제론테크놀로지(Gerontechnology)를 반영한 패키지 기능성 연구 - NFC 적용 기초 화장품을 중심으로 -

Abstract

In 2024, South Korea's elderly population has exceeded 1 million, representing approximately 19.5% of the total population. And if the current aging trend continues, the country is expected to enter a "super-aged society" (with an elderly population over 20%) next year. Modern elderly people are highly interested in 'well-aging', which pursues healthy and natural aging, not just living for a long time. In the context of increasing consumption of cosmetics, particularly within the aging population, there is a notable challenge with the use of advanced products. Senior consumers often face difficulties navigating complex product features. Furthermore, cosmetic packaging is often designed with high aesthetic expectations, leading to limited accessibility of product information due to small font sizes or the infrequent use of Korean text, which compromises readability. In this context, the aim of this study is to develop a gerontechnology-based packaging design for skincare cosmetics that enhances usability for senior consumers. A usability evaluation was conducted by integrating NFC technology into basic cosmetic packaging for users aged 65 and older. The evaluation results were compared and analyzed based on age, gender, educational background, and occupation. As a result of comparison by gender, women's scores were high in all items. As a result of comparison by age, the scores of those in their 60s were the highest in all items, and the scores of those in their 80s were the lowest. The comparison results according to education and occupation showed different patterns between groups. This study is significant in that it proposes an age-friendly design by attempting to integrate NFC technology with package design in the context of an aging society. It is hoped that this research will serve as a practical guide for future NFC package development.