CLIENT
This project was based on an international competition brief run by Future Concept Lab for industrial design students in collaboration with JTI – Japan Tobacco International. This client-lead project, facilitated by CSM, made a shift towards a more professional self-managed orientation where a designer is working directly with external briefs and clients.
CONTEXT
Tobacco consumption has a long history within certain cultures. It was first introduced in Western cultures in the 16th century when it was ‘imported’ from the Americas. Over the centuries it has taken many forms and has had many image changes. Tobacco consumption in the form of smoking cigarettes only became dominant in the 20th century and it has gone from being considered very glamorous to being considered a public health risk. While consumption in Western countries has decreased over the last decades, it is increasing in developing countries with the highest consumption amongst Asian males. The Health risks associated with smoking have triggered bans in many Western countries. These range from smoking in public spaces, enclosed spaces, through to whole city areas. This has created new contexts of consumption and with that new rituals and forms of socialization. In addition over the last decade issues of sustainability including environmental issues have become dominant in day-to-day discourse. In this project you are asked to find ways of mitigating the negative impacts of smoking in an urban context for a cleaner environment.
PROBLEM
Cigarette buds are carelessly thrown and litter public space.
PUBLIC SPACE COMMUTE
Public spaces were a context for ash tray design. There was no specification to a location. Effectively, public space commute upon which cigarette butts are disposed of was investigated in multiple capitols to define what factors contribute to littering and block appropriate disposal user behaviours.
OUTCOME
Ash-up is simply but poetically shaped public space ash tray. The product has been created as a response to identified issue of lack of visibility of ash trays in public spaces. The product is originally wall mounted and with few alterations could be hang on the post or a bench. Front plate of the tray consists of a globally recognised lit cigarette graphic accompanied by a set of circular perforations. Holes has been allocated in response to the user research, testing and general ergonomics. Colour of the paint was selected upon creating best product visibility during day and night context of use. What is more, the product is very easy to clean as it is operated upon key-hole system when removing from the wall.
