Refracting Echoes
Exhibited at: Dutch Design Week 2024 Date: October 2024 Collaborators: Serge Gruson, Sam van der Horst, Job Oort, Derek van der Ploeg, Emily Ridings, Zhijian Xiong, Ian Zhang, Junhan Zhang
Standard Shipping is a design challenge where participants create products that fit within the standard envelopes and packaging of PostNL (or any local postal system) to minimize shipping costs.
Shipping products to a design festival can be one of the most significant expenses, especially for international participants. This cost is often driven up by the need for specialized packaging or shipping methods to ensure that items arrive safely at the exhibition.
To make shipping more affordable and convenient, postal services offer standardized pricing based on specific packaging dimensions. By using these predefined packaging limits, we challenged designers from The Netherlands, Sweden, and America to develop fun and creative products that fit within these restrictions. This approach not only reduces shipping costs but also pushes the boundaries of innovative design within a practical framework.
Cushty Shelf
I created Cushty Shelf: Cushty is a shelf you create, not just assemble—one that custom-fits your belongings. Inspired by Instapak’s foam-molding packaging solution, this shelf utilizes packaging materials to craft a unique display. The mailbox package transforms into the mold for your shelf. Simply pour the chemicals (two-part polyurethane foam) into the bag and let the foam expand around your items. The Cushty shelf has the potential to elevate everyday objects to striking focal points.
Standard Shipping is a concept by Ian Zhang. The design challenge and exhibition design were realized by Ian Zhang, Sam van der Horst and me.