Tag Archives: WIID

Using banana peels as a sustainable building material, you can now make everything from eyeglasses to watch straps!

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Along with apples, bananas are the most popular fruits in the world. More than 100 billion bananas are eaten every year, with most of us consuming about 30 pounds worth of bananas every year– that’s bananas. But what happens to all the banana peels we toss out after eating the fruit? Generally, if thrown outdoors, it can take up to two years for banana peels to biodegrade. Sarah Harbarth, a designer based in Switzerland, saw the potential in turning banana peels into a sustainable source of construction material, calling it KUORI.

Harbarth was able to create four distinct products that are entirely compostable and made from banana peels. Harbarth’s first product shows a pair of eyeglasses that swap out a tortoise-shell frame for a banana speckled marble one. Then, in combining recycled PLA material with banana peels, Harbarth produced a 3D printing filament from which one can print anything they’d like. The third product Harbarth created through KUORI is the shoe sole made entirely from banana peels, solving the problem of micro-plastics rubbing off onto the ground as we walk in our street shoes. By replacing the micro-plastic that forms our shoe soles with banana peels, Harbarth created a sole that not only doesn’t disrupt the soil we walk on but feeds it as well. Lastly, in confronting the harmful practice of making leather goods, Harbarth designed a sustainable, vegan, and recyclable leather alternative, which she showcased in the form of a watch strap.

While the time it takes for decomposition to run its course depends on environmental factors, natural litter can have an adverse effect on critters that take to munching on fruit peels and therefore the environment as a whole. With all the bananas we enjoy every year, that same amount is then turned into waste. In order to lengthen the life cycle of bananas and combat the harmful and wasteful practices of making leather goods from animal skins, Harbarth was able to create goods like phone cases and watch straps entirely from banana peels. Upon recognizing the intricate ways in which we contribute to harming the environment through practices like leather making, 3D printing, and micro-plastic construction, Harbarth looked to using banana peels to produce goods instead.

Designer: Sarah Harbarth

By turning banana peels into an alternative building material, like leather, KUORI is sustainable, vegan, and saves resources.

“The result [of KUORI] is four products that are 100% compostable and made from the banana peel as an original food waste byproduct.”

In creating products out of banana peels like eyeglasses, KUORI feeds nature instead of taking from it.

“Due to the fiber composite of the Banana peel in the material, the resulting product has a higher stability compared to ordinary PLA.”

Most shoe soles are constructed using micro-plastics that rub off on the ground we walk.

“The resulting shoe sole is very elastic and returns to its original position. The material was poured into a mold and then hardened out.”

Confronting harmful practices like bleaching leather hides, KUORI offers a sustainable alternative.

“My concept represents a sustainable, resource-saving, organic and vegan, recyclable alternative to animal leather.”

Dyson Award-winning Blue Box helps women easily detect breast cancer at home

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The Blue Box is perhaps one of the best examples of how design thinking and problem-solving can truly make a difference to the quality of life of millions of people. An estimate of 43,600 women die of breast cancer each year… that’s from the millions of women who are diagnosed with it; sometimes often too late in the cancer stages. This stems from the fact that the medical screening procedure for breast cancer can be quite literally painful. According to the CDC, more than 40% of women opt out of getting mammograms done because it’s a pain-inducing procedure that also requires exposing yourself to X-ray radiation. A student at the Universitat de Barcelona, however, is changing that by making breast-cancer screening easy, pain-free, and something you can do at home.

When Judit Giró Benet saw the CDC report that outlined how many women skipped getting mammograms done, she realized the scope of the problem and the need to have an alternate solution. Furthermore, she was frustrated by the fact that 93.55% of breast cancers diagnosed by a mammogram are “false alarms” according to the Catalan Department of Health, and that periodic exposure to X-rays can in fact be a cause for breast cancer. In response, Benet began working on her alternative… The Blue Box – a tiny at-home device that could detect breast cancer with 95% accuracy by just scanning a urine sample. “A household owning The Blue Box can have all its female members tested at their desired frequency and convenience. After creating a profile at The Blue App, the user just needs to collect some urine in a plastic container and subsequently place it inside The Blue Box”, says Benet, a biomedical engineering student who then went on to found her own company to help develop this technology. The Blue Box uses a proprietary set of cloud-based AI-based algorithms that react to specific urine metabolites, delivering results that are up to 95% accurate. The box scans the urine sample and sends the results to the cloud, where the algorithm runs its quick diagnosis, sending the results to the app. The entire process is 100% pain-free, non-irradiating, and actually encourages women to test themselves more, helping catch breast cancer in its early stages. It also brings easy testing to places with no access to medical facilities. Since all the Blue Box needs is an internet connection, breast-cancer testing can easily be brought to remote areas, helping women from all walks of life get tested.

