Inclusion by Design – Winners
In a one-week rapid ideation exercise, students worked in small groups to propose solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. Each group focused on how to increase inclusion for the world’s most vulnerable populations in critical growth areas like food security, education, and health. Each team addressed one topic from the UN Sustainable Development Goals through products, services, or system solutions that promote INCLUSION BY DESIGN.
The groups were formed by Industrial Design students of all years for the Industrial Design program wide competition. This past Friday the students pinned up their posts for discussion and gave 30 second pitches with six teams being chosen as finalists. The finalists will then give a presentation. Guest judges attended the presentations from the office of Inclusion and Diversity.
1st Place: SCO (Survivor Care Outfit)
Team Members: Erik Wasser, Will Deffet, Karen Lane, Katianne Dunay
Our group identified hospitals’ disregard for the dignity of sexual assault survivors. Because of the nature of their visit, survivors’ clothes are taken as evidence and they are provided either a hospital gown or scrubs for the forensic exam and to then wear home. Our product, the Survivor Care Outfit, includes undergarments, sweatpants, and a sweatshirt that is specifically designed to help the patient feel more comfortable and dignified while addressing the issues of health concerns and social stigma.
2nd Place: menU
Team Members: Mark Stanisic, Minakshi Seth, Emily Heron
menU is a reusable retail coffee shop menu that uses a visual system of communication between customer and employee, reducing the need for verbal communication and empowering the capabilities of deaf employees. The customer would pick up a menu for their drink of choice (in this case coffee or tea) when they enter the store, while waiting in line this simple system absolves the customer from order anxiety as they can be precise while waiting and pop out their order. The clear visual language then allows the employee to have an easy understanding of the order regardless of whether they can hear or not.
3rd Place: Judi
Team Members: Toni Collini, Rachel Wolniak, Callan McGill
Girls can miss over a month of school days per year due to limited access to period products. If their school does provide dispensers, they are empty or broken 92% of the time. Judi is an ADA compliant, free tampon and pad dispenser with a self-contained waste bin that will be located in each girls’ bathroom stall. By improving access to period products and period education, we hope to break the stigma surrounding menstruation at a younger age.
Honorable Mention: FullFill
Team Members: Josh Meador, Shelby Greenburg, and Oriana Nordt
“Homeless” is a label that somehow outweighs all other qualities of a person. It makes us feel like they’re different because they face different struggles. Hygiene is a major problem that perpetuates scrutiny and their lack of self-worth. Our product, FullFill, is a travel water bottle and portable shower aimed at addressing hygiene in the homeless community, helping them feel a little less homeless, and a little more human.
Honorable Mention: Indigenous History + Google Maps
Team Members: Mixaun Li, Tianlong Li, Connor Howerton
We designed an adaptation to Google Maps for Native American History Month. When the user selects the Native History map mode, they can see which Native people originally and/or still occupy local geographic areas. Also, they will be suggested local, native-owned businesses they can learn more about and support if they choose to. Lastly, they will be provided with a “journey review” where they can learn about the land they traversed, its original stewards and other associated people. We imagine this type of educational tool could be extended to benefit many other groups in need of representation and recognition.