Skip links

Drinkworks

Award-winning packaging design and engineering for Keurig’s new product line

The bar is now open. Zenpack designed an innovative unlocking system for a premium unboxing experience.

The Problem

Drinkworks is one of beverage tech pioneer Keurig’s latest innovations—a machine that uses the company’s proprietary pods to prepare cocktails, ciders, beers, and other alcoholic beverages. They presented Zenpack with a simple brief: Design a package that’s easy for consumers to open. Pretty straightforward, but considering that the machine itself is large and heavy, it gets more complicated. Additionally, multiple components in this package needed to be stored and organized in a secure and attractive way. When Keurig first approached Zenpack, they were on a very tight launch schedule and needed a brand new packaging concept quickly.

The Outcome

Zenpack’s team helped the Drinkworks lab create a clear layout of the item display inside the box and secure all the components—even the CO2 cartridge. The award-winning, patented lock system makes even this huge box easy to open, and as an added benefit, this home appliances packaging design looks nice on the shelf, too.

Drinkworks Packaging that Won the International Design Excellence Awards

Challenges

The first challenge for our packaging design engineers was crafting the outer box to make it easy to open while also safeguarding nearly 30 pounds of products. The machine and other components—like the beverage pods and CO2 cartridge—required protection, but they also had to present well when the box was opened.

Like the Drinkworks slogan claims—“All the drinks without the work!”—the unboxing experience needed to be simple and satisfying. The client wanted Zenpack to create a locking system that was both noticeable and easy to open. Adding to the design team’s challenge, they needed to create the mechanism cheaply and efficiently to stay on the client’s tight schedule.

Drinkworks bar's inventive packaging with easy-open feature and bold 'The bar is now open!' signage.
Crafting simplicity and protection, Drinkworks' packaging merges effortless unboxing with a stylish, secure display.
Inside view of Drinkworks packaging, featuring eco-friendly molded pulp tray and secure, easy-open locks.
Drinkworks' packaging combines secure, twist-open locks with a protective display of components.
Drinkworks cocktail machine and accessories arranged with eco-friendly packaging produced by Zenpack
Zenpack-produced packages cradle the future of home bartending with style and sustainability

The two-sided lock secures the product and reduces the time and number of steps involved in unboxing. Most importantly, the machine is well protected by a molded pulp tray that clearly displays all the components.

Solution

Zenpack’s design team focused considerable time and energy into designing a new locking system made with PP material. The final design easily opens by twisting counterclockwise. The two-sided lock secures the product and reduces the time and number of steps involved in unboxing the product. Most importantly, the machine is well protected by a molded pulp tray that clearly displays all the components. Protecting the product is something that our packaging design services always take into account.

Close-up of the Drinkworks package detailing available brew and wine styles with vibrant drink images
Explore the flavors with Drinkworks: a detailed glimpse of the diverse brews and wines available at your fingertips
Various components of the Drinkworks beverage system spread out, showcasing the intricate switcher details
Precision meets elegance in Zenpack's design for Drinkworks: each switcher component is a testament to thoughtful engineering
Detailed array of Drinkworks interactive switcher parts, neatly arranged beside the vibrant packaging
Drinkworks presents its switcher details, ensuring a seamless and engaging beverage crafting experience

Result

After Zenpack finalized the package design, Drinkworks patented the lock design for continued use with this product line. The client said of Zenpack, “They have excellent design, prototyping, and testing capabilities in-house. Additionally, their breadth of leading-edge manufacturing and printing capabilities is world class. One particular strength is their industrial design creativity & expertise which they incorporate into package designs to ensure the consumer experience is considered and maximized.”

This package design also won the 2019 AmeriStar Award for Household Products from the Institute of Packaging Professionals and a 2019 IDEA Bronze Award from the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA). Above all, Zenpack helped their client succeed by effectively introducing the new look of the Drinkworks Drinkmaker Home Bar.

Speak with an Expert
BIGFACE Coffee
Cambio
Tend