1. onigiri: yassified
redesigning for fictional values
michelle lee dalessandro

2. WHY DID I PICK ONIGIRI?
× they have saved me many times

3. WHY DID I PICK ONIGIRI?
× they have saved me many times
× they’re delish

4. WHY DID I PICK ONIGIRI?
× they have saved me many times
× they’re delish
× the packaging is sad and frustrating

5. WHY DID I PICK ONIGIRI?
× they have saved me many times
× they’re delish
× the packaging is sad and frustrating
× they’re my favorite unfamiliar item
that is now familiar

6. VALUES
× cheap, accessible, portable
current onigiri

7. VALUES
× cheap, accessible, portable
× disposable wrappers meant to
preserve quality and be thrown out
current onigiri

8. VALUES
× cheap, accessible, portable
× disposable wrappers meant to
preserve quality and be thrown out
× japanese, sometimes has english
current onigiri

9. VALUES
× cheap, accessible, portable
× disposable wrappers meant to
preserve quality and be thrown out
× japanese, sometimes has english
× small type, identifiable shape but
need to tell flavors apart
current onigiri

10. INTENT
how can i make this product of
convenience a source of joy through
packaging design changes without
sacrificing functionality?
project

11. INTENT
for: japanese and gaijin, children
and adults. especially those in a
rush/can’t read
project

12. INTENT
for: japanese and gaijin, children
and adults. especially those in a
rush/can’t read
reason: they’re a fun product that
don’t look fun & can cause the
opposite emotional effect
project

13. INTENT
behavior: easily identifiable, fun to
open and to eat
project

14. INTENT
behavior: easily identifiable, fun to
open and to eat
conversation: how can convenience
food continue to spark joy? how
can we incorporate playful attitudes
with our food? how can packaging
communicate better or be worth
preserving?
project

15. STAGE ONE:
UNDERSTANDING CURRENT DESIGN
process

16. STAGE TWO:
BRAINSTORMING
process

17. STAGE TWO:
BRAINSTORMING
process

18. STAGE TWO:
BRAINSTORMING
process

19. STAGE THREE:
EXPLORING THE FAVORITE
process

20. STAGE THREE:
EXPLORING THE FAVORITE
process

21. STAGE FOUR:
FINAL DESIGNS
process

23. WHAT IS IT
a cast of flavor characters that un-
fold to resemble their ingredient.
paper outer is easier to spot, perfo-
rated side pieces easy to tear open
and unfold. soft plastic easily pulled
from the top opening.
more recyclable, adorable, they
each have personality now :)
final version

24. WHY I LIKE IT
× still tactile, but now fun to open
final version

25. WHY I LIKE IT
× still tactile, but now fun to open
× can become a whole cast of
little onigiri characters. keychains,
etc. the gudetama of 7-eleven
final version

26. WHY I LIKE IT
× still tactile, but now fun to open
× can become a whole cast of
little onigiri characters. keychains,
etc. the gudetama of 7-eleven
× sparks joy, is more convenient to
spot on shelves, playful
final version

27. WHY I LIKE IT
× still tactile, but now fun to open
× can become a whole cast of
little onigiri characters. keychains,
etc. the gudetama of 7-eleven
× sparks joy, is more convenient to
spot on shelves, playful
× can be scrapbooked/less waste
final version