Over the last 10 years, we've introduced the use of service design methods and tools to a variety of not-for-profit and caused-based organizations. This is a compilation of those case studies.
5. Celebrating 10 years of Bridgeable
As we write this, there is a flurry of activity at Bridgeable. Thereâs a team in a project
room crunching data to refine communication materials, people packing up supplies for
red-eye flights to Europe, and a printer noisily churning out materials for co-creation
workshops at our studio. The atmosphere feels creative, dynamic, and energizing.
What started in 2004 as an entrepreneurial endeavour with ambitions to design better
products has blossomed into a global enterprise. Weâve âprototyped and iteratedâ our
way from designing a single product (yes, there was an actual product called the Cooler
Solution), to working on design and strategy projects with some of the worldâs largest
and most innovative companies. The impact weâve made with our partners over the
last decade is profound.
There have been a lot of people involved in building Bridgeable into what it is today.
We have been fortunate to work beside brave leaders who are the embodiment of
human-centredness. Our client partners, collaborators, and teammates have all inspired
us to do our best work and to improve with each and every project. And it is to those
people that we dedicate this book: keep seeking to deeply understand people. Keep
designing solutions that reach beyond the ordinary. Keep making a major impact on
the world, and the people around you.
We look forward to being inspired for decades to come,
The Bridgeable Team
6.
7. Social problems are some of the thorniest out there. The issues are complex and multi-
variate. There are many diverse stakeholders with conflicting priorities and worldviews.
And time and budget are almost always at a premium. That very complexity is what
entices us at Bridgeableâour design toolkit is tailor-made for social problems. We love
to apply systems thinking to problems that require a holistic approach. We specialize in
using co-creation to balance many varied perspectives in building solutions. We prefer
to test our ideas as quickly as possible by creating prototypes and seeing how well they
work in the world. Perhaps most importantly, everyone at Bridgeable comes to work
each morning because we want to improve peopleâs lives. Solving social problems lets
us extend the reach of our work, and focus it on those who need it most.
Our pro bono work focused on social change has always been a big part of what we do
at Bridgeable. Through our pro bono work, we have tackled issues spanning healthcare,
food security, and finance, using design to foster new solutions. As we approach our
tenth anniversary as a company, we wanted to mark the occasion in some way. Eventu-
ally we settled on a collection of our past pro bono work to share with our colleagues,
customers, and collaborators. These ten case studies represent our most notable social
design work from the past ten years. We hope itâs just an entrĂŠe for all we might accom-
plish as Bridgeable enters its second decade.
Design is a powerful tool in many
contexts, but especially so when
effecting social change.
8. 8
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Learning together
In a co-creation workshop, we brought together bank employees, low-income individ-
uals, and other key stakeholders to talk about saving. The workshop revealed unknown
blind spots, such as the multitude of barriers faced by low-income families, from their
attitudes about their financial future to feelings about financial institutions. Realizing
these misconceptions helped build a shared vision of successful engagement.
Making interaction easy
One of the greatest challenges in getting low-income people to use a savings tool like
an RESP is that they have to interact in a sustained way with bank employeesâa rela-
tionship where trust and understanding is too often lacking. Our platform included an
interactive tool that helps bank employees guide potential subscribers through the
process of opening an RESP, using an illustrated process and relatable stories. This novel
way of communicating financial information provided a framework for both banks and
their customers to communicate on equal footing.
The Canadian government offers programs to assist low-income families with saving,
such as the Canada Learning Bond (CLB), but these programs are widely underused.
Prosper Canada wanted to understand how they could help low-income families save
more for their childrenâs education. The interactive platform we developed demysti-
fies the process of applying for a CLB, and helps bank employees communicate more
effectively with families.
Overcoming Barriers to Saving Money
Prosper Canada
9.
10. 10
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
A Bridgeable Blueprint outlined all of the elements needed to imple-
ment and support the program, from window tags that boost program
recognition to a presentation deck to share with partner community
organizations.
Itâs more than a touchpointâitâs a network of
processes and tools that come together to form
a thriving ecosystem.
11. With the benefit of working prototypes of its online tools for both bank
employees and low-income applicants, Prosper was able to have more
meaningful conversations with banks about its concepts. These tangible
tools showedÂbanks, rather than telling them, what Prosper imagines for
the future. They catalyzed the formation of collaborative partnerships
around the future of RESPs for low-income individuals.
