabajo, cualquier mosca que pase, estes donde estes, será muy interesante.

Trabajando en la oficina VS trabajo en remoto

Por otro lado, hay ciertos aspectos negativos que también deben tenerse en cuenta. Uno de ellos es la falta de interacción cara a cara con colegas y compañeros de trabajo. Aunque la tecnología ha permitido una mayor comunicación en línea, todavía no se puede reemplazar la interacción personal y la camaradería que se desarrolla en un entorno de oficina. Esto puede afectar negativamente el sentido de pertenencia y la cultura de compañerismo de la empresa.

Otro desafío del trabajo remoto es la necesidad de establecer límites claros entre el trabajo y la vida personal. Al no tener un lugar de trabajo físico, es fácil caer en la tentación de trabajar todo el tiempo, lo que puede llevar a la sobrecarga de trabajo y el agotamiento. También puede ser difícil desconectar del trabajo cuando el ambiente de trabajo y el hogar son el mismo lugar.

Comparando el crecimiento del primer y segundo peque, la verdad es que me he sentido mucho más conectado con su evolución temprana trabajando desde casa y estoy eternamente agradecido por la coincidencia por haber tenido un bebe “pandemiar” ya que llegó en pleno encierro. Mentiría si diría que trabajar en remoto siempre es fantástico y solo cuento con mi experiencia y la de mis compañeros.

Resumiendo, entiendo que hay miles de detalles atenuantes en lo que se refiere a optar por un trabajo en la oficina o desde casa, es importante tener en cuenta tanto los beneficios como los desafíos del trabajo remoto antes de tomar una decisión. Para muchas personas, el trabajo remoto puede ser una gran opción que les permite equilibrar su vida laboral y personal de manera efectiva. Sin embargo, para otros, la falta de interacción personal y la necesidad de establecer límites claros entre el trabajo y la vida personal pueden ser desafíos significativos.

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023

Los medicamentos genéricos y el árido campo para sembrar la polémica

La industria de los medicamentos genéricos es una parte integral del sistema de salud de todo el mundo. Sin embargo, existe un debate en curso sobre la verdad en la industria de los medicamentos genéricos. En este artículo, se discutirán las leyes que regulan el mercado de los medicamentos genéricos, así como la realidad química de los efectos beneficiosos y secundarios de estos medicamentos.

En primera instancia quien tiene cierta relación con la industria farmacéutica debería tenerlo claro pero lo cierto es que he oido a médicos cuestionarlo, si si, a médicos, en Europa en el siglo XXI. Bajo mi punto de vista este tipo de cosas, van de la mano con comentarios como que los aviones de una compañía de bajo coste son inseguros, el gran argumento es que supuestamente no pasan los mismos controles de seguridad en los aeropuertos. Ni voy a entrar en quien siembra este tipo de bulos por llamarlo de una manera menos hiriente, a los efectos da igual, es una cuestión de dejadez e ignorancia porque todos tenemos internet y con una búsqueda sobre la ley o entidad reguladora la duda queda resuelta.

Dicho esto y retomando el tema de los genéricos y centrándome en Europa, la ley cambió en 2004 donde desaparece la obligación de que el medicamento de referencia deba estar comercializado en el estado miembro en el que se pretende comercializar el medicamento genérico y se fija un único período de protección administrativa de los datos relativos al medicamento de referencia de 8 años aunque no podrán comercializarse hasta transcurridos los 10 años desde la fecha de autorización inicial del medicamento de referencia. Es decir, un laboratorio tiene 10 años para amortizar y rentabilizar un nuevo fármaco.

Leyes que regulan el mercado de los medicamentos genéricos

En Europa, la Agencia Europea de Medicamentos (EMA, por sus siglas en inglés) es la agencia responsable de la aprobación y regulación de los medicamentos, incluidos los medicamentos genéricos. La EMA requiere que los medicamentos genéricos sean bioequivalentes al medicamento de marca y cumplan con los mismos estándares de calidad, fuerza y pureza, es decir que contiene los mismos ingredientes activos y se absorbe de la misma manera en el cuerpo.

