Complex Thoughts Komplekse Tanker Håndtørrer by Excel Dryer and Artists for Humanity is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award i Bronze in Badeværelsesmøbler og Sanitetsartikler Design Competition Category.
BronzeSanitetsartikler· 2024
Complex Thoughts Komplekse Tanker Håndtørrer
by Excel Dryer and Artists for Humanity
Client: Excel Dryer, Inc.
A' Design Award i Bronze Winner in Sanitetsartikler Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #158659The Design
About Complex Thoughts Komplekse Tanker Håndtørrer
Excel Dryer indgik partnerskab med den Boston-baserede almennyttige organisation Artists For Humanity for at samarbejde om at skabe verdens cooleste håndtørrere. Ved hjælp af deres proprietære digitale billedteknologi var Excel i stand til at overføre kunsten skabt af kunstnerne fra Artists For Humanity til deres håndtørrerdæksler. Dette transformerede et industrielt kommercielt produkt til et kunstværk, der afspejlede Artists For Humanitys mission ved at forene funktionalitet og kreativitet for at holde hænderne hygiejniske og rene, samtidig med at det var et æstetisk tiltalende produkt til deres toiletter.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award i Bronze
Complex Thoughts Komplekse Tanker Håndtørrer er vinder af A' Design Award i Bronze, en højt prestigefyldt anerkendelse, der tildeles enestående designs, som udmærker sig ved kreativitet, opfindsomhed og skarpsindighed. Bronzevinderne er rigeligt dygtige og påfaldende kreative artefakter, der bekræfter deres designeres store erfaring, fantasi og snilde. Complex Thoughts Komplekse Tanker Håndtørrer forventes at være en højt estimeret, beundret og kær genstand, der er bemærkelsesværdigt professionel og innovativ. Dette design, der har vundet A' Design Award i Bronze, indarbejder bedste praksis inden for kunst, videnskab, design og teknologi og er fremragende på grund af sin sans for detaljer. Complex Thoughts Komplekse Tanker Håndtørrer tilfredsstiller pragtfuldt behov, rører længsler, charmerer følelser og appellerer til nysgerrigheden.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The Complex Thoughts Xlerator retrofit kit transforms a commercial hand dryer into a functional art piece, enhancing aesthetic and utility in workspaces. Created by the teen artists from Artists for Humanity (AFH), this project exemplifies the integration of art with commercial products while enhancing the environment and fostering community collaboration. The initiative advances hygiene standards while supporting emerging artists, seamlessly merging functionality with creativity.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The retrofit hand dryer has dimensions of 415.925mm x 85.725mm x 660.4mm, optimized for efficient space usage while ensuring maximum performance. In our commitment to sustainability, all of our cardboard waste is transformed into robust inserts that ensure the product's durability and protection against shipping damage. This eco-friendly approach enhances product safety during transit while aligning with our environmental responsibilities.
- Tags
- Hand Dryer, Artwork, Restroom, Custom Design, Sustainable, Bathroom, Hygiene, Green, Customizable, Xlerator
- Production Technology
- Our design uses proprietary 3D image sublimation technology from France, enabling the transfer of custom artwork onto the hand dryers. A durable, top-seal coating prevents damage from chipping, scratching, or wear.
We are the first in the world to have HPDs and EPDs for our products, illustrating the impact that our products have on health and the environment.
Xlerator EPD: https://go.exceldryer.com/xlerator-epd
Xlerator HPD: https://go.exceldryer.com/xlerator-hpd - Design Challenge
- The main challenge was reimagining commercial appliances, traditionally designed for functionality, as artistic objects enhancing spaces. Using AFH's teen artists' art and Excel's proprietary digital image technology, we transferred Complex Thoughts onto the retrofit kit, overcoming creative and technical obstacles. Balancing aesthetic appeal with restroom function, we made a unique product that reflects AFH's artistic ethos, demonstrating innovation in blending art with utility.
- Research
- The research aimed to transform hand dryers into pieces of art, enhancing restroom aesthetics and user engagement. We combined input from architects, designers, and AFH teens. Results showed increased user satisfaction and engagement. Insights and impacts gained include the importance of aesthetics and art in restrooms. The research influenced business by adding value to a standard product, positively impacted society, and reshaped design thinking by merging functionality with art.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this project came from a desire to give back to the community and empower underutilized teens. Partnering with AFH, we aimed to inspire through a nontraditional medium: transforming everyday objects into art. This initiative reflected commitment to social responsibility, leveraging art and our dryers to give back to the community. The technical foundation is rooted in merging design principles with functional utility, blending creativity, innovation, and community engagement.
- Project Duration
- This project started in February 2023 in Boston at the Artists For Humanity facility and finished in April 2023 and will be showcased at a special event at their facility in June 2024.
- Operation Flow
- The Complex Thoughts Xlerator hand dryer retrofit kit is designed for touchless operation, ensuring hygiene and ease of use. Users simply place their hands under the unit to activate it. The speed and sound levels are adjustable, allowing for a customizable experience tailored to the environment's needs. By merging art with utility, the dryers not only promote proper hand hygiene but also enhance the overall atmosphere, leading to a superior user interaction.
- Patents
- Patented. Patent No. US 7,039,301 B1 Excel Dryer, Inc. 2006. United States Patent Office.
- Team Members
- Richard Frank
Jason Talbot
Takii Samuels
Evelyn Trans
Lydia Disla
Samuel Quintin
Stephanie Wu
Jenny Nguyen
JingYi Li
Maradia Rene
Samantha Shave
William Gagnon
Joshua Griffing
Debbie Frangie
Justin Kohut
Chris DeGray - Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Jon Jones, Complex Thoughts, 2023
Image #2: Photographer Jon Jones, Complex Thoughts, 2023
Image #3: Photographer Jon Jones, Complex Thoughts, 2023
Image #4: Photographer Jon Jones, Complex Thoughts, 2023
Image #5: Photographer Jon Jones, Complex Thoughts, 2023
Videographer Tim O’Donnell, Pixela Pictures, The World’s Coolest Hand Dryers! – Artists for Humanity Turns Xlerators into Works of Art, 2023
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