Rafal Zajkowski

I am a product designer who loves solving problems to improve lives. I try to think out of the box and use creative approaches in every project. Two internships in UK and China have helped me to become a more professional designer who has learnt to develop products from first principles through research, ideation and experiential prototyping to the final manufacturing product phase.

In my final year, I designed ELAWASH based on the two themes of human-centred design and sustainability. I am inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015), particularly the Clean Water and Sanitation Goal. The design of this plastic-free, hand washing device is a new response to global plastic pollution, addressing the lack of access to hand washing facilities in rural Ethiopia. Crucially, the design can be adapted and produced by local populations, using their own expertise and locally sourced materials, for example, clay. Accordingly, every household could benefit and have access to a cheaply produced, foot-powered hand washing unit.