Continuing the subject of humanitarianism like my previous post, I wanted to showcase a few products that have been developed like partitions made out of paper that can be used in disaster relief circumstances or homeless shelters etc. In those very tough times, some privacy can give the victims a sense of dignity when they have lost practically everything.
A Canadian design company called Molo Design has developed these softwalls using magnets and fire retardant kraft paper to provide temporary enclosures in a large area like a shelter or exhibition ground. This article was in the March 2012 edition of the Architectural Record and can be read here

Another great product that has seen changes is the disaster relief packaging. A Danish born designer was inspired by the Haiti earthquake to develop the relief package itself to be transformed into furnishings by using only a knife and basic instructions on the package.  This can be read in the March 2012 edition of the Architectural Record here

Another product in the same edition of Architectural Record is the Biolite HomeStove which reduces the deaths due to smoke related diseases that kill nearly 2 million people every year. This stove will also serve as an affordable source of electricity to charge devices such as LED lights and mobile phones. Read here

LuminAid is a cheaper and lighter alternative to the more expensive solar lighting products in the market that can be sent in bulk to the disaster relief areas in the world. This product uses an integrated solar panel to provide about 4-6 hours of light. LuminAid is now in production and  is sent to more than 25 countries like India, Uganda and Laos. Read more here