The Blue Box was awarded as the International Winner at the James Dyson Awards in 2020. The team has just started seeking funding to afford both the patent application as well as the next set of human studies to help refine the product and the app.

Designer: Judit Giró Benet (Founder of The Blue Box)

These mittens were designed to reduce stress and prevent social anxiety

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According to most studies, the number one fear people have is public speaking. We’re a heavily social species, which is why public perception or interaction can oftentimes be a leading cause of anxiety. Especially after nearly a year of being locked at home, the very idea of being around too many people, especially strangers, can be daunting for some, and triggering for others. The InTempo, a project that secured a finalist position at the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2021, hopes to alter that by relieving social anxiety.

Designed by Alina Holovatiuk as a coping mechanism to get one through social situations without anxiety or panic, the InTempo are a pair of fingerless mitts that help calm you down. They use a combination of techniques and therapies to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and help distract your mind. Perhaps one of the most telling indications of a panic attack are to feel your hands going cold and clammy. A burst of epinephrine in your body causes the blood vessels in your hands and feet to constrict, forcing blood to rush to your heart and brain instead. By virtue of their design, the mitts keep your hands warm while also absorbing any sweat off your palms. The fingers remain exposed, allowing you to be able to bite your nails if that’s your response to anxiety. It even ensures you can go about your life as usual by being able to use your phone’s touchscreen, etc. However, the most important feature of the InTempo mitts is the presence of a special set of touch-sensitive pads around the palms. Clad in metallic cloth, these pads act as a tactile device that encourages you to tap on it to the rhythm of music playing on your smartphone. The idea lies in the power of Rhythm Therapy, which can help destress a person without antidepressants, beta-blockers, or other medicines.

The outer and central layers of the touch-pads are conductive. When pressed, the layers get compressed together, forming a closed electric circuit. These tiny electrical signals are then sent to your smartphone, which times them with the rhythm of the music you’re listening to. When the rhythm of your finger-taps coincide with the beat of the song, the mittens send positive tactile feedback by mildly vibrating. This reward helps boost your confidence while distracting your mind and effectively reducing your anxiety.

Selected as one of the six finalists of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2021, the InTempo mitts encapsulate the award theme of “Designing for a better tomorrow”. Currently in their 9th year, the Lexus Design Awards are on a mission to ideate and innovate for a better future for humanity as well as for the planet. With the theme of “Designing for a Better Tomorrow”, the awards program looks at solutions that have a uniquely positive impact on society, humanity, and in the process, to reward a new generation of designers by helping bring their impactful ideas to fruition. Along with accelerating, developing, and promoting design projects, the Lexus Design Award helps kickstart design careers too, with exclusive mentorships from international design stalwarts like Joe Doucet, Mariam Kamara, Sabine Marcelis and Sputniko!, as well as funding for prototypes (up to 3 million Japanese Yen or $25,000 per project) and the opportunity to have your work judged by the biggest figures in design in the final Grand Prix competition. This year’s judges include Paola Antonelli (Senior Curator at MoMA), Dong Gong (Founder and Principal Designer at Vector Architects), Greg Lynn (Architect and CEO at Piaggio Fast Forward), and Simon Humphries (Head of Toyota and Lexus Global Design).

The InTempo is one of the six finalists of the LEXUS DESIGN AWARD 2021. Stay tuned as we feature all the finalist designs following the Grand Prix Winner Announcement here on Yanko Design!

Designer: Alina Holovatiuk

Click Here to See All Six Lexus Design Awards Finalists!

InTempo Mitts

InTempo are mitts to aid people facing emotional stress (e.g. Sociophobia) in public spaces/during public actions. Touching certain spots on the mitts to the rhythm of music may help a person to calm themselves down.

The InTempo concept envisions an expansion of the musical experience combined with personalized soothing therapy. A person’s perception of rhythmic pulsations and attempts to repeat them will help reduce the overall level of stress and focus you on something else.

These InTempo mitts are distinguished by fingerprint-shaped touch buttons on the palm side – a plastic consisting of five layers that form a durable touch panel. The outer and central layers are conductive. In addition to these, there are two more insulating layers on either side of the central one. The element is activated by touch: when touched, the layers are compressed, forming a closed electric circuit. These influences are measured and interpreted using electronic controllers (in the form of a button) associated with sensors, which convert the action into a signal for a controlled electronic device (player, smartphone, computer, etc.).

