The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) announced today that the following projects (in alphabetical order) have been identified as the three finalist projects for the World Design Impact Prize 2013-2014: A Behavior Changing (ABC) Syringe, BioLite HomeStove and the Refugee Housing Unit. Icsid’s Members, made up of design promotion agencies, professional organisations and universities in more than 40 countries cast their votes selecting these three projects as most deserving of the Prize. Of these three, one winner will be honored at the World Design Capital (WDC) International Design Gala on 28 February 2014 in Cape Town (South Africa).

The three finalists’ projects address issues of security, stability and safety in the areas of health and home. The ABC Syringe, developed by the University of Huddersfield, provides the opportunity for patients to easily ascertain if the syringes used in their care are sterilised. A simple colour-changing label affixed to the syringe turns bright red to indicate it has been used. This design solution will hopefully lead to a drop in the reuse of syringes and lower the level of communicable diseases as a result.

The BioLite HomeStove emits low levels of smoke, therefore providing a cleaner cooking environment for women in the developing world who traditionally burn wood or coal to cook indoors. This cookstove, developed by BioLite LLC, features a USB port to charge electronics, a feature that further entices families to make the switch to a more efficient stove.

The Refugee Housing Unit, a pilot project with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides temporary shelter which facilitates ‘a feeling of normality’ for families living in refugee camps. Facilitated by the IKEA Foundation, prototypes are currently being tested and will dictate the ideal shape and size of the structure.

The World Design Impact Prize 2013-2014 is now entering its final stage. Projects were first measured against the demanding guidelines established by Icsid, then reviewed by a panel of five experts in the field of design for social good who selected seven projects that best embodied the ways in which design can positively impact the social, cultural, economic and environmental quality of life for individuals everywhere. Roberto Cuervo, a member of the Review Panel said, “the selected projects are great examples of design for social good because design is about collective intelligence, social innovation, networking and all forms of collective knowledge production and all of these projects are based on the fundamental principles of today’s vision of industrial design. Its not just about traditional product development anymore but concerns itself with the social needs of the world’s population.” The three finalists will be invited to present their projects at a workshop following the WDC International Design Gala, where they will have the opportunity to present their research, products and future plans to the South African design community.

The World Design Impact Prize creates a platform to talk about industrial design as a means to creative problem solving. It also aims to recognise excellence and diverse ways of addressing societal challenges. Through this initiative, Icsid hopes to recognise those projects that highlight the use of industrial design beyond the creation of products and demonstrate that it is also about creating systems and experiences.