Despoke

Amongst key issues that dictate how we’ll arrange our homes in the future then space management and communication stand out for me. Within less space, the distinction between something that is pleasant or uncomfortable will be even more pronounced. As we won’t want to alter the quality of our lives, it is important that design continues to improve the way we feel. Sensual experiences will not only be necessary, but they will become even more important as space becomes of greater premium.
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Every year, Electrolux Design Lab invites industrial design students to present innovative ideas for appliances of the future. This global competition attracts creative and lateral approaches to design challenges and has drawn thousands of entries since its inception in 2003. A prerequisite for any concept considered for progression, is an adherence to sustainable principles.

Previous finalists have included a portable solar cooker charged by its spray-on solar cells, a clothes washer where natural soap nuts replace detergents and a cooker that creates the night’s salmon dinner from a packet of genetically engineered muscle cells, oxygen, and nutrients.

The popularity of Electrolux Design Lab stems from a potential internship and learning opportunities awarded its finalists. For Electrolux, its dialogue and ideas are a springboard to thinking beyond current solutions to addressing challenges consumers face tomorrow.

In the short term, future generations of appliances will appear much the same as those found in our kitchens and laundry rooms today, however more intuitive, more energy-efficient and material-homogenous. Beyond individual appliances, we are thinking of the sustainable home, which is an integrated network where the waste from one product rejuvenates the function of another. The leftovers from yesterday’s dinner composts into fuel for the gas stove, water for the washing machine is heated by the district heating system, and heat output from refrigerators and other electrical goods is captured and piped to a place where it keeps occupants warm on a chilly night. In mega-cities where space is tight, we see how individual needs can be served by shared appliances, like on-demand laundry services and compartment freezers for apartment buildings—resource savers that consume a fraction of the energy of today’s solutions.

At Electrolux, we see sustainable design’s future as a culmination of the visual and interactive experience one enjoys when using a product, whilst simultaneously allowing us to make a change for the better. In the age of the conversation, designers are now better placed than ever to take this forward in tandem with consumers.
One particular conversation is also to be had with the suppliers of raw materials. Our foremost challenge in a world where population and economies are growing exponentially is to continually reduce the impacts of our products while guiding the consumer on how to make further sustainability choices.

In a push to Electrolux suppliers, we have highlighted the shortage of quality recycled plastic that can be used to manufacture products, whilst concurrently showing our concern with the amount of plastic that pollutes the environment. This is illustrated by our Vac from the Sea campaign which has seen Electrolux use plastic waste in the production of vacuum cleaners. Surely there is a permanent bridge that can be built to banish such discrepancies. Watch the Vac from Sea Video at Despoke TV

The 2010 edition of the Electrolux Design Lab competition focuses on creative solutions for compact living. The 2010 brief asked industrial design students to consider how people will prepare and store food, wash clothes, and do dishes in the homes of 2050, when 74%* of the global population are predicted to live in an urban environment. Here are eight concepts that provide a glimpse of the future.

The 2010 edition of the Electrolux Design Lab competition focuses on creative solutions for compact living. The 2010 brief asked industrial design students to consider how people will prepare and store food, wash clothes, and do dishes in the homes of 2050, when 74%* of the global population are predicted to live in an urban environment.

“With every passing year the standard of entries to the Electrolux Design Lab contest becomes stronger.” say’s Henrik Otto, SVP of Global Design at Electrolux. ”The eight finalists have made it this far on account of their ability to recognise and respond to the challenge of the brief and should be congratulated for innovative solutions that consider efficient use of domestic space”.

Global Finalists
The top 8 concepts have been chosen from designers based in eight different countries: Australia; China; USA; India, Iran Russia, France and Sweden.

September finals at 100% Design in London
Eight finalists will be invited to present their concept to a jury of expert designers on 23rd September at 100% Design. The jury will consider entries based on intuitive design, innovation and consumer insight when awarding the first prize of a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design centre and 5,000 Euros. A second prize of 3,000 Euros and third prize of 2,000 Euros are also on offer.

