The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) has identified three project finalists for the World Design Impact Prize 2013-2014: A Behavior Changing (ABC) Syringe, BioLite HomeStove and the Refugee Housing Unit.
The projects address issues of security, stability and safety in the areas of health and home, and show ways in which design can positively impact the social, cultural, economic and environmental quality of life for individuals everywhere.
“The selected projects are great examples of design for social good because design is about collective intelligence, social innovation, networking and all forms of collective knowledge production and all of these projects are based on the fundamental principles of today’s vision of industrial design,” said Roberto Cuervo, a member of the review panel. “It's not just about traditional product development anymore, but (it also) concerns itself with the social needs of the world’s population.”
The ABC Syringe, developed by the University of Huddersfield, provides the opportunity for patients to easily ascertain if the syringes used in their care are sterilized. A simple color-changing label affixed to the syringe turns bright red to indicate it has been used. This design solution will hopefully lead to a drop in the reuse of syringes and lower the level of communicable diseases as a result.
The BioLite HomeStove emits low levels of smoke, therefore providing a cleaner cooking environment for women in the developing world who traditionally burn wood or coal to cook indoors. This stove, developed by BioLite LLC, features a USB port to charge electronics, a feature that further entices families to make the switch to a more efficient stove.
The Refugee Housing Unit, a pilot project with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, provides temporary shelter which facilitates “a feeling of normality” for families living in refugee camps. Facilitated by the IKEA foundation, prototypes are currently being tested and will dictate the ideal shape and size of the structure.
ICSID members, made up of design promotion agencies, professional organizations and universities in more than 40 countries, cast their votes selecting these three projects as most deserving of the prize.
The three finalists will be invited to present their projects at a workshop following the international design gala where they will have the opportunity to present their research, products and future plans to the South African design community. Of these three, one winner will be honored at the World Design Capital International Design Gala on February 28 in Cape Town.
