Laia Millan's Ikigai project received the 'Best of the Best' award in the 10th edition of jumpthegap®, the international design competition organised by Roca in collaboration with the BcD-Barcelona Design Centre on Thursday 14 October. With the aim of encompassing all aspects of sustainability related to the bathroom space, the competition had been divided into four categories: Wellness and Health, [Un]neutralDesign, Water and Energy, and Crisis and Emergency. In each category, three prizes were awarded, as well as a final "Best of the Best" award had been conferred to the best project. In total, the 10th edition of jumpthegap® shared out around €17,000 in prize money. Several Indian architects and designers also won prizes for their innovative projects in the competition. The ceremony was held as a hybrid event (online/on-site), within the framework of Barcelona Design Week's City Festival. Get to know more details of the competition and the winners on Surfaces Reporter (SR)'s complete report below:
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Recently, Roca has organised the 10th edition of jumpthegap®, the international design competition, which recognises projects for bathroom spaces that best contribute to sustainable development. The competition aims to look at the future inspired by the cross-cutting challenges set by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the areas of healthcare and hygiene, preservation of the planet, respect for diversity and equal access to technological advances. In this context, the participants presented technologically viable projects, with the added value of innovation and showing diversity, sustainability, timelessness, and adaptability.
All the projects submitted were assessed by a jury of renowned professionals, led by Japanese architect and 2014 Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban (jury president), and also including Somi Kim, senior director of healthcare solutions at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Design; Paul Priestman, designer, president of PriestmanGoode; Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, founders of the design studio Formafantasma; Deborah Seward, Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Belgium; Mariana Amatullo, President of the Cumulus International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media; Isabel Roig, Executive Director of BcD Barcelona Design Centre and President of World Design Weeks; and Marc Viardot, Roca Group Corporate Marketing and Design Director.
Since the creation of jumpthegap®, more than 28,600 professionals from 150 countries have participated in the contest. In this tenth edition, 2,165 participants from 102 countries registered and submitted a total of 377 projects.
Winning Projects:
"Best of the Best” Award
Laia Millan Català, bagged the “Best of the Best” award for her project “Ikigai”, thanked Roca for the award and explained that “this project has given me the opportunity of contributing to the visibility of a pathology such as dementia. 
The mirror is just a tool to help people recover their essence. What is really important are the people who look at it".
Winners in Other Categories
Well-being and health:
P-Kit by Andre Judiel Parabas: Andre Judiel Parabas, Design student at the University of the Philippines - Diliman received first prize (€2,000) in Well Being and Health Category for its Low-cost, biodegradable urine testing kit ("P-Kit") for use in the bathroom space itself. It can detect symptoms of diseases such as diabetes, urinary infections, urinary tract infections, HIV, malaria or pneumonia.
The second prize had been given to Valentina Masarella (Argentina, University of Buenos Aires) for the project Faucepy- A faucet that integrates aromatherapy and light therapy for both public and domestic bathrooms.
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While the Squat - The Fitness Machine" by Suman Swarup Prusty (India, Suman Swarup) became the recipient of the third prize (€500. The machine is a solution that enhances the advantages of squat toilets with a finish of maximum comfort and hygiene that makes it look like a fitness machine.
[Un]neutral design:
"Ikigai" by Laia Millan Català (Spain, Elisavauniversity in Barcelona) won the first prize (€2,000). Smart mirror aimed at helping people with early onset dementia. Using facial recognition technology, it suggests a series of daily routines to the user that contribute to delaying and minimising the effects of this pathology. This project has also been selected as "Best of the Best" in this tenth edition of jumpthegap® and has received an additional prize of €5,000.
"Urinals for Visually Impaired" by Hitesh Kumar (India, National Institute of Design) received the second prize (€500). Comprehensive solution for adapting public bathrooms to the needs of the visually impaired.
"Mist brush" by Lukasz Paszkowski (Poland, Lukasz Paszkowski Design) got third prize (€500). Wet brush with nebuliser and aroma diffuser for the personal hygiene of the elderly and/or people with disabilities.