En los Estados Unidos, la FDA es la agencia federal responsable de la aprobación y regulación de los medicamentos con los mismos criterios de la EMA.

En ambos casos, la aprobación de un medicamento genérico requiere pruebas rigurosas y rigurosos estándares de seguridad y eficacia. Aunque algunos críticos argumentan que los medicamentos genéricos no son tan efectivos como los medicamentos de marca, los estudios han demostrado consistentemente que los medicamentos genéricos son igual de efectivos que los medicamentos de marca.

Realidad química de los efectos beneficiosos y secundarios de los medicamentos genéricos

La realidad química de los efectos beneficiosos de los medicamentos genéricos es la misma que la de los medicamentos de marca. Los medicamentos genéricos contienen los mismos ingredientes activos que los medicamentos de marca y, por lo tanto, tienen los mismos efectos beneficiosos. Sin embargo, los medicamentos genéricos pueden contener diferentes excipientes, que son los ingredientes inactivos que se utilizan para dar forma a la píldora, mejorar la absorción o el sabor, o para ayudar a preservar el medicamento. Estos excipientes pueden variar entre los medicamentos genéricos y de marca, pero no afectan la eficacia del medicamento. A veces esta parte es la que los escépticos toman como bandera para justificar lo incuestionable.

Por otro lado, los efectos secundarios de los medicamentos genéricos pueden ser diferentes de los efectos secundarios de los medicamentos de marca. Esto se debe a que algunos de los excipientes utilizados en los medicamentos genéricos pueden afectar la absorción y la metabolización del medicamento en el cuerpo, lo que puede afectar la probabilidad de experimentar efectos secundarios.

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

Para cerrar con un ejemplo, el ácido acetilsalicílico o AAS, conocido popularmente como aspirina, nombre de una marca que pasó al uso común, fue creada por Bayer en 1897, el siglo pasado ni más ni menos, es decir, el ácido acetilsalicílico es exactamente igual en todos y cada uno de los laboratorios que se produce en todo el mundo, ¿queda alguna duda al respecto?.

February 17, 2023

The battle between designers and clients

Effective communication is crucial for the success of any well thought through design project, more so in packaging design for highly regulated ventures such as pharmaceuticals and food. One of the key aspects in the field related to the communication between designers and clients, which can be very challenging at times, particularly when it comes to the approval of designs. This challenge is particularly relevant when tracking multiple design versions. Read on as we explore the key challenges and discuss the benefits of implementing a digital design approval process.

The Challenges

The lack of clarity in the feedback provided by clients is one of the biggest challenges (and pains that designers have to suffer) in the approval process. Designers may create a design that meets the client’s requirements (in principle), only to receive feedback that is not clear, ambiguous and difficult to follow. This can lead to a frustrating back-and-forth process, usually by email, that wastes time and may not lead to a satisfactory outcome.

In any design process, it is unlikely that the first version will be approved and multiple iteration are usually needed. The designer may create several different iterations to explore different ideas and make changes based on client feedback. It can be challenging to keep track of all these files, which can result in confusion and mistakes. The larger the number of version, the higher the risk of introducing a mistake that is eventually printed.

The benefits of a digital approval tool

Many designers have turned in the past few years to digital design approval processes. With a digital process, designers can present their designs to clients in a clear and organized way, making it easier for clients to provide feedback and streamlining the overall design workflow. The digitalisation of the approval process also allows for tracking multiple versions of a design, which helps eveyone stay on the same page.

Some of the benefits of a digital approval tool are:

It can save time. Instead of going back and forth through email or in-person meetings, the digital process allows for quick and easy communication between designer and client. This can help speed up the approval process, which is essential when working on tight deadlines. It also keeps all the information in one single place. This is called: Single Source of Truth.
It can help reduce errors and misunderstandings. By presenting designs in a clear and organized way, the designer can reduce the risk of miscommunication and ensure that the client understands the design and any changes that are made. Visibility is essential in an effective communication channel.

