The road to a sustainable future is strewn with challenges, but solutions sometimes lie hidden in the most everyday objects around us. At MNEXT, the Center of Expertise at Avans University of Applied Sciences, students have taken on the challenge of rethinking precisely these products. In a unique project, in collaboration with the Living Greenlab and the SPARK Lab, they have designed biobased alternatives that prove that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand.
The power of student-driven innovation
The project brought together fourteen students from the Industrial Product Design program at Koning Willem I College, with a clear yet open assignment: create biobased alternatives for everyday products. Instead of strict guidelines, the students were given the freedom to experiment and direct their own learning process.
Jasper Sluis, project supervisor at MNEXT, emphasizes the value of this approach. "We don't give students ready-made answers," he explains. "We challenge them to create, test, and improve their designs along the way." This method proved successful. The students went beyond what was asked of them, experimented with new materials, and took the opportunity to create something of their own. This resulted not only in concrete prototypes but also in a significant boost of self-confidence for the aspiring designers.
From makeup brushes to keyboard keys
The diversity of the designs demonstrates the broad applicability of biobased materials. For example, student Guusje Aarts developed a sustainable makeup brush, while Sem Kreber focused on a biobased zipper pull—a small but frequently used component of, for example, a hoodie. Fela Mooijman designed biobased hair clips, and Mabel van Houtum devised an eartip for earbuds made from sustainable materials. Wessel van Iersel took on the challenge of producing a keyboard key using 3D software and biobased raw materials.
These prototypes can be admired on a mood board at MNEXT in Breda in the coming weeks. Each design includes a QR code that links visitors to the students' portfolios, giving them a digital glimpse into the design process and the thinking behind each product.
This project proves that the transition to a biobased economy is a collaborative effort, with young professionals with fresh perspectives leading the way. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this initiative directly contributes to the materials and energy transition and inspires a new generation to build a more sustainable future.
Source: MNEXT