By placing sensors under the fingers on the inner side of the palm, while beating the rhythm, you clench your hand into a fist and this method of coping with anxiety symptoms remains unnoticed by others and, at the same time, you can calm down without anyone’s intervention. With the help of InTempo, fine motor skills of the hands are also developed and the perception of information by hearing improves, which in turn helps to cope with dysgraphia and dyslexia.

Click Here to See All Six Lexus Design Awards Finalists!

This prairie-inspired modular planter puts the charm of the savanna grasslands on your desk!

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What is a planter but just a simple container for your plants? Aditi Kedia’s Prairie Planter reinterprets these containers as landscape-elements in their own right. Designed to look almost like an abstraction of a prairie-grassland landscape, the modular planters stack over one another, resembling mounds of red soil. When paired with succulents or cacti, the Prairie Planters come to life, looking a lot like a savannah landscape! “By adjusting each unit in different orientations, one can play with the shape and placement. The design takes inspiration from how things in nature grow on uneven, unexpected surfaces”, says Aditi, who designed the planters as a part of an Instagram-based design challenge.

The Prairie Planters sport a rather fascinating geometric design, almost looking like a Minecraft landscape. The planters can either be used individually, or stacked atop one another. When stacked, they efficiently manage irrigation, as the planters on the top help drip water into the planters below. A water tray sits at the very base of the planter stack, allowing you to pour water into it so the lowest tier of planters can absorb moisture when the soil runs dry!

Designer: Aditi Kedia

These veggie-shaped sand toys help kids cultivate a love for nature… and vegetables!

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Turn anything into a game and kids are sure to be more receptive to it! I mean, it’s easier to feed a child using the ‘Here comes the choo choo train’ trick instead of directly feeding them food, right?!

Tati Ferrucio’s Veggies Sand Toys take a similar route by turning vegetables into sand-toys. The toys are hollow so they can be filled with sand, and come with uniquely shaped leaves that act as handles for the child to hold. Paired with a neat digging tool, the Veggies Sand Toys enhance children’s curiosity for exploring nature and their ability to socialize with other kids and adults.

“The idea of this project came from observing the natural landscape in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and how families occupy and make use of the outdoor environment. I realize that Rio has many beautiful natural parks and beaches, but none of them were well equipped to promote outdoor play for children”, said Tati Ferrucio, the designer of the toy-set. The standard set has four toy vegetables (carrot, beet, onion, and potato) and two shovels (one kids-size, one adult-size) with three interchangeable heads and interchangeable foliage too. What’s even more clever is the fact that you can bury the toys into the sand, perfectly mimicking how carrots, beets, potatoes, and onions are grown under the ground too! The Veggies Sand Toys are designed to both entertain and educate at the same time… and if somehow kids can cultivate an appreciation for vegetables in the process, that’s just another massive win!

The Veggies Sand Toys are a winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Tati Ferrucio

This earring helps diabetics read their blood sugar levels without the pin-prick

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Revolutionizing how Type 1 Diabetics monitor their blood glucose levels, the Sense Glucose Earring is an innovative non-invasive wearable that incorporates reads blood-sugar levels in the ear-lobe using safe, high-frequency radio waves.

The earring requires just a single lobe piercing (as opposed to the daily pin-prick tests that diabetes patients have to take) and sits on the ear at all times. When you need to read your blood-sugar levels, the earring uses sensors and algorithms to collect data, which is then sent to your smartphone. This massively reduces medical waste, while offering a pain-free solution for checking your sugar levels. At the same time, it turns a medical apparatus into a fashion wearable, removing the social stigma of having to carry clinical-looking blood glucose meters around with them. Instead, the Sense Glucose Earring is fashionable, safe, environment-friendly, and pain-free!

Designer: Tyra Kozlow

This eco-friendly takeaway packaging was inspired by the stacked Indian tiffin

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The Dip-In Tiffin by Srishti Garg is a clever solution that takes cues from traditional practices to make single-use takeaway food packaging eco-friendly, modular, eye-catching, and culturally relevant! Its stackable design is directly inspired by the vertically stackable steel boxes found in Indian tiffins (the Indian equivalent of a bento-box), and it uses easily available natural materials to store food, making it safer to dispose than plastic.

The Dip-In Tiffin was designed primarily for dry/semi-dry foods. Since the packaging isn’t air-tight, it tends to exclude foods that are gravy-based, limiting its options, but making it great for dry snacks like doughnuts, sandwiches, etc (the Indian context uses savory doughnuts and fermented rice-cakes). The tiffin’s main vessel is created using a dried, thermoformed Areca leaf, an eco-friendly alternative to conventional disposable plates. These vessels hold semi-dry, saucy, and oily foods really well too, offering a more reliable alternative to brown paper bags/boxes. The Areca bowls are covered with a simple branded paper sleeve, and slots along the sleeve allow multiple boxes to be suspended to each other vertically, resembling the tiffin. The solution was devised mainly for airports, which see patrons quickly grabbing meals and eating them within hours of checking in. It doesn’t use any glue, staples, or seals either, making it safe, and the all-natural makeup of the packaging means it can easily be disposed of after use!

