• What aspects of your chosen design will you pursue in your final paper?

One aspect I definitely want to focus on is the versatility of my object, the mason jar. How the simplicity of the design allows one to do so many different things to it and completely transform the object. Aside from just aesthetics, the utility of the object as well is almost undefined, even though its original purpose was for kitchen use to store food, the space in the container allows for the storage of almost anything. Another aspect I want to look into is the popularity, how did this banal jar become such a trend?

• How will you research your topic (i.e., what types of sources will you need to use to answer the questions you are asking)?

I’ll have to look into the art of simple design; the thought process behind that, and specifically the design of containers. I’ll definitely need to look into some sources that help me understand the point of view from a product designer perspective. Hopefully I’ll find some articles or interviews. I could look into the mason jar manufacturer specifically, the history of the company to get a timeline on when the mason jar became popular. I will also look into some DIY videos and blog posts, just to see how it all started and how creative people get with transforming the jar.

• One or two key questions?

I mentioned it above but I can state it again here.

How did this simple jar become such a trend?

What about the jar makes it smart product design? In what ways is the simplicity effective?

Was the design intended to be used for just one purpose?