Solo

Lead Designers Claire Walsh

Entry Description

Solo is designed to celebrate independence and enhance the experience of those dining alone. Inspired by the form of a sea turtle, Solo is guided by principles of personalization, exclusivity, and place attachment.

Despite the rise in solo dining, the experience is often accompanied by heightened feelings of loneliness and fear of judgment from others. As creating privacy by increasing the distance between tables can reduce profit margins for restaurants, a creative solution is needed. Solo draws inspiration from three psychological factors that enhance privacy and comfort. The first, personalization, specifically the ability to control one's environment, is achieved through the adjustable mechanism of the shades. This enables diners to customize form, diffusion of light and shadows that are cast. The second is the creation of an exclusive experience, achieved through delegating a lamp to each solo diner. Lastly, place attachment is fostered through the use of warm lighting, soft organic forms and the creation of customizable dining experiences, helping individuals connect with their specific space.

Solo is inspired by the form of a sea turtle, a species characterized as independent, often confronting the challenges and hardships of life individually. The parallel between the source of inspiration and the target audience aims to create an empowering experience.

Sustainability Approach

The longevity of Solo was prioritized due to its use in restaurant dining, making it prone to wear and tear and spillage. It is designed so that individual parts can be easily replaced rather than disposing of the entire product.

Reduction in waste is addressed through the use of a rechargeable battery pack and LED’s, providing an energy efficient solution that eliminates the need for disposable batteries. Additionally, Solo is manufactured with a laser cutter, allowing for mass production with softwares optimizing cutout patterns to minimize waste.

Solo can be shipped completely flat pack, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation and packaging while enhancing ease of disassembly for end of life options. The creation of a circular economy is further supported by using basswood, a renewable resource, and natural stain, which avoids toxins during recycling.