Improving energy usage through design

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ElecTree at DesignCamp 2011.

ElecTree at DesignCamp 2011. Image: Kolding School of Design

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ElecTree.

ElecTree. Image: Kolding School of Design

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ElecTree.

ElecTree. Image: Kolding School of Design

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A group of 49 students handpicked from some of the world’s top design schools, including two from Auckland’s UNITEC, attended DesignCamp 2011 - their brief, to find creative solutions for adding emotional value to energy usage.

One of the leading projects to come out of DesignCamp 2011 was ElecTree, a nifty wall accessory that uses colour, shape and movement to encourage the electricity user to become more aware of their household usage.

Each branch of the ElecTree represents different appliances in the home and when facing upwards, creates an abstract organic form, showing that appliances are being used in an efficient manner. When the organic form starts to wilt and fall apart, the user is wasting energy.

The DesignCamp 2011 projects were evaluated by a jury made up of leading international design thinkers. The ElecTree designers received praise for thinking outside of the box and abandoning the traditional idea that information design must be based on a screen. The jury believed the design was fundamentally ready to go into production.

DesignCamp is run annually by the Kolding School of Design, Denmark. It is best characterised as a cross-cultural collaboration between nations, institutions and industry on meeting global challenges and solving common issues. More information here.


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