Student Designs

Life-on is a roof tile designed to accommodate each of the seasons and provide warming or cooling benefits appropriate to the time of year. The tiles are able to grow grass. During the summer months, the grass blocks sunlight and keeps the interior of the house much cooler than a typical roof. In addition, the grass helps with the absorption of carbon dioxide from the air, the release of oxygen back into the environment and the purification of the air; it also enhances the appearance of the house and the surrounding neighborhood. During the winter months, the grass gradually withers forming a barrier that can prevent heat loss from inside the house and saves energy.

Houses all over the world have roofing of one kind of another. Some materials are better than others in terms of energy savings. Some roofing materials are better during the summer, and some are better during the winter. Life-on tiles work year-round. Spring, summer, winter and fall, users can conserve energy because they won’t need to rely on the air-conditioner or heater as much in order to stay comfortable. Life-on ensures that the electricity consumption is low throughout the year.

One of the problems of traditional roof tiles is that the heat from the sun can pass through the tiles and into the house, causing the interior of the house to heat up and the user to turn on the air-conditioner. The same is true during the wintertime, except instead of the heat, the cold easily passes through, causing the user to turn on the heater. Life-on is designed to function in an opposite manner, ensuring a cool home during the summertime and a warm home during the wintertime, all the while helping the user save energy and save money.

Another important aspect of Life-on roof tiles is their durability. Most roof tiles are used for more than 10 years, so it pays to have a roof that will stay strong and effective for at least that long. Life-on is designed to be extremely durable and effective during the hottest and coldest times of year.

For the eco-minded, Life-on is beneficial in that it is designed to absorb carbon dioxide, release clean oxygen and purify the air. With Life-on, users benefit the environment and do their part in fighting global warming. In addition, environmentally friendly and nature-oriented people will benefit from the calming and relaxing feel of having a beautiful green grass roof.

Designed by Teng Xuan of Jiangnan University

Contact: Teng Xuan - frankxiaot@163.com

The eZtap in an innovative solution that improves the rubber tapping process. Rubber tapping is the process of collecting latex from a rubber tree. It works by making an incision in the bark of a tree, which makes it possible for the latex to flow freely down the side of the tree and into a collection cup. The eZtap was designed to enable users to save time and energy and to increase the amount of latex collected.
 
In countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil, rubber tapping is an important part of the local economy. Rubber is a highly exported material used for a wealth of different everyday products. The latex collected through the process of rubber tapping is found in a wide variety of applications, including door and window profiles, hoses, belts, matting, flooring for the automotive industry, textiles, and gloves for medical, household and industrial purposes. The latex from rubber tapping is also used in toy balloons.
 
However, the rubber tapping industry is one of the few domains that hasn’t seen much change. The same methodology has been used for a long time, and there is a lack of innovation. The eZtap promises to improve the rubber tapping process and ultimately increase the profits of rubber plantation owners.

The eZtap features a knife that lends greater precision to the rubber tapping process. The unique blade shape facilitates efficient cutting that produces deeper grooves. The knife features an eco-plastic handle and a stainless-steel blade. In addition to the knife, it also comes with the eZtap bowl. The bowl, also created with eco-plastic, is easy to use and was designed with a smooth interior for easy rubber removal. With one simple turn of the embedded palate, the user can remove all the rubber in the bowl. Both the bowl and the knife feature ergonomic designs for a more comfortable, precise and efficient rubber tapping experience. Also, eZtap is lightweight and designed for easy portability.
 
The challenge of designing the eZtap was to create something that has never been done before, but at the same time keep the device simple, minimal and efficient. The eZtap is intended to be sold to rubber plantation owners throughout the world. Therefore, the design was focused on being easy to use and efficient so that the plantation owners could be more productive and profitable.