A digital process can definitely help improve the overall quality of the design while reducing miss-communication risks and providing a streamline workflow . By allowing for easy collaboration and feedback, all stakeholders can access true and accurate information regarding the designs.

Are you using a Digital Approval System? If not, what are you waiting for?

February 16, 2023

Accountability and Authority, The Saga

Once upon a time, in a packaging company not so far away, there was a team of designers tasked with the creation and management of product packaging for their Ancestors . The designers were excited to start working on the project and put their creative and technical skills to the test. They had been trained by the master Designers and could summon the Gods of Regulatory.

The Gods of Regulatory were responsible for ensuring that the package met all necessary regulations and guidelines, Lord praise the FDA, the EMA and the local regulatory bodies. They were accountable for the content that was placed on the packaging design. And they were good at it. They had to appease the recall demons, for one mistake could cost them dearly.

After many times together in the battle field however, the Designes and the Gods of Regulatory realized that while they were accountable for the packaging, and would suffer the consequences of an attack on their impeccable recall record, they lacked the authority to make any meaningful changes on their battle process. There were simply too many stakeholders, too many hidden decision makers and way too many KPIs to fulfil.

One day, the designers submitted a proposal for an improved workflow model that they were particularly proud of. They had worked hand in hand with the regulatory team tirelessly on it for weeks and were excited to finally present it to the higher court, the Decision Makers. However, they were swiftly denied their wishes. The Decision Makers had rejected the proposal outright, without providing any concrete reasons for their decision. They simply said: It shall not be done.

The designers were frustrated, the regulatory experts were angry. They all felt like they were being held accountable for something they had no control over. If something went wrong, their heads would roll, but without the means to change course, they felt abandoned and desperate. They began to lose their faith, their motivation and engagement in the project. To make matters worse, they soon discovered that the same thing was happening to other teams in the company.

The problem wasn’t just with their process; the company’s organizational structure and old fashioned culture made it difficult for anyone to have the necessary authority to make meaningful changes. Everything had to be escalated to the high court, where decisions were made without hands-on knowledge of the actual work that had to be done.

As a result, the frustrated designers and regulatory experts decided to take matters into their own hands. They started taking actions outside of their workflow to expedite the pressing deadlines and reach their tight objectives. They were operating under the blanket of cover and darkness, very much aware of the lack of compliance and added risks. But they had no choice, it was the only way to complete the assigned tasks.

The moral of the story is that accountability without authority can be a frustrating and demotivating experience. Furthermore, when the processes in place do not match the actual job requirements, the non-authoritative stakeholders are usually forced to take action, stepping outside of the agreed models to accomplish their tasks. When key stakeholders lack the necessary authority to make changes, it can lead to a lack of engagement and creativity, and in most cases non-compliance with SOPs. In the case of packaging companies, designers and regulatory experts must work together to ensure that the design process is collaborative and efficient, but they need to have authority to make changes to the process when it no longer works.

Do you feel accountable but lack authority?

February 15, 2023

Be like water….

When it comes to corporate packaging design, transparency is key. We always insist on this aspect, specially when on-boarding new teams that are used to a more traditional approach where compartmentalisation of information is common practice.

A packaging design workflow involves multiple stakeholders, including internal teams such as marketing, product development, and design, as well as external partners such as packaging manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. This complex network of stakeholders makes it essential to have a clear and centralised system of information sharing to prevent errors and reduce risk.

Compartmentalisation vs Transparency

Compartmentalisation is the approach of separating information into individual units or silos, which can only be accessed by certain individuals or groups. This approach can have some benefits, such as providing increased security for sensitive information or enabling clear lines of authority and responsibility. However, there are also significant risks associated with compartmentalisation that can hinder the success of a business or organisation.

One of the biggest risks of a compartmentalised approach is that it can create barriers to effective communication and collaboration. So basically some individuals might not know at one given time what is going on because information is hidden from them. This can lead to a lack of coordination, missed opportunities, and duplicated effort, which can ultimately hinder business growth and success.

On the other side of the spectrum, transparent processes can have many benefits. When stakeholders have access to the same information and there is clarity about what is going on at any time, it can help to identify and mitigate risks early on, before they become significant problems.

