Stick on cooking power wins prize
An idea to make power sources that stick onto the sides of saucepans and heat them by induction has just won its inventor €5000 and a six month paid internship with one of the world's leading makers of domestic appliances.
The 'Snail', conceived by Peter Alwin from the Ahmedabad National Institute of Design in India received first prize in this year's Electrolux Design Lab competition, whose finals and award judging took place yesterday, Thursday September 23rd at the 100% Design Exhibition at London's Earls Court. The theme of this year's competition was to think of ways of in which 74% of the world's population could live comfortably in cities in 2050, despite limitations on living space and the availability of energy and water. Alwin envisages his concept additionally being powered by biochemical batteries, which would address the problem of power cuts.
The runner up, who received €3,000 was Yuriy Dmitriev from the Chuvash State University in Russia with a 'Bio Robot Refrigerator' which would use heat absorbing microorganisms. Third prize and €2000 went to Matthew Gillbride from the USA for a concept involving kitchen shelving that would include heated and cooled sections for cooking and refrigeration, as well as providing lighting, thus doing away with the need for conventional appliances. There were 1300 entrants for the competition. The Wall mounted 'Shine' washing machine, designed by Levente Szabo, winner of the 2007 competition, is now a launched product and is on large scale trial in Italy prior to going into full volume production.
