Minnie Natural Hand Sanitizer
Why is this project worthy of an award?
Minnie is an achievement in both design and function. We wanted to change the way people look at hand sanitizer, one bird-shaped bottle at a time. While adorable, Minnie is more than just a pretty face with a hydrating, natural formulation that smells like a spa-on-the-go. Minnie is unlike anything in the hand sanitizer category and broader consumer products universe. She doesn't like to brag, but she is very worthy of an award.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
Standing 2.25 inches in height, Minnie packs a punch with over 525 sprays. She also comes equipped with a locking mechanism to prevent accident sprays in your bag. Simply move the OLIKA logo on the front from OFF to ON to unlock. We wanted Minnie's inner beauty to match her outer beauty. Her formulation contains 7 natural ingredients: alcohol, water, glycerin, aloe vera and the essential oils of lemon, spearmint and bergamot. Minnie is a cruelty-free, gluten-free and vegan product. Minnie is unique and innovative because she elevates the mundane chore of using hand sanitizer into an moment of delight. She is a game changer in the category very similar to how EOS Products redefined what lip balm could be.
Who worked on the project?
OLIKA - Design JMR development - Engineering
View the project video:
Mizzen+Main
Why is this project worthy of an award?
Mizzen+Main is a performance menswear company that transformed all of menswear with the use of sweat-wicking, machine-washable, and ultra-comfortable performance fabric in traditional clothing like dress shirts, henleys, flannels, sweaters, pants and more. Founder and CEO Kevin Lavelle launched the company in July 2012 after realizing that there was an opportunity to make a better dress shirt, and he refused to settle until he had made the best damn dress shirt out there. Mizzen+Main shirts quickly became a favorite among a variety of customers, including a strong contingent of professional athletes. The industry laughed off this innovation in those first few years telling him “no one will ever wear synthetics in traditional menswear.” Today, Mizzen+Main is stocked in nearly 600 locations, including all Nordstrom doors. With this innovative new approach to menswear, Mizzen+Main has created clothing for the modern consumer. Wrinkle-resistant fabric with sweat-wicking properties and four-way stretch ensures that shirts look great throughout longer workdays. Their machine-washable, non-iron clothing also eliminates the time and expense of dry cleaning and the hassle of ironing. In addition to continual product improvement, the company has maintained a commitment to giving back to the veteran community. Their current contributions to the Adaptive Training Foundation includes sponsorship of two veteran athletes per class and weekly employee commitments as volunteer trainers for the foundation. Mizzen+Main is sold online and in nearly 600 retail stores throughout the United States, including Nordstrom. It has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Men's Health, ESPN and MSNBC. The company also has major endorsement partnerships with Phil Mickelson and JJ Watt.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
The thought of using advanced performance fabrics outside of gym wear or sports jerseys was once off-limits, but this changed with the performance polo. Performance fabrics used in polos were first seen as a joke by traditional apparel companies, but they now can be seen and are accepted at nearly every golf course in America. Lavelle saw this parallel in menswear. The technology embedded into these fabrics could provide equal benefit in everyday life and fix all of the woes that come with wearing a traditional dress shirt. Remarkably, this had not been done before in button up shirts. Lavelle experimented with thousands of fabric variations to find the perfect combination. Without divulging its exact formula, some of its shirts combine polyester, nylon and Lycra, while others have cotton. Innovating on the classic men’s dress shirt was no small task. Although there are new styles, patterns and trends each year, the fabrics used have remained consistent with little variation outside of non-dry-clean, wrinkle-free shirts and pants. Combining advanced performance fabrics with a refined, traditional style, Mizzen+Main has changed the way men approach the staples of their wardrobe.
Who worked on the project?
Founder and CEO Kevin Lavelle
View the project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhPIYkd9mnw
Modefywear Performance Hijab
Why is this project worthy of an award?