The result? Steadily increasing adoption of the
CLB by low-income families.
11
12.
13. Everythingâs becoming more
interconnected and complex.
The internet. Social media. New technologies. Theyâre all driving fundamental shifts
in the nature of how organizations and people interact. At Bridgeable, we believe in
creating a unified experience that engages people across a variety of touchpoints.
Peopleâs journeys are shaped by factors far beyond clearly defined front-line inter-
actions. Theyâre shaped by factors such as beliefs, by the technology they use, by
financial drivers, by friends and family, and by the websites they visit. These factors
can be incredibly complex when working on social issues related to health, finances,
education, and the environment which have multi-factorial causes. Through methods
including ethnographic and design research, co-design, and crowdsourcing, we collab-
orate directly with the groups we are trying to help in order to understand their reality.
We find that synthesizing the different elements of what makes up their experience
helps organizations shift their perspective. This leads to delivering a more unified and
valuable experience.
14. 14
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
FoodShare is Canadaâs largest food security organization. Their mission is to provide
healthy food for all. One of FoodShareâs many programs is Field to Table Catering, a
social enterprise whose profits support the larger organization. When the catering
business wasnât living up to its potential, we worked with them to rethink the business,
redesign their service, and re-establish their brand.
Designing a Healthier Business
FoodShare Toronto
Bridging different interests
As a for-profit initiative serving paying customers, Field to Table was the subject of an
identity crisis within FoodShare, its nonprofit parent. Our first step was to help the
organization align around a common vision for the business. In co-creation sessions
with multiple stakeholders, FoodShare arrived at a new understanding of the unique
role Field to Table could play â and where it could and should stand apart from the
larger brand.
Moving from great food to a great experience
In research, we found that while customers loved Field to Tableâs food, other elements
of the service made them hesitant to trust the company with more business. A Bridge-
able Experience Map, which showed what was happening for customers at every step,
showed where there was room for improvement. Co-creation sessions with stake-
holders, which included live prototyping, resulted in a Bridgeable Blueprint for better
service across touchpoints.
Putting the right supports in place
For a business to change how it delivers, employees must have the processes, training
and tools to succeed. We worked with Field to Table on everything from establishing
a new system for taking and changing orders, to empowering delivery personnel with
clear checklists. In training and workshops, we engaged staff, incorporated their input,
and ensured they were up-to-speed.
15.
16. 16
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
A customer experience is the sum of its parts. Distilling every-
thing weâd learned together, we created new branding and
marketing materials for Field to Table Catering and a service
offering to match.
A Bridgeable Experience Map aggregates massive
amounts of insight into an at-a-glance view of the
interactions affecting your customers.
17. To communicate the proposition, we delivered a new logo, a new,
easy-to-navigate website, new collateral, and recommendations on
how to further engage the community. This accompanied important
changes to the menu, a completely new ordering and delivery manage-
ment system, and critical infrastructure such as internal order tracking.
Redesigning a service
business doubles sales
within six months.
Letâs Celebrate!
field to table cateringâs official launch
17
18. 18
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Every day, thousands of prostate and breast cancer patients are asked to choose between
therapies. Overwhelmed by emotions, they are presented with a massive amount of
information, including options that have similar clinical outcomes but different side
effects. Not surprisingly, it can be difficult for doctors and patients to have a productive
conversation. Therachoice transforms that conversation. A shared decision-making
tool for those with breast and prostate cancer, itâs an online application that helps them
clearly think through whatâs best for them.
Helping Cancer Patients Make Decisions
Therachoice
Navigating a complicated journey
Based on our research with cancer patients, a Bridgeable Experience Map highlighted
key drivers when it comes to cancer treatment decision-making, as well as roadblocks
along the way. It was clear that, for patients to successfully navigate treatment choice,
they needed to do two things at once: process their emotional reaction to their diag-
nosis and determine a rational course of action.
Building self-awareness
In our research, we saw how often a patientâs goals and values were lost among a tidal
wave of information, including clinical data, disease mechanisms, and side effects.
Therachoice uses a dynamic interface to let patients rank and prioritize their treatment
goals, helping them reflect on whatâs most important to them. As a result, theyâre better
equipped for an engaged conversation with their specialist.
