Create your own hand sanitiser pump competition and home makeover videos to watch while you serve out your stay home notice
SINGAPORE (Apr 3): British design studio Bompas & Parr has just launched a competition — “Fountain of Hygiene” — inviting creators and designers to develop aesthetic and functional containers for hydroalcoholic gel and liquid soap, two products that are very much in the news as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage. Creatives, designers, makers and architects are all being invited to submit fresh ideas for hydroalcoholic gel and soap pumps for this competition organised by the British design studio Bompas & Parr. The various projects will go on show at the Design Museum in London from April 9 to May 7 next, health crisis permitting.
There will also be an auction of the top 10 projects — organized by British auction house Christie’s with the proceeds donated to the British Red Cross. If necessary, this sale may also be held online. “The competition seeks to explore the aesthetic, functional, social, gestural and experiential possibilities of enhanced hygiene. It is hoped that this will accelerate the establishment of new behavioural norms which benefit the ongoing health of global society,” explains the design studio.
A shortlist of projects will be selected by a panel of judges. If conditions do not allow for an exhibition at the Design Museum, the entries will be shown online. Contestants are free to “design or enhance sanitizer pumps, sprays, wipes, dispenser units or even gestures and rituals.” Bompas & Parr aims to use the means at its disposal to reduce the physical, social and economic impact of the virus. It also wants to highlight initiatives such as the LVMH group’s use of its cosmetics production lines to produce hydroalcoholic gel, or the Washyourlyrics.com website by @neoncloth, which generates instructions to wash your hands accompanied by the song of your choice.
Museum director Tim Marlow says, “Design has an important role in helping to solve many of the challenges that we face in daily life including some of those raised by the recent Covid-19 outbreak. We hope that the shortlisted entries of the Sanitizer Design Competition will demonstrate the importance of research and innovative thinking.”
Watch and give your home a makeover
Being on quarantine may be one of the best times to give some extra attention to your house. As the Covid-19 pandemic forces many of us to work from home, this transition may require you to maximize the space that you have in order to create an environment that you can happily spend time alone in. As searches for “deep cleaning tips” skyrocket on Pinterest, here is a selection of four videos and tutorials that will inspire you to improve your new living or work space.
Whether you live in a small apartment or in a flatshare, introducing plants into your interior can serve an aesthetic and practical purpose. Some research has suggested that houseplants can help remove air toxins, while also improving concentration and productivity. It’s time to create your own plant sanctuary.
As working from home can be distracting, creating a designated work area is essential for maximizing your efficiency. Setting up a working environment can make a surprising difference in your new daily routine, helping you stick to your schedule while keeping you away from the (bad) idea of wearing pyjamas all day long.
Storage Solutions for Small Spaces
As the saying goes, “Tidy desk, tidy mind.” Finding storage solutions is essential for remaining focused and productive in a space in which your office supplies stand among your personal belongings. Researchers at Princeton University have also said that clutter can actually make it more difficult to complete tasks efficiently.
As the cornerstone of food storage, your refrigerator should be deep cleaned regularly. What better time to do so than when you are stuck at home with few distractions?
