Imagine a spacious loft apartment with high ceilings and exposed wooden beams that add warmth and character to the sleek, modern space. The natural colors of the interior—soft grays, warm browns, and creams—create a calming environment, particularly suitable for someone with autism who prefers a space without overwhelming patterns and colors.
The wardrobe is a central feature in this loft, with its considerable dimensions of 2.5 meters wide, 2 meters high, and 2 meters deep. It is made of high-quality materials and has a minimalist design that complements the apartment's aesthetic. Directly opposite the wardrobe is a comfortable double bed, dressed with high-quality bedding in muted tones. This bed is positioned in front of a large window that allows plenty of natural light to enter and provides a soothing view of nature, promoting relaxation and tranquility.
The living area behind the wardrobe epitomizes open living space, including an open kitchen with sleek appliances and a dining area seamlessly transitioning into a cozy living room. There is ample space for free movement—an important consideration for the resident's comfort. Despite its openness, the space still feels intimate and inviting.
The only enclosed space in the apartment is the bathroom and toilet, ensuring privacy and tranquility when needed. This arrangement strikes a harmonious balance between openness and personal space, tailored to the unique needs and preferences of the resident, a male pilot with autism. This is a home designed not only for living but also for comfort and personal expression.
Conceptual Image
The image symbolizes a fundamental shape that encompasses various forms. The color palette consists of primary colors, enriched with white. This diversity of shapes and colors creates depth, adding layers to the image. Moreover, there are light points incorporated into the image, which represent the discovery of possibilities and progress within the concept. The combination of organic and geometric shapes provides a logical appearance and harmonious coherence. This image emphasizes that imperfection is acceptable and even offers new strength.
Primary colors, such as red, blue, and yellow, form the basis of the color spectrum. These colors cannot be mixed from others, symbolizing uniqueness and authenticity. By using these primary colors as a base, the design can have a unique and personal appearance that perfectly aligns with the needs and preferences of the user.
Color Psychology:
Yellow radiates happiness and joy with a predominantly positive meaning. Psychologically, yellow represents joy and happiness, but with excessive exposure, it can also symbolize anger. It also represents fun, optimism, prosperity, and friendship, and is associated with excitement. Therefore, the use of yellow in the concept image is very fitting, as it primarily promotes a positive atmosphere. However, it is also relevant when symbolizing anger, as this indicates the issues of the design question.
Red is often associated with power, warmth, and danger. Although it sometimes evokes negative thoughts, this is not always the case. Red can even symbolize happiness. It is an intense color that has a lively and powerful influence on one's personality and emotions. It also represents warmth, fire, passion, and assertiveness, but also attack and victory. At the same time, it symbolizes negative concepts such as arrogance, danger, blood, war, and anger. Thus, red is actually the color of movement and fits well into the concept because the user experiences the color differently at different times.
Blue emits a cooler, non-threatening atmosphere and has a calming effect on the mind. It symbolizes calmness, trust, wisdom, authority, prosperity, sincerity, creativity, and reliability. However, blue is also associated with sadness and even depression. Due to the diverse meanings of the color blue, it fits well within the concept, as the image stimulates positivity. At the same time, the color also shows that things do not always go as hoped, and the concept image provides space for telling the less positive aspects of the underlying story.
Sustainability
The wardrobe design for Jens Heuninck, the pilot with autism, is based on several important sustainability principles, including circularity, modularity, demountability, and promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with clear material choices that align with his needs and preferences.
Circularity: The wardrobe design follows circular principles as it is crafted from sustainable materials such as aluminum and leather, both of which are recyclable without losing quality. By utilizing these materials, the wardrobe's lifespan is extended, aiding in waste reduction and the conservation of natural resources.
Modularity: The wardrobe is designed to be modular, comprising various separate modules that can be replaced if necessary in the future, such as in the event of damage to a component.
Demountability: The wardrobe is constructed with demountability in mind, meaning it can be easily disassembled for transportation, storage, or recycling. This allows for efficient movement or reuse of the wardrobe without requiring significant energy or resources.
SDGs: The wardrobe design contributes to various Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by employing sustainable materials and promoting circularity, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating a product tailored to the needs of a specific user, and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by advocating for inclusive design that considers the needs of people with autism.
Clear material usage: The utilization of aluminum and leather as the primary materials for the wardrobe is a prudent choice due to their durability, versatility, and aesthetic properties. Aluminum provides lightness, strength, and resistance to corrosion, while leather offers durability, flexibility, and aesthetic appeal. Both materials are selected to produce a high-quality and functional product that meets Jens's needs while contributing to a more sustainable future.
By integrating these sustainability principles into the wardrobe design for Jens Heuninck, not only are his specific needs and preferences addressed, but it also fosters a more circular and inclusive society.
Sustainable Development Goals
The wardrobe design, crafted from aluminum and leather, contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 12.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Designing and manufacturing a product like the customized wardrobe creates opportunities for decent work and fuels economic growth. By prioritizing customization and addressing the specific needs of a particular user, in this case, a pilot with autism, a product is produced that not only serves its function but also enhances the user's well-being and living conditions. This aligns with SDG 8 by generating opportunities for decent employment within the design and manufacturing sector and driving economic expansion through innovative products that cater to specific needs and market demands.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Promoting inclusive design that takes into account the requirements of individuals with autism contributes to SDG 10, which aims to lessen inequalities. By designing a wardrobe tailored precisely to the needs of an individual with autism, the gap in access to functional and user-friendly products is narrowed. The wardrobe design offers a structured and organized space that meets the user's specific needs, enabling them to feel more at ease and function better in their daily life. This fosters the creation of a more inclusive society where the needs of all individuals are acknowledged and supported.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The utilization of sustainable materials such as aluminum and leather in the wardrobe aligns with SDG 12. Aluminum is renowned for its durability, lightweight nature, and recyclability. By incorporating aluminum into the design, the wardrobe is fashioned from a material that promotes responsible consumption and production. Moreover, aluminum can be recycled without compromising its quality, making it part of a circular production cycle. Although leather has certain environmental implications due to the tanning process, it can be deemed sustainable if ethically sourced and maintained to extend its longevity. By employing these sustainable materials, the ecological impact of the wardrobe is lessened, and strides are taken towards implementing responsible consumption and production practices.
Final design - perspective on signatures
Front view
Right perspective
Exhibition
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