Resonating with patients and doctors
Therachoice presents information in ways that patients understand and that physicians
immediately recognize as credible and rigorous. With our expertise in risk communica-
tion and communicating complexity, the message is unambiguous, regardless of how
âhealth literateâ the patient is. The smallest details of presentation were considered,
such as using â20 out of 100â instead of â20%â. As a result, Therachoice meaningfully
captures the qualitative reality and the quantitative context surrounding a patientâs
options.
19.
20. 20
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
An innovative technology solution helps patients
navigate their emotional reaction to their diagnosis
and determine a rational course of action.
21. Therachoice is part of a three-arm feasibility
study with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
21
22.
23. We live in an era of information overload: a constant stream of facts, numbers, big data,
correlations, and tweets that make it difficult to distinguish signal from noise. In the
rising tide of data, itâs becoming increasingly important to communicate complexity in
order to inspire people and to propagate new ideas.
At Bridgeable, we believe that effective communication requires combining human
insights with deep expertise in communication design. Making information easy to
internalize, recall, and retain is critical to ensuring that social change is successful. If
information were enough, then we would not be faced with so many societal challenges.
By prototyping and iterating the design of communications with the people who will
be using them, we increase their resonance and value. The end result is more than text
with a beautiful graphic. Itâs uniquely engaging experiences that improve learning and
prompt people to action.
Complexity doesnât move
people, clarity does.
24. 24
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
For many people, sustainable behaviour change is a difficult transition to make. While
the environment ranks as one of the most important issues for Canadians (second only
to health-care), Canadaâs track record paints an entirely different image. Worldwide,
Canada consumes the largest amount of energy on a per capita basis, and is the second
largest producer of greenhouse gases after the United States. For many social scientists
this incongruity is unsurprisingâitâs not uncommon for people to claim what they do to
be at odds with how they actually behave.
Food Sustainability
Bridgeable
Experience suggests that education and information on environmental issuesâfrom
social media campaigns to government programsâdo not necessarily foster true
behaviour change. Awareness alone is not enough. Engagement is key. Bridgeableâs
challenge is to develop useful strategies to help designers and consumers bridge the
gap between intention and action. Our mandate is to understand how to motivate real
and meaningful behaviour change in the consumer market.
The publicationâs objectives were to communicate key insights into consumer decision
criteria vis-Ă -vis food selection, and to report design principles that foster sustainable
behaviour change. One of the key design principles that emerged from the research
was the importance of total family participation in selecting sustainable food choices.
It was uncovered that children often have a strong influence on what foods are
consumed within a household.
25.
26. 26
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Design for Change: eating sustainably30 Cooler solutions inc.
Insights
31
Key DesiGn PrinCiPles for HelPinG
ConsuMers to MaKe More sustainaBle
fooD CHoiCes:
Seek participation from
the whole family, especially
children.
Children often have a strong influence
on what foods are consumed within a
household, whether that be specific
food items and aversions, or the
desire for parents to only serve the
âhealthiestâandâsafestâitems.
⢠Products, services and other offerings
should be child-friendly but also appeal to
the rest of the family.
⢠Communicating health benefits to parents
could stimulate more sustainable behav-
iours.
⢠Products and services should encourage
positive interactions and quality time be-
tween parents and their childrenâif only
in short bursts.
⢠Where older children/teens are involved,
there is an opportunity for education on
sustainable food approaches and issues.
Provide context and explanation for why
certain foods and behaviours are healthier
or more socially/ecologically responsible.
⢠Find ways to include children in meal
preparation, transforming cooking into
âquality together timeâ.
Honour history, tradition, and
routine.
Appeal to familiar family norms and
trusted habits so that behaviour
change can be more easily accepted
and integrated. Skepticism and
mistrust are often fostered by a lack of
familiarity and understanding.
⢠Utilize narrative and storytelling to impart
a sense of continuity and history. Include
familiar stories, conversations, and relat-
able characters.
⢠Recognize peopleâs existing traditions,
benchmarks, and emphasize their value
not only in cultural terms, but in sustain-
able significance as well.
⢠Communicate ânewnessâ as a natural
evolution of the status quo. Approach new
products and designs with an evolution-
ary mindset and not that of revolutionary
re-invention.
⢠Investigate and introduce clever resource-
saving products and strategies that are
already popular in other regions.
Target consumers who are
at or about to encounter
transition points in their lives.
Transition points are where people
are most likely to embrace change,
especially more profound changes of
behaviours, attitudes, and lifestyle.
Targeting services, products and
messaging to people in their late
teens and early adulthood may prove
especially successful.
