Cardboard Design Wins James Dyson Award

Cardboard Design Wins James Dyson Award

The James Dyson award focuses on supporting innovating ideas from design and engineering students around the world.

At the end of 2016, Isis Shiffer, a graduate from the Pratt Institute of Design in New York received this year’s top prize. Her invention is the EcoHelmet; a foldable, recyclable cardboard cycling helmet.

Cardboard is recognised as a robust packaging material and the helmet design includes a honeycomb configuration of cardboard, which provides added strength on impact. The design has been proven to offer as much protection as a traditional polystyrene cycle helmet.

Urban Bike Scheme Solution

The EcoHelmet has been developed to complement urban bike share schemes. A decade ago only 5 bike share schemes existed, but although these were initially seen as a novelty, they have proved popular with commuters and tourists. At present there are around 230 schemes across the globe and they are playing an important role in city transport management.

Many people who decide to hire a bike may not have previously planned the trip. A missed bus, a spontaneous tour of the sights or an opportunity to get out during a sunny lunchbreak may all be reason that people opt for pedal power. As such they are unlikely to have their cycle helmet with them. The foldable, cardboard design of the EcoHelmet means that it could be sold via vending machines at bike hire stations.

As cardboard is a relatively low cost material, the helmets are cheap to produce and have a low retail cost, which would also encourage hirers to buy.

Recyclable Design

The cardboard in the EcoHelmet has a biodegradable coating, which helps to protect it for up to 3 hours in wet weather. As this is longer than most cycle hirers are likely to be out in the rain, the helmet can be used on multiple occasions. When it has been damaged, the cardboard design is fully recyclable.

The $45,000 prize money will help Isis Shiffer to further develop the idea and take EcoHelmet to market.

So, if cardboard designs offer sufficient protection to minimise head injuries, it can help to keep your fragile and valuable goods in optimum condition. Tell us about the items you need to package and we’ll find an ideal solution.