One of projects I found that really exemplified the Slow Design principles was the “Robohand,” a mechanical hand that can be created using a 3D printer. I came across it in an article about Mason Wilde, a teenager who built a hand for a local boy named Matthew using the free 3D printer available in a nearby Makerspace. I see the project as embodying the 4th and 5th Slow Design Principles, “Engage” and “Participate.”

Enage: this principle is defined as “relying on sharing, co-operation and transparency of information.” This project was truly open source, as Wilde was able to download the design for the hand that had been developed by Ivan Owen and Richard Van As, as they made their design available on thingiverse.com, and modify the measurements so it would be a better fit for Matthew.

Participate: this principle encourages designers to be “active participants in the design process, embracing ideas of conviviality and exchange to foster social accountability and enhance communities.” The Robohand project in general is a good example of this, as Van As and Owen collaborated with each other online from South Africa and Washington state respectively to come up with the initial design. On a local level, Matthew’s mother reached out in her community to find someone interested in taking on the project, which wouldn’t have been possible without the free use of the Johnson County Library’s 3D printer to the community at large.

I thought a big part of this design’s functionality is how it works for Matthew specifically. He had previously been uninterested in getting a prosthetic, plus the high cost was prohibitive for his family. The Robohand, however, appealed to him as something that would look exciting and cool while also being able to perform some gripping maneuvers.

Another project I found was a recent initiative by San Fransisco’s Department of Environment to eliminate clothing waste in landfills by making donating clothing easier and more appealing. The new Goodwill donation bins were designed to look friendly and welcoming, and are intended to be placed in or around large apartment buildings to make them accessible to residents.

Expand: “considers the real and potential ‘expressions’ of artifacts and environments beyond their perceived functionality.” The “GoBins” will not only act as clothing receptacles, but are also Wi-Fi enabled so they can alert Goodwill when they’re full. A QR code on the side links donors to a tax form for deducting their donating. The design of the bins maximizes their efficiency while also trying to create a positive relationship with donors by way of the QR code and an opening that mimics a smile.

Reflect: “induce contemplation and ‘reflective consumption.’” The GoBins are meant to not only encourage more clothing donations among San Fransisco residents but to raise awareness of the need to recycle clothing,.