Project name: ‘iSAVE’

Concept:

The idea is to make water consumption visible to
encourage people to save water by 20%.

People do works more efficient by viewing the
time they are spending, which also helps to
inspirit people to complete the works with less
time next time. My idea is shifting the experience
of the time saving to water saving. People tend
to unconsciously overuse ( waste ) water much in
public bathrooms, such as hotels, malls and
airports, etc. iSAVE is able to help people to save
water consumption by revealing the amount of
water they are consuming.

The idea of counting is changing water flow
movements into impeller turning movements, the
impeller turning signals will be changed into
electronic signals by a sensor, finally the electronic
signals will be changed into digital signals( display
figures) via a MCU. The display figure is water
volume in total that has been used, the frequency
of its change depends on the speed of water flows.

The electricity for displaying figures is generated
by water flows, which applying with Faraday effect:
Electrons flow when a wire loop rotates within a
magnetic field.

iSAVE has two sorts, one is integrated into a water
faucet, the other is an accessory meter for a shower
device or a water faucet. For washing hands, the
figures are cleared automatically after the water
stops flowing; For showers, the figures keep
displaying for some time, say 5 minutes, after water
stops flowing, also can be cleared by people after
done a shower.

Everyone of us must have a good cooperation as to
get a maximum water saving, which reflects we not
only communicate with environment positively, but
have a proactive positive-communication to our
next generation.

Live talk & Workshop in Japan

photo by Lee Yunqin

About ‘Nagoya Design Do! 2006’

The 5th International Competition
[NAGOYA DESIGN DO! 2006]
For Someone Else
-Communication and Collaboration-

A design work needs a "function". Then, "What is function?" Simply put, it should be to work or operate in a proper way to fulfill a purpose. But in our Chinese characters, it also means "the particular role of an individual element as it depends on other elements in the whole". In the human environment the function of a created work must not be independent of its surroundings; rather it must operate interactively, act and react to its environment. Function, therefore, is a truly social concept.

When you are creating something as a design, you may look at it from the perspective of someone else during the actual creation process. The eyes of that someone else might be the voice of your client, or perhaps the targeted user, while your own inner voice reflects an even greater influence on the design. That inner voice may be whispering, "Am I creating this object for him, or for her? Maybe, it should be for the other people living far away in stead those who surround me. No, in fact, it should be geared for people in the future, people I have never even
met."

The theme for the 5th International Competition NAGOYA DESIGN DO! is "For Someone Else," with an added qualifier of "Communication and Collaboration.
" Communication does not necessarily have to involve
only people; objects or the environment can be your
partners as well. Collaboration signifies that designs are not to be kept for or within one person, since the process of design is based on the relations between the designer and other people or things. In addition, Communication and Collaboration must not lead the designer to lose his or her own sense of originality. Rather, they eventually provide the designer with the means to develop his or her unconscious talents to achieve the work.

It should be noted that the method of judging works
entered in this competition is slightly different than that of the past. Not only the end result, but the design process itself will be evaluated as well. Group entries are encouraged to collaborate by combining works from various categories of design. Individual entrants should prepare a presentation explaining the basic creation process involved in their design. The judging committee sincerely hopes that, through these design activities and persistent efforts, Nagoya can emerge as the focal point for the complex phases of design, combining cultures and individualities to create innovative ideas and designs.

Text by Coco Funabiki