The hijab is a central part of identity for a Muslim woman. Wearing a hijab not only signifies religious, cultural, and traditional preferences but personal as well. It universally represents modesty. Yet as apparel in general has evolved in form and function over the past century, the hijab unfortunately has not. In the past few decades alone, the number of women who wear hijabs has increased significantly and the vast majority of women who wear them engage in a modern and digital lifestyle. While more fashionable scarves have been introduced to the hijab’s fashion palette, the advancement in purpose, function, fabric, and inclusivity has not. This is why the introduction of the Modefywear Performance Hijab (MPH) has been vigorously embraced by hijab wearers. To start with, the fabric has been updated from generic cotton and polyester that are the norm. The MPH is designed with breathable, UV protection, and moisture wicking modal fabric. Additionally, the MPH, which is patented (pending) has unique technology-enabled features such as ear holes for optimal acoustics, an ear band to cover the holes for secured modesty, and a hidden interior pocket for security and convenience. Here are some examples on how the MPH makes it easier for more hijab-wearers to partake in everyday life: 1. It makes it possible for deaf/hard of hearing women to actively participate in society. Traditionally, the hijab rubs against the hearing aid causing it to whistle, making it extremely uncomfortable, irritable, and at times, impossible, to wear. The earholes were originally designed for hearing aids. 2. The wearing of glasses and sunglasses is easier without sacrificing modesty. The ear holes allow the glasses to fit securely around the ears and the ear band keeps them in place along with keeping the head fully covered. 3. Women in the professional fields such as medical, security, and communications are being empowered with the performance hijab to be able to use their tools of trade (ear pieces, Bluetooth, stethoscope) without having to alter the hijab and risk exposing themselves. 4. Athletes can partake in sports more comfortably with a breathable hijab featuring earholes and a pocket. With all this, why is the MPH worthy of this award? One word: empowerment. Our hijab empowers hijabis (those who wear hijabs) to have both worlds – their fashion freedom and their careers/everyday lives. It addresses the needs of the consumers’ active and digital lifestyle while enhancing the cultural and traditional integrity of the hijab.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
The Modefywear Performance Hijab is a patent pending design with technology-enabled features. The hijab was designed to allow the wearer to actively engage in modern technology such as cellphone, personal music gadgets, hearing aids, Bluetooth, sunglasses, and more without making any sacrificed to the integrity and dignity of the hijab. The hijab is also designed with dry-wicking, cooling fabric for endurance and high-performance sports. The problem exists in the traditional hijab, namely that women who choose to wear full head coverings have difficulty accessing their ears in order to install, adjust or otherwise handle hearing aids, glasses, earpieces, and/or stethoscopes. It also has been difficult while wearing full head coverings to install, adjust, or remove earpieces while listening to music. It is even difficult for women to uncover their ears simply to listen to persons speaking, music or other ambient /sounds. As the number of reasons for wearing hijabs grows, the number and type of places in which they are worn has also grown. Younger women, particularly students in colleges and universities, frequently listen to music or talk on their cellphones while studying, walking or exercising using earpieces with cords connected to their phones. Similarly, women in Arabic and Muslim countries are being accepted as elite athletes in the Olympics, marathons, and world-class sporting events such as the World Cup. Some of these elite athletes prefer to wear earpieces and listen to motivational music prior to their events while stretching and mentally preparing for their competitions. These women desire to have ways in which to adjust or remove their earpieces quickly and without removing their hijabs in public (which for elite athletes may include widely televised broadcasts). Modern women also seek to retain their protection of modesty while not being uncomfortable during high levels of actively or long hours of wear. Another problem that has been an on-going difficulty for hijabis is decreased hearing capacity, especially for persons with hearing difficulties. There is a long-standing problem in that covering one’s ears with one or more layers of cloth reduces the volume and character of sounds and speech that are received into the hearing canal. Thus, if hearing aid batteries die, or the aids need adjustment for levels of volume, removing the hijab is time-consuming and inconvenient. The MPH design comprises a hijab providing full modesty for the wearer, but having special adaptations for increasing the ease of use for technology. The object of this invention is to provide a full head covering for women who practice cultural, religious or personal traditions of modesty that also give greater ability to access the ears in such a manner that simplifies the use of earpieces, hearing aids, glasses, stethoscopes and other personal and career-centric devices. This is achieved by the innovative earholes and ear band. Another object of the MPH permits the wearer an extra layer of security by keeping valuables such as cellphones, credit cards, and small items hidden in the interior pocket.
Who worked on the project?
Melissa Scott - chief designer
View the project video: https://vimeo.com/270818983
MYMAYU Collapsible Outdoor Boots - "Traveller" Collection
Company MYMAYU
Introduction Date April 25, 2018
Project Website https://www.mymayu.com/pages/traveller
Why is this project worthy of an award?
