In these unprecedented times of uncertainty and fear, it is our responsibility as a design community to come together and play our part in ensure our capability in staying stronger than ever, together. If there were ever a time created for innovation and design thinking to make a breakthrough and to inspire people once again, it would be now.

London-based creative and artistic duo, Bompas & Parr believe that it is a perfect and crucial time to do something constructive, exciting and forward-looking. Coming from the hard-hit hospitality-cross-experiential and design sector, its important that we tackle this pandemic in the way we know best. Sam Bompas and Harry Parr invite the design community to develop an “aesthetic and functional approach to hand sanitising.”

With more than 150 countries and territories now affected by Coronavirus (or as we know now it, COVID-19), hand washing is declared by governments and health professionals worldwide, as the most effective way to prevent and slow its spread. Titled, ‘Fountain of Hygiene,’ Bompas & Parr invites creative, designers, makers and architects to breathe new life into sanitiser pumps across the globe.

“Design has an important role in helping to solve many of the challenges that we face in daily life including some of those raised by the recent COVID-19 outbreak,” Chief Executive and Director of Design Museum, Tim Marlow, expresses.

“We hope that the shortlisted entries of the Sanitizer Design Competition will demonstrate the importance of research and innovative thinking.”

‘Fountain of Hygiene’ seeks to explore the cultural, functional, social, gestural and experiential possibilities of enhance hygiene. With our heightened sense of hygiene knowledge (and how much we actually touch our face), Bompas & Parr hopes that this will push people into practicing ‘the new normal’ even more. By rethinking the purpose and look of medically inspired sanitiser pumps and dispenser units, creative around the world have a power to benefit the ongoing health of global society.

Participants have the luxury of choosing to re-design sanitiser pumps, sprays, wipes, dispense units or even gestures and rituals. The deadline is the 29^th March, with Bompas & Parr – along with a panel of distinguished judges – celebrating the most innovative and thought-provoking examples with a display running from 9^th April until 7^th May. Shortlisted designs will be displayed at the Design Museum and online as the situation demands it.

“Developing widely adopted strategies for safely socialising is essential for the continued dynamism of the global economy,” Sam Bompas, director of Bompas & Parr, notes. “Humans are social beings and the right artefacts have a role in getting us through.”

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The top ten designs will be auctioned by Christie’s Auction House to raise money for The British Red Cross. Competition closes 29^th March. For more information on how to enter your submissions, head to Bompas & Parr’s website here.

Photography courtesy of Bompas & Parr. 

If you liked this article, we think you’d like to read how Indesign is staying strong, together throughout this difficult time.