Transparency can also lead to greater accountability and trust.

Transparency how?

Transparency for packaging design can be achieved through the use of a centralized AMS tool, such Twona NeXT. It allows all stakeholders to have access to project-related information and updates in real-time, reducing the need for manual updates and reducing the risk of miscommunications.

In addition, transparency can also ensure the final product meets all necessary requirements and standards such as compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

But how far do we go?

The line between transparency and compartmentalisation can however be difficult to spot. Too much of either and the process will suffer or the risk will be too high.

A good rule to thumb for packaging design processes within pharmaceutical teams follows these key aspects:

High visibility – Being able to understand the status of a project within a complex workflow creates trust, clarity and a sense of belonging by all relevant stakeholders. Keep it open, let all relevant parties see what is happening. Limiting visibility is only advisable when dealing with competing external stakeholders such as multiple design agencies.
Silo the actions – For compliance requirements, it might be needed to limit what each stakeholders can do. This is ensure everyone can fulfil their own actions while reducing the risk of mistakes. For instance, the Design team should be the only one capable of uploading new versions while approvals can only be granted by the Regulatory team.
Train everyone on the entire process – A key component of digitising a process is the training that each stakeholder needs to be part of. For larger teams, it might be wise to split the teams to focus on their part of the process. However, the entire process should be shown to all stakeholders to ensure there is clarity and a complete understanding of what is going on at every moment.
Don’t give access to external stakeholders – When collaborating with external teams such as suppliers, printers and others, it is a good practice to establish a collaboration model that is based on an on-demand basis. This means only when the core team requests something from the external members, the information can be provided or consumed, keeping access to the larger process blocked at all times. This approach reduces risks and simplifies the actions that external stakeholders need to take on your process.

In summary, defining the level of access (both views and actions) when digitising your artwork process should be considered as one of the most relevant task before you get started. Think through it, check with all stakeholders, determine which level of transparency fits your team and remember that silos are the enemy of collaboration.

February 14, 2023

La sinergia como esencia en el diseño de tu packaging

Llevo más de 15 años diseñando packaging y si hablo de proyectos como serialización, puede ser que tengas claro a que industria destino mayoritariamente mi tiempo de trabajo, pero no es importante el sector en este caso, ya que trabajar para y con tu cliente no es nuevo para ti.

Ir juntos es un comienzo; mantenerse juntos es progreso; trabajar juntos es el éxito.
Henry Ford

Cuándo y por qué

No, Henry Ford que tanto ha aportado, no fue el primero en hablar de sinergía, ¿o si?, el término se acuño en el siglo XIX aunque hasta finales del siglo XX no se puso de moda en el mundo laboral. En cualquier caso, cuando menciona que el trabajo juntos o en equipo es el éxito, no hay duda de que tenía claro que remar todos en el mismo sentido es mejor.

En este sentido, la creación de sinergias con el cliente es crucial para garantizar el éxito del proyecto. Ambas partes deben estar alineadas a la hora de hacer un proyecto común compartiendo y mejorando la información disponible constantemente, dado que las reglas y/o normativas, las terceras partes como impresores o las necesidades pueden cambiar a lo largo del tiempo.

La comunicación entre el diseñador y el cliente debe ser constante a lo largo del proceso de diseño. Es importante compartir ideas, discutir los detalles y recibir comentarios para poder mejorar el proyecto.

¿Has tenido la sensación de que a veces se acumulan los cambios o notas en un procedimiento a seguir durante demasiado tiempo? ¿Cada cuánto se debe hablar con el cliente para alinear detalles?

No creo que haya una fórmula que aplique a todos los casos, pero estaremos de acuerdo en que tener una reunión una vez al año es insuficiente. Insuficiente porque en el mundo de hoy todo va rápido y todo cambia y si no crees que sea así puede ser que haya que pararse a pensar y estudiar con detenimiento los detalles porque todo proceso, siempre, es susceptible de mejora.

