The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and Autodesk, a world leader in 3D design software, announced today the winners of the inaugural Product Design Challenge. The challenge tasked participants to design products made with materials that can return safely to industry or nature at the end of its usefulness, which supports the movement toward a world filled with Cradle to Cradle Certified™ products. Winners in each of three categories: Best Student Project, Best Professional Project, and Best Use of the Autodesk Fusion 360 Tool, were awarded a US$2,000 cash prize:
- Best Student Project: Tjitte de Wolff of the University of Twente in the Netherlands created the Venlo Bag. The Venlo Bag is a 100% biodegradable bag made from 99% recycled materials, that is intended to combat the pollution that is caused by the harmful plastic bags.
- Best Professional Project: Jerri Hobdy, a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and emerging furniture designer, created PURE|IF|HIDE, a chair and stool collection designed to fill a market need for refined, residential furniture. The design uses recyclable materials, such as solvent-free, vegetable tanned leather and steel, in the design of the furniture. The design accommodates easy recyclability, repair and refurbishment with new leather and colors.
- Best Use of the Autodesk Fusion 360 Tool: Cole Smith, a student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute’s school of Industrial Design, was awarded for his design of the Finite Faucet, which is intended to help public restroom faucet users learn how to wash their hands correctly while reminding users of their impact on the environment. It is designed with a clear upper cylinder that acts as a visual monitor of water usage and drains until it is empty, at which point it must be turned off to refill and upon doing so, acts as a timer for scrubbing hands.
An Honorable Mention was awarded to a team of students from Pratt Institute. Their design, MetroWay, was inspired by the high-traffic commuter system of New York City. The design emphasizes material choice, improves recovery of material stock, and instills regenerative solutions through a Circular Economic Model.
In response to the rising global population, Lynelle Cameron, Senior director of Sustainability and Philanthropy at Autodesk stated, “Solving today’s epic challenges requires bold new approaches to how we design and make things. Creative young talent in many cases is leading the charge, leaving the linear economy in the dust.” The design challenge is expected to return Fall 2015.
Learn more about Cradle to Cradle Certified products and certification | C2CCertified.org