The eight finalists can be seen below

1: The Kitchen Hideaway, Daniel Dobrogorsky, Australia
The Kitchen Hideaway is a virtual reality concept that allows the inhabitants of a communal building to imagine being in a kitchen, preparing a particular meal rather than having to actually do this for themselves. The thoughts of the user are then transmitted to robotic chefs within the building who then prepare the visualised meal in a real kitchen and with real ingredients. In effect, the headset replaces the need for kitchen appliances in individual dwellings, saving space through creative thinking.

2: The Snail, Peter Alwin, India – Micro Induction Heating
The Snail is a portable heating and cooking device based on magnetic induction processes. Such is the size and versatility of the Snail, it can be stuck directly on to a pot, a pan, a mug etc. to heat the contents.This reduces the amount of space required for conventional cooking whilst adding portability to the process. Powered by a high density sugar crystal battery, the Snail converts the energy from the sugar, heating up a coil to conduct the magnetic induction process to the utensil. Integrated sensors detect the food type being heated so as to automatically adjust the time and temperature. A simple touch sensitive display with interface helps to monitor the process.

3: Elements Modular Kitchen, Matthew Gilbride, USA – All-In-One Kitchen Shelving
Mathew Gilbride’s modular, wall-mounted appliance provides flexible modes of cooking, refrigeration, air conditioning, lighting, and environmental design whilst reducing space. The appliance draws power wirelessly through technology applied to the wall, which is supplemented through solar energy as required. Multiple units and surfaces automatically work together through wireless smart networking, whilst customisation is offered by being able to install the units as the user prefers.

4: Bio Robot Refrigerator, Yuriy Dmitriev, Russia – Cool, Green, Food Preservation
Four times smaller than a conventional refrigerator, the Bio Robot cools biopolymer gel through luminescence. Rather than shelves, the non sticky, odourless gel morphs around products to create a separate pod that suspends items for easy access. Without doors, draws and a motor 90% of the appliance is solely given over to its intended purpose. At the same time, all food, drink and cooled products are readily available, odours are contained, and items are kept individually at their optimal temperature by bio robots. The fridge is adaptable – it can be hung vertically, horizontally, and even on the ceiling. Different sizes and dimensions allow it to perfectly fit the accordant dwelling.

5: Clean Closet, Michael Edenius, Sweden – All in One Laundry Concept
The Clean Closet is essentially just that – a closet that cleans clothing. Textiles are scanned for impurities and cleaned accordingly with molecular technology that removes dirt and odours. The concept replaces the laundry basket, the wash­ing machine, and drying cabinet to save space and, as no water is used in the process, is kinder to the environment.

6: Dismount Washer, Lichen Guo, China – Wash & Go Laundry
Lichen Guo identifies the conventional washing machine as an unnecessary occupier of space. The Dismount Washer addresses this by combining the cleaning vessel and laundry basket in one. The dirty laundry capsule is placed on a wall mountable motor (or ‘energy stick’) which takes up very little space. The energy stick also dispenses steam to aid the cleansing process.

7: External Refrigerator, Nicolas Hubert, France – External Cooling
Two years in China provided the inspiration for Nicolas Hubert’s external refrigerator. Fixed directly on the outside wall of residential buildings, the concept is an elaboration on a way of life in northern China where food is kept on balconies in the winter to save space and energy. During cold seasons and at night, the low external temperatures are used to provide the right climate for items in the fridge. During warmer weather, the sun is used to transform light into energy through solar panels. Nicolas reflects Electrolux design values: the shape and finish are kept pure and simple so as to ensure easy integration with the external urban environment, whilst a range of colours and ambient lighting facilitate this further still.

8: Eco Cleaner, Ahi Andy Mohsen, Iran – the Portable, Compact Dishwasher
The Eco Cleaner is a portable dishwasher and composter that uses ultrasonic waves to ionise food and turn it in to reusable waste. Ahi Andy Mohsen’s concept is designed for use within the increasing numbers of single households and specifically meeting dual predictions: that future food will be supplied in capsule form (thus reducing the required size of vessels to prepare and eat from); and that there will be reduced time for household chores. The Eco Cleaner is simultaneously green and space efficient.