NEWS From nearly 12,000 valid entries to iF's student category in 2015, 100 projects were awarded with an iF student design award, and four of those awards were won by students from Umeå Institute of Design (UID).
Three awards were given to students studying at the Master programme of Advanced Product Design (APD), and one was given to Fredrik Ausinsch for the result of his thesis project from the Bachelor programme in Industrial Design. APD students also won an award in the Haier Design Prize category and an award in the Hansgrohe Design prize category.
Umeå Institute of Design is presently ranked 2nd on iF's university ranking of the most awarding winning design schools in the world. On top of this UID is, for the fifth year in a row, ranked as the highest positioned design school in the Western World.
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Carlos Arturo Torres (Colombia) and Martin Edlund (Sweden) won with their concept PIRA that they developed during their 2nd year at the APD programme. PIRA focused on conceptualizing a system for a CPAP solution (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) specially designed for the needs of premature born babies. In order to help "remind" a premature born child how to breathe directly after their delivery, quick applicable solutions are used today that provides cold air into the child's system. When overusing this there is a high risk for injures both the child's lungs and brain and potentially that the child suffers a cardio respiratory arrest. PIRA offers a system that considers the special physiological needs of the child and the needs of the caregivers, offering a better and safer step-by-step procedure during the first crucial and stressful minutes in the life of a premature born child.
iF jury statement:"If the process and especially the interface really works, this concept is definitely an improvement of an existing situation."
Anton Hoffman (Sweden) won an iF Student Design Award for his thesis project from the Advanced Product Design programme Livia - The Surgeon's Steady Hand. The objective of the project was to investigate the opportunities and advantages of introducing relatively simple robotic technology in an open surgery scenario. The aim was to simplify and unburden the surgeon from static and monotonousness tasks, improve precision and enhance their vision. Livia would literately "free up" hands, relieve the surgeon and help them to do what they do best and focus on the actual surgery.
iF jury statement:"The design showing form and function and is linked well with ergonomics as it is not just based on styling, but well-thought throughout specification and service design."
Alexander Turesson (Sweden) won his third design award for his concept for the internal pipe-cutting tool IC cutter, a concept that was developed during his first term project at the APD programme. The problem addressed was the obvious benefits in time and money by having an efficient tool that could cut larger plastic and metal pipes from the inside out. Besides being inspired by wood routers, lathes and circular saws, the IC cutter also utilizes orbital drilling and the design includes features for optimal grip during operation, mounting on pipes with different diameters, adjustment of cutting width and depth and reduction of the tool's size during storage and transport.The IC cutter has previously received both an IDEA Bronze award and a Red Dot - Best of the Best award.
iF jury statement:"A well thought and developed solution that addresses a real problem for professional builders. The technology is here and so too is the demand, I hope the designer has a patent pending for the IC cutter."
Fredrik Ausinsch (Sweden) won with his concept Algae Harvester - Vision 2030. The objective was to create a visionary solution to address the problematic situation with continuous self-fed growth of algae in the Baltic Sea with minimal environmental impact. By removing the abundance of algae, the level of nutrients and toxins in the sea will be reduced, the spread of anoxic sediments will be prevented and the reproduction of fish will improve. An opportunity when harvesting the algae is to utilize the biomass in the production of biofuel, fertilizers and health care products. The vessel, working similar to a lawn mover, pumps algae and water into a dewatering system and separates the biomass from water. The biomass is then stored in a tank and the water is used as thrust to move the vessel forward. The Algae Harvester is controlled from a service boat nearby what also empties and refuels it when needed.
iF jury statement:"A well executed solution to harvest goodness from the nature, which could bring great benefits to both humans and the environment."
From a total of 1.046 entries Janis Beinerts (Latvia) was one of only seven winners in the Haier Design Prize. This competition, arranged for the second time by iF for the Chinese household-appliance manufacturer, had this year the special theme: Wonderful Home Life: Answers to the daily life. Janis won with his project Minimum, a concept for a luxurious and intuitive water tap that he designed during his first course at the APD programme.
iF jury statement:"Smart appliance design could involve more devices, this is a quite new idea, to make the washbasin sensitive, and it makes people's life more smart and humane".
A pre-selection narrowed down the 455 entries to 122 innovative ideas for the bathroom environment, from which the jury for the Hansgrohe Design Prize selected 6 winners. Rebecca Daum (Germany) won with her water tap concept eve, which she designed during her first course at the APD programme. The idea behind eve was to bring awareness about water consumption by showing the daily usage graphically on the tap, through an app, with the option of sharing and comparing the friends on social media. This competition, arranged for the fifth time by iF for the German bathroom and sanitary fittings specialist, had this year the special theme of Efficient Water Design: Small Space - Big Shower Pleasure.
iF jury statement: "Eve uses the possibilities of digital networking to playfully make the user aware of the value of the vitally important resource of water. Indicating the amount of water used, the display is elegantly integrated into the cylindrical faucet. An app to analyze and control individual water consumption and to interact in social networks completes this well-conceived concept.
For more information, please visit the Umeå Institute of Design webpage: www.uid.umu.se
If you have questions, please contact Elin Andersson, Communication Officer: elin.andersson@umu.se
Editor: Elin Andersson, Thomas Degn