Designed by Justine Lotigie of DSK ISD International School of Design

Contact: Guillaume Penanguer - guillaume.penanguer@dskisd.com

The Fire Escape Mask enables users to escape from a fire by absorbing the smoke. It contains liquid medicine that is dispensed when the mask is pulled out of the package. The mask can effectively prevent toxic smoke from entering the user’s lungs, providing protection for people during a fire.

Designed by Jieyu Jiang, Zishuo Fang, Tengwen Hu, Shang Tong, Cheng Chi and Xiaoneng Jin of Zhejiang University

Contact: Jieyu Jiang - jjy911111@qq.com

The Asthma Wellness Kit is designed for asthma-prone users who want to lead an active lifestyle. The kit contains a mouth-worn product with a heat exchanger and peak-flow meter. The heat exchanger humidifies and levels inhaled air temperature to prevent dried out airways, while the peak-flow meter continuously monitors airway contractions and warns the user of a coming attack.

Designed by Cenk Aytekin of Umeå Institute of Design for Philips Healthcare

Contact: Cenk Aytekin - hello@cenkaytekin.com

The HCV Test is a blood-borne pathogen testing device with an integrated lancet and testing strip that folds into a self-contained sharps container. It works by squeezing the tabs on top of the test body, which releases a spring-loaded lancet that punctures the finger. The lancet release tabs are then used to squeeze blood from the puncture site onto the test strip.

Designed by Lonnie Mann III, Joy Christensen and Glenn Shaw of Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Contact: Joy Christensen - christensen.joy@gmail.com

The Optical Stethoscope enables doctors to visualize the internal sounds of the human body, such as a heartbeat or the movement of stomach fluids. Using the Optical Stethoscope, doctors can employ both their auditory and visual senses to make a better diagnosis. Additionally, in emergency situations, the device can help provide a fast and accurate diagnosis.

Designed by Seobin Oh and Joon Hee Kim of KAIST

Contact: Seobin Oh - oseobin@kaist.ac.kr

The Aiding Cup - Medicine + Water is designed to bring a safe and timely remedy to sick people who live amid difficult conditions, such as drought and war. It is a prepackaged kit containing medicine and clean water with which to swallow the medicine. It is made from recyclable plant fiber, and its quality is guaranteed for two years.

Designed by Shi Jian of Hunan University, Li Ke, Chen Yiling, Xu Wei, Ye Feng, Hu Yi, Wu Jia, Liu Yi, Wang Nianou of Zhejiang University and Cheng Zhang, Jin Tuo and Wang Lingen of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University

Contact: Li Ke - messizon328@126.com

The Omega Sprintmaster Starting Block is a redesigned starting block that improves a runner's ergonomics, adjustability and comfort. It gives the runner freedom to adjust the footpads through a sliding rail, a rear dual LCD display to check on accurate measurement of its footpads and a sleek, unobtrusive speaker design that provides a better hearing position.

Designed by Jom Sirimongkolkasem of California College of the Arts

Contact: Jom Sirimongkolkasem - jom157@hotmail.com

The U Bowl is a cooking pot designed with a special U-shaped silicone part on the side that enables the user to simply clean both sides of a cooking spoon without wasting food. The flexibility of the silicone part also enables the user to hold the bowl while using it.

Designed by Jeho Yoon of Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle

Contact: Jeho Yoon - jehoyoon@hotmail.com

The E-catch Net is a virtual insect-catching net designed to capture insects with digital scanning technology. It works by scanning the insect and creating a 3D paper model of its likeness. The E-catch Net enables children to enjoy insect catching without having to kill insects.

Designed by Zhang Cheng, Tuo Jin, Ling-En Wang, Xiao-Neng Jin, An-Qi Yao, Prof. Ren Peng, Li-Bin Hao, You Zeng, Xiao-Long Lou, Jun-Ye Tao, Yu-Han Liao, Jian Shi, Yi-Lin Chen, Yi Hu and Ke Li of Zhejiang University

Contact: Xiao-Neng Jin - 387709098@qq.com