memory card storage

Hi,

I am a design student currently in my third year of product design at the university of northampton and have a project whereby i am looking to design out waste within the area of digital memory cards and their packaging.

i am looking to design a unit that can store multiple memory cards in to eliminate the need of packaging for them in shops that would normally be thrown away. The rough idea is that when you purchase a camera you get a container, then when you wish to buy a new or extra card you take it to the shop and they put it in the container and thus eliminates the need to package them in the ways they are currently packaged.

I would like to know if you use digital photography, if you use multiple cards and formats, would a product like this be of interest to you, do you think it would work and are you bothered about the packaging a memory card comes in?

Any feedback that you could give would be of great help towards the development of my idea and project.

Perhaps you are trying to re-invent the wheel? http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …ghType=category​Navigation (among others)

And as much as I dislike excess packaging, I don't think consumers want to go back to the days of the "pickle barrel" for some things. Without some factory packaging, how would you know you are getting a new card? But you may be onto something if you can get rid of the blister packs and cardboard that gets trashed. Good luck! Keep us posted on progress.

The packaging is also used to house security devices as well. It's size can also be a deterrant for smaller products. Also, how do you intend to merchandise the memory cards? Or protect them from dust. Your solution must appeal to not just consumers. You should consider the opinions of manufacturers, shippers, wholesalers, and retailers.

I'm not sure I understand the purpose of your project.

I'm just guessing here, but most photographers who are not at the professional level probably own fewer than 6 or maybe 8 cards. Many pros have 25, 30, 40 or even more. How many cards are you wanting to put into this "container" ?

Secondly, for anyone doing fieldwork - weight and sizing in a critical issue. Memory cards are thin, but several of the bulk containers have a lot of excessive space in them. A GOOD "container" (in my mind) would be something very very slim and extremely light. (ounces do add up) The product Ross linked you too is a good example of something that might work for someone who had only a handful of cards... but definitely wouldn't be practical for someone who spends weeks inthe field and has to maximize every single square inch of space.

But let's take a step back here... because Im confused.

Are you saying that if John Doe goes to the Camera Store to buy a new card, some clerk behind the counter will just place it in this container? I can think of numerous reasons why the manufacturers won't want their cards piled in a box (dust, temperature variations, 5-finger discounts for employees, etc). There is no way a serious photographer would want to buy cards that were just casually thrown into a box, waiting to be handed out. (It's the equivalent of why pros prefer to buy refrigerated film.)

Additionally, as a business owner, I would not want my employees to divert their time from processing customers to manually be handing out CF cards. And who is going to inventory the items?

I agree with Ross... I think you should focus your energies on streamlining packaging. Your idea is interesting from a storage perspective, but I think there are several holes in it from a purchasing perspective.

to RossW-

i understand that this product may exist but as a design student you quickly learn that most of the time you are only redesigning something that already exists. i am not only trying to design just a product but a process aswell, including what the card is packaged in, the shipping, the storage and the display. the card would be in some protective sealed packaging but the customer would not be given this unless necessary, it would be something that is reuseable and returned to the supplier/manufacturer.

ti jfrancho -

most shops that sell memory cards often display empty packets for security reasons. As you can see above i have thought about the storage and protection of the card. As far as merchandising goes the shop will still display a appealing package of some kind for the consumer to see and look at.

Who is going to return something to the supplier/manufacturer? The customer? Why would I pay more of my money to mail something to an anonymous corporation? What's my incentive?

Im sorry man, but you arent asking yourself a very important question - What is the good business reason for doing this?

What's in it for the business?
What's in it for the customer?

the shop or business will send the container back, thats why you have a container of your own that comes with the camera you purchased

Most shops that I go to - both large chains and smaller indies use a hidden security device, or they are behind the counter. I would not buy a card unless it was in a sealed package. I think you are going to have to expand on your initial post, and explain this "process."

Creat a dispenser, activated by a code or key card swipe from the attendant after the purchase has been made. Have the cards in a conom like package.

simply make the packaging recyclable, and charge a deposit for it like pop bottles and cans.

My cards came in small plastic sleaves a little larger than the card. Sandisk cards come in a package, Kingston come just with the small protector.

Who buys cards from stores? I buy from websites.

Seems like you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't really need to be sovled to me.

Build a transporter.

I buy all of mine from newegg.com. A 1 GB costs $77 right now as opposed to almost $100 at the closest camera store, and on top of that I pay tax.