Water and energy:
“Essential water (dual system)” by Jimmy Apollo (Italy) received the First prize (€2,000). Project to reduce the consumption of water used for washing clothes, based on the use of excess humidity from the washed clothes and the laundry room environment, as well as the recycling of the grey water used in the washing process.
"Intelligent washbasin design with water consumption level signalling" by Kamila Pawlak (Poland, Szczecin Art Academy) got the second prize (€500) in this category. Design of a washbasin to reduce water consumption by means of backlit signage.
"Kick" by Anil Choudhary (India, ARCHDUX) won the Third prize (€500). Mobile personal hygiene column with the option of integrating a grey water treatment and recycling system.
Crisis and emergency:
“Redesign disaster” by Filip Zielinski (Poland, Delft University of Technology) received first prize(€2,000). Housing module for African communities with difficulties in accessing water, which integrates a roof with a system for purifying condensed water and rainwater using energy produced by solar panels.
"Rapibath" by Caetano Nascimento Portal (Argentina, UNA - Universidad Nacional de las Artes) won the second prize (€500): Easy to install and maintain modular toilet for immediate response to hygiene and sanitation needs in emergency situations (refugee camps, natural disasters, etc.).
"ELAWASH (Handwashing in Rural Ethiopia)" by RafalZajkowski (UK) got the third prize (€500). Handwashing station designed for rural Ethiopia, using local materials (wood, bamboo and steel) and mechanically operated to promote daily hygiene.
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Marc Viardot, Roca Group Corporate Marketing and Design Director, said, “The projects presented show how design thinking can help to meet the new challenges of sustainability, in social, economic, and environmental aspects. This new generation is pushing us in a new direction, and we are fully committed to supporting them and facilitating their work.
Roca India MD Mr. KE Ranganathan, said,"I am delighted by the bagful of awards Indian architects and designers have won in this international event. Roca is known for highly innovative products and always promotes design and innovation. These awards show how Indian design is winning accolades worldwide. I congratulate all the participants and winners from India.”
Shigeru Ban, Chairman of the Jury, Attended the Event Virtually
The chairman of the jury, Shigeru Ban, attended virtually to congratulate the participants and express his appreciation for the high average quality of the entries submitted to the competition: "It has been a unique experience. We have received and analysed a wide variety of proposals, many of them with very advanced prototypes showcasing the quality and talent of the projects submitted. The development from idea to prototype is a key step in order to be able to analyse more clearly the problems and challenges that each project may pose”.
Round table: The Contribution of Design to Sustainable Development
The awards ceremony was preceded by a round table discussion with an international panel of experts made up of a selection of members of the jury for this edition of the competition: Andrea Trimarchi, Mariana Amatullo, Somi Kim, Deborah Seward and Isabel Roig.
Under the title “Design, the driving force for a more sustainable future”, the round table discussed the contribution of design to the new challenges of sustainable development.
About jumpthegap®
jumpthegap®is an international design competition promoted by Roca since 2004. It is held every two years in collaboration with the BcD Barcelona Design Centre and its main objective is to offer a platform where architecture and design professionals and students from all over the world can develop and showcase their talent, devising creative solutions for the bathroom space.
About Roca
Roca is a company dedicated to the design, production and marketing of bathroom products for architecture, construction and interior design. Founded in 1917, it combines tradition and knowledge with a passion for innovation and respect for the environment, with the aim of satisfying people’s needs and contributing to the improved well-being of society. The family-owned company is the market leader in Europe, Latin America, India and Russia. It also has a strong presence in China and the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. As a result, it is a world leader in its business.
About Barcelona Design Centre (BcD)
Barcelona Design Centre (BcD) is an organisation committed to innovation, creative talent and the promotion of Barcelona design around the world, and is the strategic partner in design to create joint value with companies, entrepreneurs, professionals and organisations. The centre sees design as a transformative factor for competitiveness, sustainability and a positive impact on society, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030).
Full details of the awards ceremony and the selected projects can be found at www.jumpthegap.net.
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