Press Release
Rebloom Modularized Outdoor Frame by Victor Wu Is Granted the A' Design Award in Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
Victor Wu honored for sustainable products, projects and green design by the international grand jury of the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 20, 2023 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the A' Design Award in the Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design category for Rebloom Modularized Outdoor Frame by Victor Wu, designed for Leafer Circular Design. The award was conferred within the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Rebloom Modularized Outdoor Frame
Taiwan's power distribution components are expensive and require frequent replacement due to environmental factors. reBloom offers a solution by repurposing decommissioned crossarms into durable outdoor frames with minimal processing. The modular design allows for easy adaptation, extension, and part replacement, resulting in maximum component lifespan before recycling. With reBloom, you can reduce waste and save on costs while ensuring reliable and weather-resistant infrastructure.
About Victor Wu
Victor is the co-founder of Leafer Circular Design, a design firm based in Taiwan. With more than a decade of experience, Victor has helped clients build innovative products and services. Leafer Circular Design assists clients in creating profitable and sustainable solutions in line with circular economy principles. Their services include optimizing materials, rethinking operations, and designing user-first products and services. Leafer's ultimate goal is to help clients maximize value creation and leave a positive impact on the environment and society.
Award Record
This recognition makes Victor Wu a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award
The A' Sustainable Product Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good sustainable products by leading designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to sustainable product designers, green product manufacturers, eco-friendly product brands and industrial designers from all countries. Entries typically include sustainable projects, environment friendly designs, recycled, upcycled and bio-degradable products. Awarded sustainable product designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/sustainable-product
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/143099
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/143099
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!143099
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/309761
- Further Information from the Laureate: http://bit.ly/3AqbwNR
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Rebloom Modularized Outdoor Frame
- Function
- Modularized Outdoor Frame
- Category
- Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Sustainability
- Colors
- Dark Gray, Dim Gray, Light Slate Gray, Silver and Dark Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Leafer Circular Design
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Victor Wu
- Country
- Taiwan (China)
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2022 - 2023
- Design ID
- #143099
Credits
- Image Credits
- Craig Bossley, Scenario, 2021.; Victor Wu, Prototyping, 2020.; Craig Bossley, Joint Closeup, 2021.; Willy Chao, Setup, 2021.; Victor Wu, Scenario Closeup, 2021.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Due to humidity, typhoons, and earthquakes, Taiwan's power distribution relies on costly crossarm components regularly exchanged every decade. reBloom extends the lifecycle of these decommissioned components by transforming them into sturdy and weather resistant outdoor frames, with little processing or additional parts. reBloom's modular design also means it is highly adaptable, extendable, and allows for easy part replacement - all of which further maximize component life before recycling.
- Inspiration
- While on a visit to a utility company's waste stockpiles, we were struck by the prevalence of square head bolts, which are rarely seen in daily life. We wondered if making the format more accessible would give these discarded parts a chance to be reborn. This led us to create reBloom, a modular and adaptable design that extends the lifespan of various decommissioned components. Within reBloom, an ‘n’-shaped piece was designed to be both a wrench for the square head bolts and play an integral part of the final structure.
- Research
- We sought to design a second life for utility crossarm components, which are regularly decommissioned decades before degradation due to regulations. Consulted factories told us that the material doesn't easily bend and that welding nullifies its weather resistance. We observed that mass production also required modularization and using existing specs. After brainstorming, we tested different joinery methods. The final design was praised by the utility company and showcased in several exhibits.
- Challenge
- The hardest design challenge overcome in reBloom was the integration of the square head bolts. Small and uncommon, it would be wasteful to create a single-use tool for their tightening. The final design includes a simple 'n'-shaped piece that doubles to help users with the last few twists as well as to lock the structure. Additionally challenging was calculating the position of the crossarms' original holes such that the crossarm braces can be evenly spaced and require the least processing.
- Realization and Technology
- The crossarm components that reBloom utilizes are made from hollow, hot-dip galvanized steel beams, and have standardized dimensions and holes (punched via mass-production CNC machines). Little further processing is required to produce a reBloom set beyond some welding, bolt shortening, and assembly - especially when the reBloom design is incorporated during initial crossarm production (adding a few new holes). The standardized and modular design means it is easy to combine the decommissioned components into new forms, such as a fence, furniture structure, etc.
- Operation and Interaction
- Due to the rarity of square head bolts nowadays, most people would lack the tools needed to install reBloom. This issue was solved with the inclusion of an 'n'-shaped piece that functions as an easily-held wrench during installation, and lastly integrates into the final structure as a lock between each reBloom frame segment. This design makes it easy for any person to build reBloom.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in September 2020 and finished in January 2021 in Tainan, Taiwan. Afterwards, a physical exhibition and presentation was held in Taipei in May 2021 and Kaohsiung in March 2022.
- Specifications
- The inherent dimensions and features of the decommissioned utility crossarm components were integrated to reduce additional processing and material consumption. Specs of the original crossarm components used in a reBloom set (mm): (a) 2.5 crossarms, hollow square beam 1800 x 750 x 750 (THK 2.5), (b) 8 crossarm braces, 800 x 400 (THK 6), and (c) 12 sets of square nuts and square head bolts, 25 x 25 x 100. Dimensions of a reBloom section (mm): 825.5 (each section adds 737.5) x 1223.5 x 800 x 75mm.
- Keywords
- circular economy, modular, decommissioned materials, joinery, fence, outdoor, frame, galvanized steel, product life, material lifespan
