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A trash can that catches emotions

This is an emotional trash can that responds to daily anxiety with gentle details. It not only stores miscellaneous items but also quietly catches those emotions that have nowhere to go.

  • Gradual texture, is a kind of visual guidance - from restlessness to tranquility.

  • This design uses an upwardly folding mechanism to secure the garbage bag.

  • Every day, we are discarding those chaotic thoughts, unnecessary anxieties and inefficient notions.

  • It is like a silent companion, standing quietly in the corner, waiting for you.

  • This creates a visually coherent yet not noisy, restrained yet warm visual system.

What it does

This is an emotionally-driven trash can specially designed for office environments. The flip-top structure optimizes the way for changing the garbage bags. Its undulating to straight textured surface helps users calm their minds and relieve stress.

Your inspiration

Firstly, when traditional trash cans need to replace the garbage bags, they require repeatedly removing the retaining rings, which is not only cumbersome but also prone to dirtying hands. Secondly, in the high-pressure working environment of offices, many people often experience emotional anxiety and disordered thoughts, yet lack a place to "pause" for a moment. I began to think, could a simple daily action - throwing away garbage - be transformed into a small relaxation ritual? Thus, this product came into being.

How it works

1. Quick Garbage Bag Fixing: When changing the garbage bag in the traditional trash can, one needs to remove a retaining ring and then put on the bag. This process is very troublesome and can easily dirty your hands. We have adopted two small clasps that can be upwardly fastened. You only need to unfold the garbage bag along the rim of the can, and then press it upward with your fingers. The bag will be securely fixed. 2. Inclined Opening: The opening of the trash can is designed at an angle that slopes downward. When throwing garbage, it can naturally fall into the can along with the movement. 3. Textured Shell: The texture of the trash can surface transitions from "messy" to "straight", using visual language to convey the thoughts and emotions of people in an office setting, thereby providing relaxation. 4. Color Design: Beige, orange and peacock blue, together form a color system that does not disturb but can accompany.

Design process

1. Identify the problem The traditional trash cans require repeated disassembly of the retaining ring when changing the garbage bags, which is a cumbersome process and prone to dirtying hands. Additionally, there is a lack of an emotional buffer point in the office environment to alleviate anxiety and irritability. 2. Define the goals I set three core goals: Optimize the garbage bag changing method; Maintain simplicity and aesthetics, integrating into the office environment; Create a warm and relaxing usage atmosphere. 3. Initial conception I drew multiple sets of structural sketches, focusing on the "flip-down structure" and the design that can be fixed with one hand. At the same time, through a gradual transition from disorder to order in the texture, I conveyed the visual transition of emotions from chaos to calm. 4. Prototype production I used foam boards and PLA materials to make multiple rapid prototypes, testing the size and clamping force of the flip-down structure to ensure reliable operation. 5. User testing I invited several office users to simulate usage. Most feedback indicated that the flip-down structure was more convenient and tidy, and they expressed that this product was not only practical but also felt like a gentle and caring office companion.

How it is different

The uniqueness of this trash can lies in the fact that it not only solves the inconvenience of operation in traditional pressure-ring type trash cans, but also responds to people's emotional predicaments in the fast-paced office life in a delicate and gentle manner. It is a dual intervention of function and emotion, as well as a collaborative design of behavior and psychology. It is not merely a trash can, but a design stance: traditional trash cans only deal with waste, while Alaida attempts to gently handle "you". It creates a small daily device that can accommodate emotions through a minimalist structure, convenient movements, and gentle aesthetics.

Future plans

1. The current snap-on structure already has good operability. Further improvements can be made in the future: adding magnetic attraction/elastic feedback, enhancing the hand feel, exploring different clamping methods (sliding lock, snap mechanism, etc.), improving versatility and user compatibility, using more resilient and environmentally friendly engineering plastics for material selection, and enhancing durability and recyclability. Development of versions suitable for multiple scenarios 2. In the future, different specifications and versions can be expanded according to different scenarios:

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