⢠Associate sustainable behaviours with
typical coming-of-age activities such as
renting a first solo apartment or the pur-
chase of a first home, adjusting to a new
job, marriage/cohabitation, and more.
Make healthy, sustainable
choices both accessible and
appealing to the majority of
people.
Sustainability as an upper class
status projection will alienate some
middle and lower class consumers.
Mass consumers will reject offerings
that they deem to be too exclusive,
expensive, or unachievable. Employ
an inclusive approach whereâgood
designâis targeted and priced to be
within reach of the majority of people.
⢠Sustainable choices should offer value
and become a desirable way of life for the
middle class.âGood designâ will therefore
be genuine, desirable, and functional for
the consumer.
⢠Sustainable offerings should not be
portrayed as âbourgeoisâ or aspirational
luxury items reserved for the elite. Prod-
ucts and services should be desirable
without appearing too unattainable.
⢠Moderate price premiums are acceptable
when the health, taste, or ethical value of
the product or service is communicated.
Consumers will appreciate value offered
along the dimensions of health, taste, and
localism.
12 Cooler solutions inc.
Insights
13
â
12
insights for
sustainable
food Choices
Photo by Mike Loveless
There is no love sincerer than the love
of food.â
-George Bernard Shaw
SOCiAL inteRACtiOnS And the PLeASuRe Of
fOOd
Food fuels our bodies; it is integral to our physical survival but we also
experience food in profoundly social ways. Mealtime is an occasion for
people to come together, to prepare, to share and to consume food. Food
acts as an offeringâwhen we provide food to our family and friends, we
are extending a message of hospitality and generosity. When research
participants enjoyed food preparation and eating, they often
experienced these processes as social and communal, filled with
feelings of pride.
âI think for us itâs a good relationship builder to be able to cook together.â
-Sam
But not everyone experiences food in this way. Families with busy lifestyles
and singles living on their own often eat food in isolation. For many study
participants, this isolation transforms eating from a social event into a
more functional practice. In social isolation, preparing and eating food is
often less enjoyable. Thomas, for example, is a single man who never cooks
for himself; he either eats out or he brings take out and pre-made dinners
home. Although his roommate occasionally cooks for him, he only cooks
once or twice a year for a charity event, where he prepares his âfamous
jambalayaâ, drawing from his collection of spices and herbs. Similarly, Marta,
who lives with her elderly mother, contends that the reason she does not
cook much is that she does not have a family. Jolene however does have a
family, though she still eats separately from her kids and husband. They
operate on very individual schedules.
Participants who were more disconnected from whole foods and their
preparation generally placed a greater emphasis on food purchase and
assembly over cooking. In contrast, Sam states that cooking together with his
partner Melissa is an enjoyable experience that is good for his relationship.
While they do not cook every night, the time they spend batch cooking on
the weekend is a social experience and important to their relationship.
Whole foods are foods
that are in their raw
material state. They are
processed and refined
as little as possible,
before being consumed.
Therefore, these foods
require preparation
and cooking versus
pre-prepared foods or
take-out foods.
27. The My Bean: Purple Bean Growing Activity Book delivers on all three of these elements,
providing a hands-on and educational learning experience that allows children to
engage with the natural growth process. Supplemented with âcool factsâ, a broad array
of age-specific, school curriculum-supporting activities, and the inclusion of purple
bean seeds, cardboard pot, and fiber growth pellets, kids have everything they need
to learn about the wonders of plants first-hand.
My Bean by Cooler Solutions Inc. is licensed under Creative Commons
My Bean
My bean plantâs name is
This book belongs to
Purple Bean Growing Activity Book
Drawing Instructions Journalling Checklists Fun facts
As part of Bridgeableâs work in sustainability,
our team discovered the 3 Es of communicating
complexity to kids: education, empowerment,
and entertainment.
27
28. 28
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
View MisFit at www.vimeo.com/62277549
MisFit looks at the lives of people living with obesity through
a unique lens by unpacking the perspectives of people with
obesity and experts in the field of bariatrics. MisFit is inspi-
rational, moving, and ultimately aims to provide a positive
view towards overcoming physical and perceptual barriers
in a world currently designed with others in mind.
Healthcare issues are complex,
nuanced, and difficult to convey
effectively. Bridgeable created
two documentary films to provide
nuanced insight, build empathy,
and inspire action.
