Art Center’s recent announcement of the Denhart Family Sustainability Prizewinners highlights the ways in which a design-thinking approach to social innovation has the potential to create measurable improvements to our health and well-being. The judges selected each of the following four projects based on the concept’s efficacy in addressing pressing environmental, social and/or economic sustainability issues, the potential benefits of the project and its impact as well as its ability to advance the teaching and practice of art and design. Please join us in congratulating the winners. We look forward to seeing these out-of-the-box ideas come to life.

1st Place / $15,000/ OATH: INSULIN TAPE SYSTEM / Martin Francisco

Product Design student Martin Francisco received the grand prize for ‘Oath,’ an innovative insulin delivery system that provides individuals with an accurate and painless method of dispensing insulin, while dramatically reducing material waste and environmental impact.

Oath is designed for aging adults, who have issues with dexterity, needle safety, storing and measuring proper dosages when administering liquid insulin. The tape and dispenser system makes using Oath as easy as applying and removing a Band-Aid. Moreover, Oath has 72% fewer environmental impacts over its life cycle when compared to the current insulin pen. The ergonomic Oath design accomplishes this by reducing the number of materials and components, minimizing waste at all stages, and using non-toxic, recyclable and renewable resources.

2nd Place / $10,000/ FLO: REUSABLE SANITARY PAD FOR GIRLS LIVING IN POVERTY /Mariko Higaki Iwai, Sohyun Kim, & Tatijana Vasily

Mariko Higaki Iwai (Product Design, 7th term), Sohyun Kim (Environmental Design, 7th term), and Tatijana Vasily (Photography, 6th term), received the second place award for ‘Flo,’ a kit that allows girls to attend school during menstrual cycles by providing a means of washing, drying and carrying reusable sanitary pads.

Menstrual cycles often prevent girls from attending school in parts of the world where disposable sanitary pads are unaffordable. The Flo system addresses this urgent need for a reusable, hygienic and private sanitary pad product that schoolgirls can use without embarrassment. Importantly, the Flo kit is an important part of the larger effort to make education available, without interruption, to girls worldwide.

3rd Place / $5,000/ CROP: MATERIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN/ Daniel Bromberg & Carolina Rodriguez

Daniel Bromberg [Product, 7th term] and Carolina Rodriguez [Product, 7th term] received their award for ‘Crop’, a comprehensive material management plan that shifts the current perception of waste as ‘trash’ towards one of usable and reusable materials.

Motivated by sustainability goals set forth in Art Center’s Strategic Plan, Crop was designed to ‘lead by example,’ and achieve ‘energy efficiency’ and ‘zero waste.’ The phased and multi-tiered project consists of a unique and memorable identity system, a communication campaign, and specially designed material bins that collect Compostable, Recyclable, Other and Paper materials.

Honorable Mention / PAD: URBAN HERB GARDEN / Yingting Rita Jiang

Yingting Jiang [Environmental Design, 7th term] received honorable mention for ‘Pad,’ an urban herb garden that gives city dwellers in Los Angeles the opportunity to interact with nature, engage with neighbors and the local community, and learn about water conservation and herbology.

Pad is an urban oasis designed to become an active space within an existing Los Angeles neighborhood. Seeking to bring nature and community to the cityscape, pad also serves as an educational platform where neighbors can interact and learn about water conservation, herbology, and each other. Materials and systems were carefully chosen to minimize environmental impact.