Mobile Dreams and Wanderlust

Global Grad Show showcases thought-provoking projects by the world’s next generation of designers and innovators.

Following in the footsteps of famed inventions from students such as the electron microscope from the University of Toronto, the television from the University of Berlin, and Google from Stanford, the Global Grad Show showcases thought-provoking projects by the world’s next generation of designers and innovators.

Boasting participating universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York’s Pratt Institute and London's Royal College of Art, this groundbreaking exhibition can also be seen as a harbinger of overarching trends, with mobility cropping up within students and schools across the world.

Several designs cater to the fact that our lives have become increasingly mobile, whether due to long commutes, adventurous travels or humanitarian crises.

Two of the inventions relating to travel come from ECAL (École Cantonale d'art de Lausanne) in Switerland. The first, Sleeping at the airport, by Antoine Fœgle? is positioned as a possible solution to those who miss their flights. Fœgle? with Wanzl – a global leader in luggage trolley production –considers an emergency bed system so that airports can provide rolling beds to those who get stuck at the airport on long layovers.

The second creation is more poetic in nature; Aventure Romantique by Alexis Tourron is an innovative picnic bag that can pack in so much more than the usual sandwhich. Made out of leather, rattan and steel, and calling on the expertise of a saddler, this bag contains several accessories that allow one to improvise an intimate meal out in nature, that is, when the romantic impulse hits.

Teres, by Renata Paraense from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are shoes that simply consist of a pair of soles and three pairs of uppers, which can be transformed into sandals, ballet flats or boots, depending on how the zipper is connected to the sole. Demanding little storage space, they can fit snugly in a backpack or even a purse, and be taken along anywhere

ERRO, created by Isis Shiffer from the Pratt Institute in New York, USA is comprised of a set of three tools: ERRO Helmet is a folding, recyclable helmet designed for bike sharing; ERRO Scooter is a scooter that folds to the size of a laptop; and ERRO Dots is a modular system for ventilating any bag – so that you have all the modes of transportation covered during your urban commute.

Designed with social and humanitarian concern is the Sleeping Bag-Coat. The design brief was instigated by Judith Balcazar, Director of Design at Wall London. This led to a joint project between Wall London and the RCA's Interior Design Masters programme in which interior design and textiles students were challenged to develop designs for wearable shelters/habitations clothing that addressed some of the challenges faced by millions displaced people around the world. A prototype Wearable Habitation coat for refugees that transforms into a tent or a sleeping bag, it is made from paper-like synthetic material Tyvek, which is light, durable and waterproof and the coat is insulated with Mylar – a polyester material commonly used by marathon runners to keep warm. When worn as a coat, the design resembles a baggy parka with a large hood and the pockets on the inside can be used to store passports and personal documents. Roomy enough to sleep four, it was envisioned in direct response to the Syrian refugee crisis.