The Prix Émile Hermès
international design award.
/ Finalist
Competition Works / Product Design
Collaboration with Kenjo Ohashi
2011
Background
Since its inception in 2007, the Prix Émile Hermès has supported innovation and promoted the work of talented young designers whose forward-looking, sustainable approach reflects our evolving society and lifestyles. For the second Prix Emile Hermès, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès chose a universal theme touching on one of humanity’s most vital needs: to heat, me-heat, re-heat. The Prix Émile Hermès’ objective is to make the world a more beautiful place, achieved in a responsible manner through the application of sustainable materials and fair practices shared amongst young designers.
©Yatzer patchwork, Images Courtesy of Prix Émile Hermès, 2011
Our Approach
The Heat Pad Pencil is made of bamboo. It is derived from sustainable energy. Bamboo chip fermentation will generate heat through the use of a pencil. When the pencil is sharpened, the shavings become a source of heat with an average temperature of 50 degrees Celsius and a life of 2-3 years. Ultimately, the contents of the heat pad will reborn as nourishment for plants. Moreover, the Heat Pad Pencil creates spiritual as well as physical warmth - the warmth of handwriting in the digital era, and the warmth of gathering round a communal recycling box to sharpen one’s pencil. The Heat Pad Pencil would trigger young peoples interest by providing opportunities to think hard about our precious natural environment through our use of products.