Designer: Srishti Garg

This wearable lets your plants communicate with you

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While the term “Plant Parent” has become a pretty standard term in the millennial lexicon, taking care of plants isn’t as easy as it looks! Sure, if you’ve got a dog or a cat, they let you know when they’re hungry, it’s easy to know when they’re bored or frisky, and you can take them to the vet when they’re unwell or unhealthy. With plants, not so much. There are a lot of factors that contribute to a plant’s health – soil, water, sunlight, pests, etc. But there isn’t any easy way of knowing what your plant needs… the BioCollar is changing that.

Designed by students at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, the BioCaller is a wearable that builds empathy between the wearer and the connected plant. When paired with a piece of hardware that goes into the planter, the collar helps you understand the plant’s needs through real-time feedback. It becomes moderately tighter when the plant needs water, gets warm when the plant has too much sunlight, and vibrates when the plant has an infestation. In doing so, the wearable aims at letting the plant easily communicate its needs to you, and enables you to be a better plant-parent.

The BioCollar was designed as a part of a larger system called the BioPermit – a service that uses the collar to test prospective plant-buyers to see if they’re empathetic caregivers (a lot like how people are interviewed before they adopt a baby or pet). Obviously, the system is a speculative one, with its main aim being to test future scenarios and see if sensors can be developed that convert plant-needs into haptic feedback. I can definitely see this getting translated into something as effective as a wrist-worn fitness tracker that tracks your plant’s progress, or better still, an app that lets your plant communicate with you!

Designers: Sammy Creeger, Elliott Wortham & Maria Jose Tamayo

This biodegradable single-use dental flosser actually takes carbon OUT of the atmosphere

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“Increasingly, our material choices have become moral choices”, says Jessica Smith, a design graduate from Pratt Institute and the developer of a new kind of carbon-negative plastic – Carbyn.

Carbyn seeks to mitigate the climate crisis by creating a carbon-negative bioplastic that stores more carbon than it releases throughout its lifecycle. The world generates nearly 10 billion tonnes of agricultural waste each year. When this organic matter decomposes or is burnt, it emits carbon, which contributes to our global emissions in a significant way. Through its unique composition, Carbyn absorbs that atmospheric carbon, and its biodegradable nature means it safely decomposes into dirt once its job is done.

Carbyn is a composite of two materials – PHA bioplastic, and Biochar. PHA is a bioplastic which is produced by bacteria through fermentation. It is unique because it is both home compostable and easily formed using existing plastic processing methods, while Biochar is produced by burning organic material at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. By combining these two materials, Jessica created a carbon-storing biocomposite that can be produced using conventional manufacturing processes. To demonstrate how effective her material was in replacing traditional plastics, Jessica decided to mold a single-use floss stick out of it. The polymer has a signature black color thanks to the Biochar, and can easily be thrown away after a single use. Whether disposed of in a home garden, a landfill, or even the ocean, the Biochar in Carbyn will actively suck carbon from the air around it before safely degrading into dirt. In fact, Carbyn even possesses the ability to make the soil more fertile as it biodegrades, helping the environment by reducing emissions, waste, and increasing soil fertility!

Carbyn made it into the International Top 20 of the James Dyson Award for the year 2020.

Designer: Jessica Smith

This cleverly designed chair encourages you to hang your clothes on it!

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Ask a designer what the purpose of a chair is and they’ll throw fancy words about lumbar support and complementing interior spaces. Ask a bachelor what the purpose of a chair is and you’ll get two answers – Sitting, and draping clothes.

The Jules chair by Sarah Willemart explores this unintended yet undeniably popular function of the chair. Designed to function as both a chair and a makeshift wardrobe, the Jules is a functional, aesthetic seating device with a new twist. The backrest of the chair comes with an unusual shape that actively promotes you to hang your clothes, from coats and pants, to even hats and handkerchiefs or scarves (or babushkas – a word I recently learnt). The backrest’s innovative shape comes with a bar on the top for hanging clothes, and a hole running through the cushion for you to hang kerchiefs through. The backrest even has shoulder-like proportions, letting you easily drape a coat on it without worrying about it losing its shape or getting wrinkled. Ingenious, eh? Sign me up for three of them.

Designer: Sarah Willemart