Easier way to floss wins Design Innovation in Plastics 2023

Christopher Kenny, a third year product design undergraduate from Technological University Dublin, has won this year’s Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition.

DIP, supported by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and sponsored by Covestro, was established in 1985 and is the longest running plastics design competition of its kind for university undergraduates in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This year’s contestants were asked to design a product for the kitchen or bathroom, made primarily from plastics.

Kenny's product, "Flossie," is a teeth cleaning device created for people with hand dexterity conditions who may have problems flossing. The product uses flossing sticks and features a specially-designed handle that is easier to grip. A combination of ABS, polyurethane and polypropylene were used.

Kenny has been awarded 1,000 U.K. pounds in prize money, plus a placement or course with a DIP sponsor, a year’s membership to IOM3 and an invitation to a special banquet.

Juding panel chair Richard Brown said the jury was impressed by the clever design and by the user testing carried out by Kenny, who also provided a detailed analysis of the product manufacturing costs, and had given thought to the marketing of the product.

“This is a great product which is inspired by a real-life challenge,” said Brown.  

Kenny said the inspiration for his product came from wanting to help his brother, who has cerebral palsy that affects the use of his right hand, and said he was very proud that other people also liked his idea.

“It is a real honor to be recognized in this competition,” he said.  “I definitely want to work with materials and mechanisms in the future, as designing for usability really excites me. This project educated me on the constraints around designing plastic components but also the unique properties that plastics have to offer.”

Top awards also went to:

• Kyle Farquhar, Edinburgh Napier University, took second place with his product "PlateMate," a flexible plastic mat or plate, made from polypropylene, which folds up to show children how to create a variety of Mexican and other international dishes, such as fajitas, in a more fun way.
• Third place went to Scott Rutherford, also from Edinburgh Napier, with his "Rotary Bottle Opener," a device which converts pressure into turning force, helping people with hand weaknesses to open twist top bottles more easily. Designed to use PP, around 65 percent of it could be made from recycled bottle caps.

Highly commended:

• Freddy Blake, Bournemouth University, with "Bubble Buddy," a bathroom soap dispenser and hand wash device in one package, which makes hand washing more fun for children.  Made largely from PET, and some silicone for the outer casing
• Teresa Zheng, Loughborough University, with "Sianel," a portable shelf which enables people to change their colostomy bags more easily. Teresa used polypropylene for the soft surface of the shelf, and polycarbonate for the main body part.

Robert Jones award*

James Forrest-Smith from Northumbria University created "STEPA," a fully adjustable stool with safety features, for children to use in the kitchen, encouraging them to get involved in kitchen activities and develop heathy eating habits.  He has used both high density polyethylene and PP to create his product, as they are durable and resistant to the kind of chemicals which might be found in kitchen cleaning products.

Aside from the winner’s prize, the other award candidates also receive cash prizes along with placements or industrial courses and a year’s membership of IOM3. DIP is also supported by work placement sponsors, Brightworks, Innovate Product Design, PDD and Sumitomo Demag, along with media partners, British Plastics & Rubber, Mould Technology and Materials World.