Walk Me Hundaól by Hi Jac is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award í bronsi in Sjálfbærar vörur, verkefni og græn hönnun Competition Category.
BronsSjálfbær vara· 2023
Walk Me Hundaól
by Hi Jac
Client: Hi Jac
A' Design Award í bronsi Winner in Sjálfbær vara Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #142064The Design
About Walk Me Hundaól
Handfangið er slétt en samt stíft; útlínur þess skapa vinnuvistfræðilegt, þétt grip fyrir mannshöndina en getur líka vafið um úlnlið eða handlegg manns. Þar sem handfangið er stíft mun það ekki dragast saman, þannig að spenna frá því að hundur togar mun ekki kreista hönd mannsins (sem er hönnunargalli í hefðbundnum lykkjuhandfangi hundaböndum). Sérstakt handfangamynstur (blettir, blettir og litahringir) eru einstaklingsbundin fyrir hvert handfang þar sem þau myndast einstaklega úr praktísku mótunar- og bökunarferlinu. Handfangið og reipið eru úr 100 prósent plasti eftir neyslu.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award í bronsi
Walk Me Hundaól vann A' Design Award í bronsi, mjög virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er framúrskarandi hönnunarverkum sem einkennast af sköpunargáfu, hugvitssemi og skarpskyggni. Sigurvegarar í bronsi eru ríkulega leiknir og áberandi skapandi gripir sem staðfesta víðtæka reynslu, ímyndunarafl og útsjónarsemi hönnuða sinna. Þess er vænst að Walk Me Hundaól sé mjög metinn, dáður og elskaður hlutur sem er einstaklega fagmannlegur og nýstárlegur. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í bronsi felur í sér bestu starfsvenjur í list, vísindum, hönnun og tækni og er framúrskarandi fyrir athygli sína á smáatriðum. Walk Me Hundaól fullnægir þörfum á dásamlegan hátt, snertir langanir, heillar tilfinningar og vekur forvitni.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Ergonomic design - the handle is smooth but rigid; its contours create a snug grip for the human hand but can also wrap comfortably around a human's wrist. The handle's rigidity absorbs any tension from a dog pulling, preventing the human's hand from squishing (a design flaw in the conventional loop handle dog leash).
Distinctive handle pattern - the splats, splotches and swirls of colour are individual to each handle as they form uniquely during the moulding and baking process.
Sustainability: The handle is made from 100% post-consumer plastic (shampoo & conditioner bottles). The rope is made from 100% R-pet. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Leash Handle Dimension: 155mm X 330mm X 145mm
Leash Weight: 211g approx.
Standard Leash Length (including handle): 1.25m
Long Leash Length (including handle): 1.75m
Rope Breaking Force:285KG - Tags
- Recycled, Sustainable, Circular, Pet, Eco, Dog, Dog Leash, Dog Lead, Plastic
- Production Technology
- The leash handle is made via compression moulding from 100% used plastic shampoo & conditioner bottles. The bottles are shredded and sorted by colour. The shreds are weighed according to our leash range of colour recipes and randomly sprinkled into the mould. The mould is baked and cooled before the handle is removed and trimmed by hand. The finished handles are connected to the leash rope (100% r-pet) and the carabiner by a knot each. The knots are sealed by flame to complete the process.
- Design Challenge
- Sustainability: Which machine and manufacturing method used 100% recycled plastic for the handle. The compression mould was the most labour-intensive, requiring more human interaction but resulted in the best aesthetic and form.
Design & Aesthetic: Our design heavily departs from the conventional dog lead. Many iterations were made to its shape, weight, size and colours recipes to ensure it was eye-catching yet practical and ergonomic, focusing on the humans' comfortable grip. - Research
- Analyse existing dog leads on the market against ergonomics, aesthetics, practicality, sustainability and materiality criteria.
Test samples, interview dog owners on samples and our prototype.
3d print handle and iterate to better its form and function.
Test materials for leash rope and its connection to the handle/carabiner (knot, tie, fastener, other hardware).
Experiment with machines for handle manufacture and filling/baking process of mould to achieve the handle's pattern and rigidity. - Inspiration
- The handle design was inspired by the limited sustainable dog leashes available on the market and the design limitations of the conventional dog leash - most have a flexible loop for the human hand to hold, and the human's hand gets squished when a dog pulls on the leash. The design was based on a knuckle duster as they contour to suit a human hand's comfortable but sturdy grip; then, we investigated plastic production methods and applied circular economy principles to complete the design.
- Project Duration
- The project started in September 2019 and finished in November 2020
- Operation Flow
- The handle design is one size fits all and encourages a firm human hand grip by wrapping your fingers over the contours placed at the top of the base of the handle. Once the human hand wraps around the handle base, the grip is snug. Any pulling from the dog does not contract the handle as it is rigid; hence the human hand grip is not disturbed and remains stable.
- Patents
- HI JAC Trademark No: 2118178 (2021) Andre Barks Charlie Meows Pty Ltd
HI JAC LOGO Trademark No: 2133033 (2021) Andre Barks Charlie Meows Pty Ltd
Play Nice with the Planet Trademark no: 2182702 (2022) Andre Barks Charlie Meows Pty Ltd
Handle Design Registration: 202014162 (2021) Andre Barks Charlie Meows Pty Ltd - Team Members
- Designed by People & Things (product design) in Sydney, Australia
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