En resumen, el diseñador, como experto en el diseño de packaging, debe actuar como un facilitador que coordina y une a todas estas partes para lograr un proyecto exitoso y para ello que eso ocurra, en relación con nuestro cliente, son vitales ciertos aspectos:

Comunicación fluida
Recursos compartidos y comunes
Trabajar en soluciones en lugar de perseguir “razones”
Revisión y mejora continua en los procesos

Además, la creación de sinergias con el cliente también implica estar abiertos a cambios y a adaptarse a las nuevas circunstancias que puedan surgir durante el proyecto. Por ejemplo, pueden aparecer nuevas regulaciones o restricciones que afecten al diseño del packaging.

¿Puede ser el futuro y cercano cambio respecto a los plásticos en la UE una buena excusa para reunirte con tu cliente?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/twona_recycled-plastic-foods-activity-6993122601833226240-vT5z?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

February 14, 2023

5 key components of a VMP for SaaS

Artwork management in the pharmaceutical industry is a critical process that requires accuracy and precision to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and avoid errors in the packaging design that make it to the market and risk a product recall. The artwork management process is sometimes underestimated as it pertains to a non-core activity for brands and manufacturers of medicines and medical devices. However, it can be a critical aspect when facing an audit and even more when such audit is triggered by a product recall.

Multi-tenant SaaS solutions are becoming more popular with pharmaceutical companies, despite the traditional on-site installations, as they offer lower pricing points and less on-boarding hassle (lower financial costs and faster implementation). One key component that is still not fully understood is the fact that validation of on-site custom made solutions differs significantly from the validation approach required for multi-tenant SaaS applications.

The first key component is the Validation Master Plan (VMP) which outlines the validation process. Here we will discuss five key components that must be included in a VMP document for the validation of a multi-tenant SaaS Artwork Management System.

Scope and Objectives – This section needs to clearly define the scope and objectives of the validation process. Let’s dive in. The scope should outline the functionalities of the multi-tenant SaaS solution that will be validated, including any third-party integrations. It is important to define the scope with care and discuss which components need to be included. One aspect that is often overlooked when validation a SaaS application is that in many cases, there will be external services (typically micro services) and infrastructure. These, as long as they only play a servicing role, can be left out of the scope since they are controlled by a third party. The objectives should detail the specific outcomes that the validation process aims to achieve, such as ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements or minimizing the risk of errors or data loss.
Validation Strategy and Acceptance Criteria – The validation strategy should specify the validation approach, including the type of validation to be performed, such as installation qualification, operational qualification, and performance qualification. It is a good idea to include specifically which aspects of the solution will be relevant for the validation. The acceptance criteria should detail the testing methodology, including the type of testing to be performed, such as functional testing, user acceptance testing, and performance testing.
Roles and Responsibilities – This section should clearly outline the roles of the validation team, project manager, system administrator, and any other key stakeholders involved in the validation process. It should also detail the responsibilities of each team member, including their participation in the validation activities and their expected deliverables.
Testing Documentation – The documentation section should detail the testing documentation that will be used and delivered during the validation process. This section should include a list of all required testing documents, including test plans, test scripts, and test cases. It can also outline the testing schedule and the expected timeline for completing each testing activity.
Change Control – The final component of a VMP document should detail the procedures for making changes to the multi-tenant SaaS solution after the validation process is complete. It should include a list of change control forms (or other methods for documenting the required changes), detailing the requirements for documenting changes, and the process for reviewing and approving changes.

The VMP document is an essential tool that will guide you through the validation process.There is however not a single way to create it. Depending on your scope and criteria, the contents of the document can change dramatically. One critical aspect is choosing carefully which components of the application you are going to validate. For applications that rely on external infrastructure or services, specially when managed by third parties, it might prove difficult to get all the components required to validate those services. Our advice is to focus on your application and ensure that all third party infrastrucure and services are only services and do not represent a core data processing unit of your set of features.

If you get the VMP right, the rest of the validation will be much more approachable than having to come back to the VMP to make changes. Spend your time wisely, get the VMP right and your validation will be a breeze.

Want to know more key differences between a traditional VMP and a VMP for a SaaS solution, let us know!

