In 2020, DIAC issued a Call for Design Projects. Our intent was to highlight the critical role of designers in developing human-centred and resilience responses to the pandemic that will enable communities, businesses and governments to improve quality of life and return to some level of prosperity during the ongoing health crisis. DIAC has been very pleased to receive project submissions in all of the design disciplines. For each of the featured projects we have included a website link for more information.
HANDSANDAL
Now that people are returning to the office and spending more time in public spaces, they have concerns about how often and how thoroughly surfaces such as door knobs, buttons, levers and handles are sanitized. HandSandal is a simple hand hygiene device designed by Design 1st that allows for zero-contact with potentially contaminated surfaces in public environments.
This ergonomically developed hand gripper tool provides an antimicrobial barrier to surfaces found in transportation, offices, hospitals and washrooms. It can be used to grip door handles, light switches, elevator buttons and other surfaces that must be touched in order to work.
The Ottawa-based engineering and design firm created and perfected HandSandal over several product concept iterations and the product went through extensive user field testing.