MisFit
Communicating the
Complexity of the
Human Experience
29. View MisConnect at www.bridgeable.com/misconnect
MisConnect investigates the stories of four individuals who have
each suffered a heart attack. Each experienced the symptoms, but for
different reasons, delayed in seeking help. By understanding why they
delayed and the messages they have to share, we begin to change our
own perceptions about our heart health. More importantly, we begin to
take action in helping others do the same.
MisConnect
29
30.
31. From talking about human-centricity,
to actually becoming a human-centred
organization.
The sophistication of the problems we currently face is outpacing the ability of our
systems to handle that sophistication. When it comes to designing for complex systemic
challenges, often the most critical people required to solve the problem arenât even
considered in the process.
People are more likely to cross a bridge when they helped to build it. This is partic-
ularly true with social challenges where many different stakeholders are involved
in delivering a solution. We gather individuals from across organizations, and bring
them together with external stakeholders and end users to co-create valuable ideas.
Our designers prototype ideas on the spot. In the process, participants break down
assumptions, gain a clearer sense of hidden barriers, and generate a clear picture of
practical solutions that can move everyone forward. In the process, they also begin to
understand how to put people at the centre of what they do.
32. 32
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Rise Asset Development is a microfinance organization that provides funding and
mentorship to entrepreneurs who have experienced mental illness and addiction (MI&A).
But after two years, only a handful of people had taken advantage of the program. We
worked with Rise to understand the mindset of those they served, rethink their service
offering, and re-market their program.
Making Microfinance Work
Rise Asset Development
Engaging a community in co-creation
Research with potential clients revealed the truth of Riseâs reputation in the mental
health communityÂâand the barriers that were keeping prospects from applying. Entre-
preneurs from the MI&A community felt looked down on, and they didnât like the idea of
being âmentoredâ by âfinance-typesâ with much less practical experience than they had.
Co-creation sessions were used to engage the community in reimagining the program.
Along the way, skeptical prospects became loyal advocates.
Removing hurdles
The Rise team was considering new rules, such as requiring applicants to give proof
that they had been mentally ill, potentially stigmatizing applicants. We worked with
Rise to revamp their governance structure with input from members of the MI&A
community. New systems were designed that balanced fiscal responsibility with
respect for each applicantâs abilities and experience.
Shifting the dynamic
With input from the MI&A community, Rise moved to a peer mentorship model, and
away from a focus on MBA-trained mentors. Now, business owners who had struggled
with mental health and addiction could share insights, experience and advice with each
other. Rise still gave support in the area of financial managementâbut its clients didnât
feel belittled any more. They felt supported.
33.
34. 34
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
All new marketing materials focused strategically on two chan-
nels: the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH) and
banks within target areas. Rise communications shifted from
speaking the language of the âcorporateâ world to speaking
the language of their clients, with respect and sensitivity. The
complex world of microfinance became simple.
35. As a result, the value of financing provided by
Rise has grown by more than 400% and the
program has expanded to two new markets.
36.
37. It started with designing products
that improved peopleâs lives.
Bridgeable started as an industrial design company called Cooler Solutions, with a
mission to connect consumer needs, preferences, and values to the products we
designed. Since then, our work has shifted to broader experiences. Throughout, we
have kept a steadfast commitment to two core tenets: human-centricity, and creating
shared value for our clients and the people they serve. Those two principles are very
much in evidence in our early product-design projects, and they remain as much a focus
today as they were when we first started.
38. 38
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Inspiring Efficient Energy Usage
Light Footprint
The Biosync directly connects a personâs actions with environmental
impact, creating context. Based on an efficiency algorithm, the Biosync
monitors how a person adjusts and maintains the temperature in their
home in comparison to outside temperatures. It then translates this effi-
ciency into natural imagery. Taking advantage of biophilia (or a person
natural tendency to want to connect with nature), the Biosync translates
efficient-energy usage into lush nature imagery. When energy usage is
poor, the natural imagery is affected. Plants begin to die and the sky
darkens with fog inspiring the person to make more efficient choices.
The Biosync thermostat is the result of a study around what people
consider âgreenâ. The Biosync garnered an honorable mention in the
Core 77 Greener Gadget competition in 2010.
Bridgeable conducted a study into peopleâs values and perceptions around
green technology. When asked âWhat is green to you?â, people provided
insight into how they consider technology in the context of the environment.