February 13, 2023

Version 1.1….version 1.1_new….version 1.1_final

Document versioning is an essential aspect of packaging design, as it ensures the accurate tracking of changes made to the design from one iteration to the next. If you have ever received or sent an email with a subject or a filename that reads something along the lines of “Version 3_final_final”, then keep reading.

Version Control

Version control is the first aspect of document versioning in packaging design. It involves keeping track of all changes made to the design, including modifications to text, graphics, and other elements. This helps ensure that all stakeholders can identify the latest version of the design, reducing the risk of confusion and errors. When I say identify, I mean it. It is not just about downloading the right version, but about being able to uniquely identity a file by just looking at it.

By using version control (keep on reading, we get to the main course soon), the complete creation and modification process is properly tracked. This is particularly critical in highly regulated environments such as packaging design for pharmaceutical companies.

Version Numbering

Version numbering involves assigning a unique version number to each iteration of the design. It is not really relevant HOW the number is defined. Some companies prefer to use a combination of numbers and letters (Version 1 revision A, Version 1 revision B), while others prefer a more straightforward model based on integers (Version 1, Version 2). We do prefer a mixed approach with 2 versioning digits: Version.Subversion. This allows us to track easily major revisions with the first digit and feedback rounds with the second (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2). The version number NEEDS to be included in the design itself in a way that can be printed. This allows port print identification of design versions which will be critical in the event of a product recall or an audit.

By using version numbering, designers can easily identify which version of the design they are working on, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that everyone is working with the same version. This also helps with traceability, as the version number can be used to track changes and identify the origin of any issues that may arise.

Version History

It is also important to keep a record of all changes made to the design, including who made the change, when it was made, and why it was made. The link between the version history and the design itself is made via the version number. For every version number, there has to be a historic record of changes and change requests. If you rely on emails, papers or phone calls for this…..you should read this.

Version history is critical at the Quality Control stage or the workflow when someone needs to validate that the changes made are what was expected and nothing else was introduced by mistake.

I don’t wanna

Many teams are reluctant to implement a printable version control system. This can be due to fear of being perceived as a team that needs more than one iteration to get it right. However, when multiple version 1s exist on a given system (email, shared folders, wetransfer) the risk of printing the wrong file becomes a very serious concern. No auditor in its right mind would ever pass a packaging company that does not implement version control from conception to printing.

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023

We make more rounds to avoid mistakes…the Fallacy

Have you ever heard from a client that the reason they make so many rounds or checks (and they seem to be proud) is to avoid mistakes in the final product?

I translate this as “reducing the probability of making a mistake” in the design of the packaging.

Well….let me tell you this:

THEY ARE LYING TO YOU
Anybody that can do statistical analysis

Designing and creating designs for packaging materials, specially for food, retail and pharma, is a complex process that involves multiple rounds of designing, checking and refinement. One might expect that with each additional round of design and checks, the probability of making a mistake decreases. However, this idea is counter-intuitive and exploring the math clearly shows how more rounds of changes do indeed lead to a higher probability of making ANY mistake. Let’s check it out, it is not too complex.

The Setup

Let’s say that the probability of making a mistake when implementing a design is 1/10, or in other words, 10% of the times a designer will make a mistake. It does not matter if this number is realistic or not. More experienced designers will make mistakes less often than more experienced ones. The numbers do not affect the calculation and are only used to showcase the scenario.

Let’s also say, that we want to know that is the probability of making ANY mistake when making 1 design round versus 4 rounds of changes. In the first case, for a single round, the probability of making a mistake is set at 10%. For the second case, the probability of making ANY mistake after 4 rounds, we need a bit of math. Don’t be afraid, it is simple.

The Proof

The probability of NOT making a mistake on any given design round is 1 – 1/10 = 9/10 (so 90%). The probability of NOT making a mistake on all four consecutive design rounds is (9/10)^4 = 6561/10000 (so 65%).

To find the combined probability of making ANY mistake, we subtract the probability of NOT making a mistake on all four consecutive actions from 1:

1 – (9/10)^4 = 1 – 6561/10000 = 3439/10000 = 0.3439 = 34.39%.

