The ICON A5 amphibious sport plane was developed in response to the establishment of the Sport Pilot License and Light Sport Aircraft category. Pilots and non-pilots alike appreciate the aircraft’s features, which emphasize the user experience, accessibility, safety and fun. The A5 can fly from both land and water, and has folding wings, enabling it to be towed on a trailer and compactly stored.

The UK Folding Plug transforms from a bulky three-pin plug into a portable, hassle-free plug ideal for people on the go. When not in use, the UK Folding Plug transforms into a 10 mm-thick flat object.

"An elegant solution to a timeless problem. In this case less IS more!"

--Gregory Schultz

Contact: Min-kyu Choi: min-kyu.choi@network.rca.ac.uk Credit: Min-Kyu Choi of Royal College of Art (United Kingdom) Client:

The Structural Economic Expansion in Detroit (SEED) mass transit system is an easily expandable, two-level, elevated mag-lev system meant to connect Detroit with the surrounding economies in Pontiac and Ann Arbor. The system was designed to revitalize the city of Detroit, reduce urban sprawl and create tightly organized communities around the transit stops.

Energy Seed is a collection bin for batteries that uses leftover power to light the attached LED streetlamps. The design’s aesthetic takes its cue from a flowering plant. When people deposit their batteries, it is akin to planting a seed that later, when it’s dark, turns into a flower. It also encourages people to discard their batteries in a responsible manner.

"Energy Seed is a beautiful idea which really opens the public's eyes to the pollution discarded batteries can cause if they're not fully recycled."

--Rosario Costa, creative director, LEGO System A/S (Denmark)

Cheers cup is an earth-friendly, reusable alternative to disposable menstrual products. The design is chemical free, can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time and is reusable for up to 10 years.

"Good design solves problems. This was not a glamorous subject to tackle but one that requires many skills and sensitivities. Understanding the industrial and ecological impact of the current solution added to powerful communication of the total multidimensional meaning of the project. Very well done."

--Andrew Hartman, design director, new business, Philips Design (Netherlands)

Project Cooper was a large-scale synthesis of an extensive amount of research looking to document US and European thyroid surgeons in action. Market research was used to learn what surgeons wanted; ethnographic research to learn how thyroid procedures are performed and identify tacit needs; preference testing evaluated concepts and identified opportunities for improvement, and usability testing validated product usability to meet FDA requirements.

The Colorblind project explored consumers' feelings about all things green and sustainable. Through in-depth in-home interviews and a partnership with an online research firm, the project tapped into the minds of 2,000 consumers to see what role sustainability and green ideology play in their lives, tracing how they impact everyday decisions.

"Unique, self-directed research that will most definitely inform designers and marketers about the real, perceived, and latent consumer understanding of 'green' products and services."

The Project Masiluleke Home HIV Test was designed to make HIV testing in South Africa a comfortable and familiar process. It combines mobile support with off-the-shelf saliva-based diagnostics. The test, designed in both English and Zulu, is available free of charge and is intended for private use in the home and outside of the traditional healthcare infrastructure.

Teneo® is a storage system for everything that doesn’t fit on your computer: books, papers, files, other technology devices, personal items. The system’s 20 parts can be combined to make more than 80 products, including credenzas, easels, lecterns, book and project carts and supply islands.

"Outstanding! Teneo starts with deep user understanding and design thinking, incorporates strong environmental benefits, and is finished off with a simple, inviting aesthetic. Add a smart modular design where 20 parts can create over 80 products, and this is a winner."