MYMAYU™ (my-my-you) was created out of necessity: a little boy without proper boots wanted to follow his big brother in the rain. Too many puddle jumping sessions had been cut short by face-plants in the water because of bulky, clunky rubber boots that were too big, too heavy and made him trip. There had to be a better boot. The MYMAYU™ Traveller Boot is a new concept in what a kids' outdoor boot should be. Ultra-lightweight, flexible, collapsible and extendable to the knee, the MYMAYU™ Traveller boot allows freedom of movement, getting kids closer to nature. We know that kids are little people, but not little adults. Their proportions are different; their needs are different. Outdoor gear for kids needs to fit well so that adventures are not cut short. It also needs to be easily cared for and durable. MYMAYU™ designs products with this in mind. Parents all over the world have loved our patented design so much that they are demanding boots for themselves. From the young urban commuters to the experienced outdoor enthusiast, the MYMAYU™ boot is the most versatile boot you'll ever own. The MYMAYU™ Adult Boot Collections are being launched in Fall 2018.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
As parents and lovers of well-designed outdoor gear, we wondered why nobody was making a kids boot that would let them run, jump and play without worrying about what was on their feet. We asked ourselves: * What if there were boots that kids could run in - downhill- backwards- in the rain- without tripping? * What if they were not only light-weight, but also sleek? * What if they felt more like a shoe than a boot? * What they actually stayed on their feet and were comfortable? * What if they came up to the knee and cinched tight so splashed water wouldn’t get inside and ticks would stay out? * What if they dried quickly if they did happen to get wet inside so that bacteria didn't start to grow and stink up the doorway? After years of hard work, we designed a boot that turned all of those “what-ifs” into reality and the MYMAYU™ Boot was born. Our Traveller Collection is the culmination of our initial innovative design plus customer feedback as well as constant testing and refinement of all elements of the design. We are serious about making a product that adds value to people's lives. Life's too short to spend it all indoors. At MYMAYU™ we make products that let you JUST BE. OUTSIDE.™
Who worked on the project?
Suzanne Solsona - Founder & CEO, MYMAYU Javier Solsona - Founder & Chief Design Officer, MYMAYU
View the project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAC2LAx4GAQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXoCtEogp3w, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEVzYYVY-G0&t=25s
Nadi X
Why is this project worthy of an award?
The design of Nadi X brings together fashion and tech for everyday life. The clear lines in the design give them a stylish but timeless appearance. At the same time, we designed Nadi X, so the technology is incorporated into your daily life in an intuitive but invisible way. It is more about what you cannot see rather than what you can see. Today’s smart fashion often suffers from looking “engineered” or even nerdy. We didn’t want the pants to look like a gadget or the wearer like a robot. Nadi X is a piece of high quality fashion that can compete with the best activewear designs on the market, but gives the extra of incorporated technology that enhances your yoga experience to a whole new level. We believe that vibrational feedback can draw attention away from a screen focused (visual) society to more self awareness. It establishes a new way of interactive communication between humans and technology. Vibrations are guiding the user through their yoga practice, so their eyes and ears are free to be open for that experience to full extend. We see yoga as a perfect example for this approach. The touch of a yoga teacher brought to you by your leggings which gives the user the freedom to practice everywhere every time.
What else would you like to share about your design? Why is it unique and innovative?
The design of Nadi X defines itself by the intuitive interaction between user and technology. This includes minimizing the footprint of the electronics, but also the interplay between fabrics and hardware. We spend a significant amount of time in finding the right position for the vibrational modules to make them as invisible as possible. Still, the leggings are machine washable and have the same level of stretch as conventional activewear. At the same time we did not want to make any compromises regarding the look and the feel. The goal was to give the user the best comfort possible. This also includes the design of the detachable battery module which is formed and positioned, so that it will not bother you during your yoga practice. The shape is believed to be the most ergonomic shape from a yogi perspective. It brings together design elements that fit to the user’s movements. The position behind the left knee ensures that it won’t distract the user when lying on the floor. Free-forms help for easier handling and usability. A micro-structured surface gives a warm feel when the users hold the Pulse in their hand. Besides bringing awareness to your body through invisible touch, Nadi X also senses your position to give you feedback and guides you as to where to focus your attention on the body. This holistic approach helps to support beginners as well as advanced yoga practitioners to improve their skills and to prevent injuries.
Who worked on the project?
Billie Whitehouse (CEO, Wearable X) Olivia Burca (Garment Engineer, Wearable X Benedikt Funke (Technical Product Manager, Wearable X)
View the project video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGr0uMvMA8