So the combined probability of making ANY mistake if you execute 4 consecutive design rounds is 34.39%.

That is more than 3 times the probability of making a mistake on a single round. This is key, so clients can understand that a well-defined brief and instructions improve the odds of nailing the design in the first round, which then reduces the probability of making a mistake on further design rounds.

Fell free to send this proof to your clients so they start sending better briefs (including accurate technical specs).

February 10, 2023February 10, 2023

Por qué exigir documentos técnicos correctos para el diseño de tu packaging

A la hora de diseñar un packaging hay tres pilares fundamentales:

Guideline donde se describen las reglas corporativas respecto, colores, proporciones, posición de elementos y logos, en definitiva la esencia de nuestra organización.

Los textos a implementar, generalmente un documento word idílicamente revisado por el departamentos de asuntos regulatorios o marketing según el tipo de producto.

El documento técnico aportado por el fabricante o impresor donde se definen las medidas, tipo de material, grosor y reglas en códigos visuales.

Centrándonos en el documento técnico, en primera instancia no debería ser un problema dado que el impresor, debería aportar un documento con sus reglas para que el diseñador implemente los textos necesarios con la esencia del cliente.

Cuando me preguntan que hago en mi trabajo me gusta decir que hago puzzles, y para ello las piezas deben encajar, ¿verdad?.

Cómo debe ser un documento técnico

Los detalles en estos documentos son esenciales para garantizar que el diseño y la producción del envase se realicen de manera eficiente y efectiva. Después de más de 20 años produciendo packaging con miles de modelos el proceso se puede hacer tan complicado como poco claro sean sus reglas además de las muy comunes omisiones de información por lo que básicamente debe incluir solamente cinco detalles bien definidos, sólo cinco:

1.- Escala 1:1, es decir, una escala correcta sin proporciones incoherentes. Del mismo modo ya se ven poco, pero no hace mucho podías encontrar planos hechos con el famoso Autocad con diseños mal escalados e inservibles para su uso y edición en herramientas básicas de diseño como Illustrator o Indesign.

2.- Especificaciones respecto al material, incluyendo gramaje, grosor, si es un material reciclado y siendo exquisito una ayuda visual para sabes si es un papel continuo en rollo o si es tipo cliché entre.

3.- Límites y máximos, donde debe especificarse detalles como los márgenes, zonas de impresión o por el contrario zonas libres de texto donde no debemos incluir información dado que dicha zona tiene una reserva para incluir los datos variables o es una zona de plegado, por ejemplo. Otros detalles serían la posición del braille, localización de las etiquetas para garantizar la inviolabilidad, los datos variables como loteado o fecha de caducidad y posición de los datos de la famosa serialización.

4.- Reglas respecto a los códigos visuales, en éste apartado hay mucha variedad como laetus, códigos 128, datamatrix, collating marks (perdón, no conozco la acepción en español). En cualquier caso todos estarán bien definidos si se define: posición, orientación, dimensión y color.

5.- Colores, definiendo aspectos como el máximo de colores posibles, especificar si debe tener un color específico como negro muy común en un prospecto. La excelencia en éste apartado sería tener una nomenclatura de los colores técnicos, es decir, lo contrario a recibir un documento en cuatricomía (CMYK). ¿Es mucho pedir un documento con colores bien estructurados?. Si recibes de tu impresor un documento técnico con colores con una nomenclatura como la siguiente: dimensions, cutting, creasing, guides, perforating, Text Area, Text Free, Ink Free, solo me queda aconsejarte que felicites a tu impresor y que sigas trabajando con él todo lo que puedas.

Para terminar, exige a tu impresor que cumpla con éstas cinco pautas, la excelencia esta en la búsqueda de la mejora continua, de ésta manera te vas a ahorrar mucha frustración cuando te llegan una y otra vez rechazos de tus materiales incurriendo en versiones innecesarias y los nunca deseados retrasos sin mencionar la gran importancia si hablamos de nuevos lanzamientos.