Swedish design student wins Electrolux Design Lab 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Rickard Hederstierna from the Lund Institute of Technology in Sweden is the winner of the Electrolux Design Lab 2009 competition for inventing Cocoon, the meat and fish maker (www.electrolux.com/designlab/).

“Cocoon” is a sustainable response to the world’s growing population and its desire to consume meat and fish. Similar to heating popcorn in a microwave, Cocoon prepares genetically engineered and pre-packaged meat and fish dishes by heating muscle cells identified by radio frequency identification (RFID) signals. The signals detect the specific dish and then suggest the required cooking time. This process uses science to create food, lifting a burden on the planet by reducing the need for further intensive farming and fishing. The negative effects of this process, including the mass transportation of food around the world, clearing of land and distortion of ecosystems, are then negated.

The jury, which included Nipa Doshi, furniture designer and co-founder of Doshi Levien design studio; David Fisher, design director of internationally renowned product design consultancy Seymourpowell; Marisol Manso Cortina, manager of the Color Design Group at Nissan Design Europe; and Henrik Otto, senior vice president of Global Design at Electrolux; judged the entries based on intuitive design, innovation, and consumer insight.

Their motivation: “Cocoon addresses a controversial issue that is very real: humankind’s continued desire to eat meat and fish. An inviting, tactile design, the Cocoon resembles a gemstone with a metal accent reflecting the heritage of the Swedish art-glass industry. Cocoon meets all of the brief’s criteria: it is daring, cutting-edge and truly innovative in its focus on social and environmental issues.”

The Electrolux Design Lab 2009 award is a prize of 5,000 euros and a six-month paid internship at one of Electrolux’s global design centers.

The award for second place went to “Water Catcher,” the flying rain catcher and water purifier by Penghao Shan from Zhejiang Sci-tech University, China. Third place went to “Renew,” the smart steamer by Louis Filosa from Purdue University, USA. The People’s Choice Award — as voted for online — is “Teleport Fridge,” the refrigerator that teleports food by Dulyawat Wongnawa from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

For more information about its lifestyle and environmentally friendly products, call the Electrolux customer care trunk line at 845-CARE (2273) or the domestic toll-free number 1-800-10-845-CARE  (2273).  Or visit their website, www.electrolux.com.ph