The key insight is that people feel there is a disconnect between technology
and nature. Through Bridgeableâs unique process of research translation,
we developed the Biosync thermostat to address this contextual disconnect.
39. Biosync - Motivational Thermostat / Cooler Solutions Inc. / Jan 200
Energy Efficiency : Motivating Change
Heavy Footprint Light Footprint
biosyncMotivational Thermostat concept
Energy Efficiency : Motivating Change
Heavy Footprint
biosyncMotivatio
âThe biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an
instinctive bond between human beings and other
living systems. According to Harvard Professor E.O.
Wilson, biophilia is our âinnate tendency to focus on
life and lifelike processes.ââ
39
40. 40
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Biophilic Compost
In many homes and offices, organic waste is dumped into the garbage along
with other trash items so that we can avoid its nasty odors. Of course, this
is not a very efficient use of what might be an otherwise valuable compost
medium.
Throwing organic waste into the trash fills up our landfills unnecessar-
ily and in many cities such as Toronto, this waste must be trucked over
significant distances. The environmental cost of transportation, along
with he production of methane gasses associated with decomposing
organic materials further compounds this messy problem.
While there exist many organic waste diversion programs and products
targeted to household use, few solutions have been specifically devel-
oped for office and commercial environments. Bridgeable therefore
developed the Biophilic Compost System to address waste diversion
in offices.
Based on the concept of Biophiliaâthe instinctive bond between humans
and other living systemsâthe Biophilic Compost System encourages
people to separate their trash at the point of disposal, while also reward-
ing them for their efforts. The unit includes large bins for trash, organic
matter, and recyclables.
41. Instead of sending organic waste to the landfill, the system uses the bokashi process to
anaerobically compost the material on-site. The process is fast, odorless, and produces
a small volume of very concentrated compost material and fluid. Finished compost may
be spread in the accompanying planter or in the facilityâs surrounding gardens to feed
healthier plants. Users reap the end benefit of enjoying a work environment that incor-
porates plants and nature in a holistic, tangible way.
Bridgeableâs Biophilic Compost System was featured in several major newspapers
including the Financial Post and was listed on the OGâs Top 10 Eco-Friendly Office
Supplies.
41
42. 42
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Canadian Socially Responsible
Design Exhibit
Socially responsible design, whether focused on the individual or wider
society, moves beyond economic and consumerist considerations to embrace
ethical, emotional, and humanitarian values.
43. Socially responsible design, whether focused on the individual or wider society, moves
beyond economic and consumerist considerations to embrace ethical, emotional, and
humanitarian values.
Together with Canadian design luminaries David Green and Dianne Croteau, Bridgeable
formed The Canadian Council for Socially Responsible Design, a group whose mission
is to promote socially responsible design work from seasoned professionals and newly
graduated students alike.
In 2009, the council launched a curated exhibit to promote socially responsible design.
Featured in the US and International departure lounges of Torontoâs Pearson Airport,
the exhibit included a wide selection of products, services, and project prototypes
addressed a mix of ethical and environmental issues relevant to both the developed
and developing world.
43
44. 44
Celebrating 10 Years of Bridgeable
Dignity Toilet
Many of us are lucky enough not to recognize the basic comforts of everyday
life. Yet, the comforts hidden from our view tend to play the largest role
in our quality of life. For instance, how often do you consider your toilet?
Itâs a stationary, mundane, and generally consistent tool in our homes.
But beyond the toilet lies the greater unseen: a massive infrastructure
of plumbing and filtration that deals with our waste in order to ensure
safe water, land, and health that define our standard of living. Truly, a
communityâs sanitation systems is one of the most important factors
in our daily lives.
The Dignity Toilet is a storage and disposal system that addresses health,
dignity, and compliance. In many locations around the globe, waste
storage and disposal can become a great health concern, often caus-
ing infection and disease. During times of disaster or at any time the
displacement of people occurs, food and shelter do not complete basic
needs. The Dignity Toilet provides storage of solid waste for four people
for 7-10 days. The storage vessel is then removed from its seating dock
and taken to a controlled area where it is manually augured into the
soil. When its contents are released, it is mixed with the soil for natural
decomposition. Bridgeableâs Dignity Toilet design won the Humanitarian
International Design Organization Award in 2007. In the years since its
invention, this toilet has been featured in international media, part of
a traveling global exhibit on water quality and included as a case study
in the textbook Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations:
Pearson New International Edition (2013).