BamBrush (3rd Place)

🏆 3rd Place Winner in the intense 24-hour FLUXathon design challenge, focusing on "Sustainable Thinking" 🌱🌿

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Timeframe
Fall 2023
22 Oct 2022 - 23 Oct 2022
24 Hours
My Roles
UX Research Lead
Visual Design
Team Members
Garrett Grainger
Lanora Philips
Tools Used
Adobe Creative Tools
The Problem Space

The toothbrush market lacks circular economy practices, resulting in a linear approach that generates significant waste and environmental harm. Toothbrushes made of non-recyclable plastic end up in landfills and natural environments.

The Solution

Our sustainable bamboo toothbrush promotes renewable resources and sustainable consumption patterns, reducing waste and environmental harm. It aligns with circular economy principles and encourages sustainable habits for the benefit of the environment and human health.

Oral Health

How do the rest of the world brush their teeth?

Arab Bedouin Tribes

Use the twigs of the arak tree, which contains antiseptic properties.

African cultures

Use a stick, called miswak, which naturally has a high concentration of cavity-fighting fluoride.

Orthodox Jains

Clean their teeth using fingers and instead of brush.

Hindu Brahmins and Priests

Clean their teeth using cherry wood for an hour, facing the rising sun

Certain parts of India

Use twigs from mango, cashew or coconut trees.

tribe_01tribe_02tribe_03tribe_04
Oral Health in Disadvantaged Community
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC)
Cavities and Racial/Ethnic Groups
Untreated Cavities and Family Income
Why is brushing your teeth important?
theBMJ

Participants who reported less frequent tooth brushing had a 70% increased risk of a cardiovascular disease event in fully adjusted models compared with participants who brushed their teeth twice a day, 

Sustainability Research

Pillars of sustainable development
(Future Market Insights)

Social Equity

Economic viability

Environmental protection

pillars of sustainable development
Circular Economy
What is a circular economy?

In a circular economy, recovering and restoring products, components, and materials is achieved through various strategies such as reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and as a last resort, recycling. This approach promotes resource efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable consumption patterns.

Outline of Circular Economy

Regenerate natural systems

Preserve and enhance natural capital by controlling finite stocks and balancing renewable resource flows

Keep products and materials in use

Optimize resource yields by circulating products, components and materials in use at the highest utility at all times in both technical and biological cycles

Design out waste and pollution

Foster system effectiveness by revealing and designing out negative externalities

Current Industrial Model

Take. Make. Use. Dispose. Waste.

A linear economy is a typical framework in which resources are taken, converted into products, consumed, and then disposed as trash with no regard for sustainability or the environment. This "take-make-use-dispose" philosophy results in the depletion of resources and the destruction of the environment.

Current Material Used
Non-Biodegradable

Polyethylene

Polypropylene

Nylon

current toothbrush material
How many toothbrushes we dispose a year?
American Dental Association

One Billion

How Might We...

Provide an Accessible and Sustainable Solution to Oral Care?

Introducing...

BamBrush

It’s a bamboo toothbrush you grow yourself!

bambrush_product
What is in the package?
Exciting

Sustainable Wooden Toothbrush

Umbrella Bamboo Plant

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bambrush_plant

How do you use it?

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Grow

Water your beautiful plant!

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Crush

Use the bottom of the BamBrush and crush the top into fine bristle.

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Clip

Clip off the the fine bristle and lock it in.

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Brush

Start brushing!

Takeaways

Crunchtime

The FLUXathon was a stimulating and enjoyable experience due to the time constraint that created a sense of urgency and excitement, forcing me to make quick decisions, work efficiently, and stay focused on the end goal. This event provided an ideal opportunity for participants to showcase their research skills, creativity, and ability to work well under pressure. Collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants from various backgrounds and skillsets contributed to problem-solving and innovative solutions. Working efficiently under tight deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality and attention to detail was highlighted as an important aspect of the event. Overall, the FLUXathon was a valuable learning experience that honed skills, taught new techniques, and fostered networking opportunities with other peers in the industry.

Sustainability Thinking

Participating in FLUXathon event was an enlightening experience that introduced me to the concept of sustainability thinking. It highlighted the importance of designing products and services that are not only efficient and user-friendly but also environmentally responsible, and to consider the long-term effects of design decisions to minimize negative impacts on the environment. Through the event, I gained a deeper understanding of the significance of adopting a sustainable approach in design that takes into account the entire lifecycle of the product, from its creation to its disposal. I plan to integrate this newfound knowledge into my future projects, recognizing that incorporating sustainable practices in design can benefit both the environment and society.

Overall, my participation in FLUXathon has broadened my perspective on the role of design in creating a more sustainable world, and I am committed to contributing to this movement.

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bambrush_team

Thanks for visiting my canvas. 🫶

Let's start crafting! ✏️

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