March 2009
The first annual INDEX:| AIGA Aspen Design Challenge has picked seven finalists out of the participants from 115 universities across 27 countries this year.
Drawing from their diverse and disparate backgrounds, the participants were all eager to bring a solution through design to the global water shortage.
Submissions included wildly different ideas ranging from print design to web applications, even physical devices, data presentation tools, print campaigns and environmental design.
“I was amazed by the proposals that came in. There was a wide range of thinking from communications to environmental design and product design. Most of all, I was inspired by the broad, systemic thinking and team collaboration the designers did to find good answers,” said Brian Collins, creative chairman, Collins:, a New York-based design firm.
“The vibrancy with which some of the global water issues, like less than optimal use of water, got translated into issues like how you actually water your lawns was amazing,” said juror Margaret Catley-Carlson.
“You can discuss it globally, you can compare models, you can find out whats going on, but water is local, water is local, water is local.”
The seven finalists are:
Emergency Water Purifier for Flood Conditions
Ozgur Ceren Bagatar and faculty advisor Peter Avondoglio of the Umeå Institute of Design, Sweden
A personal water purifier designed with flood conditions in mind, to be airdropped en masse to flooded communities and used to turn any collected contaminated waterwhether in buckets, rivers, lakes or streamsinto potable water.
Every Drop Counts
Ulrik Svenningsen and faculty advisor Peter Avondoglio of the Umeå Institute of Design, Sweden
Designed to raise awareness of excessive water use in the homes of developed nations. This solution is an inexpensive sensor that can be clamped onto water pipes, using existing cost allocation technology to detect water leakage and usage.
Improved Ceramic Filter for Rural Households
Martin Bolton at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Takes the existing Potpaz water filter and proposes a number of design solutions to create a similar, more ergonomic filter that works more effectively in the environment that it was designed for.
Oli
By participants of the Samsung Design Membership 2008 (Summer Internship Program)
A water conservation solution for home showers that includes a monitor to communicate water consumption, a pressure-sensitive shower mat to turn water on and off and a shower seat to collect grey water for reuse. Participants of the Samsung Design Membership 2008 program are Brad Smith, University of Cincinnati; Franklin Crosby, Metropolitan State College of Denver; Nallieli Santamaraia, New York University; Raymond Bessemer, California State University, Long Beach; Sergio Coronado, Purdue University; Sean Whang, Art Center College of Design of Pasadena; Michelle Koza, mentor, UX manager and Wesley Millora, co-mentor, senior industrial designer, all from the United States.
Rethink Your Green
Manuel Garcia, Eileen Hsu, Pouya Jahanshahi, Masato Nakada, Michelle Park, Maece Seirafi-Najar and faculty advisors Paula Daniels, Jane Galbraith, Stephanie Pincetl, Joseph Prichard and Louise Sandhaus of California Institute of the Arts, USA
A campaign which informs Los Angeles homeowners of the impact of traditional grass lawns on the water crisis, builds awareness by educating the public about the strained state of Los Angeles water supply, presents sustainable alternatives to the conventional lawn and provides resources for home owners who are choosing to replace their traditional lawns.
Save the River Jadro
Igor Carli and faculty advisor Tomislav Lerotic of the Arts Academy University of Split, Croatia
Consists of a set of glasses with messages printed on them that are geared towards developing awareness about the freshwater crisis. The project can be implemented anywhere at a very low cost.
Veggie Patch
Jo Szczepanska and faculty advisor Selby Coxon of Monash University, Australia Looks innovatively at urban agriculture with an adaptable and modular product that integrates irrigation and vermicomposting to reduce the environmental impact of food in cities.
Ten projects awarded Honorable Mention for outstanding work are:
To see images of all Finalist projects, download copies of the students presentations, and read full-text statements submitted with each project, visit www.aspendesignchallenge.org.
The Aspen Design Challenge is a joint project developed by AIGA and INDEX: with the purpose of engaging the millennial generation in solving an emerging set of global issues.
The idea for Designing Waters Future grew out of discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, led by Brian Collins, chairman of Collins:, New York-based communications and design firm, and journalist J. Carl Ganter, co-founder of Circle of Blue, the international network of leading journalists, scientists and communications designers that reports the global fresh water crisis.
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