Seven projects shortlisted for World Design Impact Prize 2013-2014

Seven projects have been shortlisted for the World Design Impact Prize 2013-2014. The nominated projects were unveiled during the 28th General Assembly of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) in Montreal, Canada from Nov. 18-19. Other big announcements at the assembly included the City of Taipei as the World Design Capital 2016.

The World Design Impact Prize raises awareness to the value of industrial design to provide solutions that address challenging global issues and social well-being.

The shortlisted projects are:

• ABC (A Behaviour Changing) Syringe
• BioLite HomeStove
• Family By Family
• Laddoo Project
• Leveraged Freedom Chair
• Potty Project
• Refugee Housing Unit

Finalists will be announced on Jan. 24, 2014. The World Design Impact award will then be presented at the World Design Capital International Design Gala in Cape Town, South Africa in February 2014.

Learn more about each project below.

ABC Syringe
Project Leader: David Swann
Organisation: University of Huddersfield
Designed By: David Swann
Project Location: India and beyond

"Led by David Swann, this pilot study empowers patients to have a voice in their care provision by being able to tell if the syringe being used in their care is new. Using a simple label, which changes colour when taken out of its packaging, this innovation provides a solution to one of the priorities of the World Health Organisation (WHO)."

ABC (A Behaviour Changing) Syringe

BioLite HomeStove
Project Leader: Ethan Kay
Organization: BioLite LLC
Designed By: Jonathan Cedar
Project Location: India & Sub-Saharan Africa

"An award winning design by Jonathan Cedar, this home cookstove addresses the toxic smoke produced due to the burning of biomass on an open fire by incorporating a fan into its design, which helps burn the biomass more efficiently, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and reduces smoke. The stove also has a USB port that harnesses some of the energy produced by the stove to provide a small charging station for cell phones or solar lights."

BioLite HomeStove

Family by Family
Project Leader: Christopher Vanstone
Organization: The Australian Centre for Social Innovation
Designed By: Families in Marion and Playford and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation
Project Location: Australia

"A support network by families for families, this unique service was designed in collaboration with the Australian Social Innovation Center to create a service which finds and trains families (children included) who have made it through tough times, matches them with families who want things to change, and coaches family pairs through a 10–30 week link up. The aim is to enable families to thrive, not just survive."

Family by Family

Laddoo Project
Project Leader: Ramsey Ford
Organization: Design Impact
Designed By: Jaskeerat Bedi, Anisha Shankar
Project Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

"An innovative method to combat malnutrition in India, the Laddoo Project reimagined a traditional dessert into a high nutrient food that could help children achieve the recommended caloric and nutritional intake without having to change their diets. Led by design fellows at Design Impact, the project worked through hospitals and daycare providers to reach families and children, providing them with a nutritious snack and teaching them about healthy eating."

Laddoo Project

Leveraged Freedom Chair
Project Leader: Kevin Young
Organization: Global Research Innovation and Technology (GRIT) & Continuum
Designed By: Jake Childs
Project Location: Boston, MA 

"A wheelchair that can navigate rough terrain as easily as paved surfaces, the LFC designed by Jake Childs is intended for individuals in countries where infrastructure such as sidewalks and roads are not a present. The LFC uses the chain and sprocket drive train of a standard bicycle in conjunction with two extended push levers to allow the user to move beyond the pavement."

Leveraged Freedom Chair

Potty Project
Project Leader: Renu Khosla
Organization: CURE
Designed By: Julia King
Project Location: New Delhi, India

"A participatory research and citizen engagement project, the Potty Project addresses bringing centralized sanitation infrastructure to housing projects in India that are not serviced by the government. Led by Julia King and the CURE project, this solution allows for each house to connect to a central system based on their particular resource base."

Potty Project

Refugee Housing Unit
Project Leader: Johan Karlsson
Organization: Refugee Housing Unit
Designed By: Dennis Kanter
Project Location: Sweden, Stockholm

"Designed by Dennis Kanter, this pilot project with the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) creates modular and moveable structures that can be home to internationally displaced victims for years at a time, providing a sense of home, security and allowing for personalization without being permanent structures. Cost-efficient, modular, adaptable and flat packed; these units made in conjunction with IKEA are an alternative to the tents UNHCR currently provides refugees."

Refugee Housing Unit

For more details on each project, click here.

All videos and images via worlddesignimpact.org.