My First² Aid Kit

Redesigning a medical storage bins into an educational first aid kit guide for kids.

Tools & Methods

Illustrator, Laser Cutting, SolidWorks, Engraving.

Duration

Team (2), 5 months

My Role

Storytelling & Education

Project Overview

This project is a collaboration with a local hospital in Singapore, Mount Elizabeth, who had some unused hospital items to be given a second life in which the final design was showcased for an exhibition. The medical storage bin was chosen by me and my teammate and inspired by its characteristic and history, we reimagined it as a first aid kit guide for children. The goal was to make it more accessible, organized and educational for kids learning about first aid.

Design Challenge

How might we give hospital item a second life, while also telling its story and preserving its original character?

Design Process

Explored the origin and story of the medical storage bin.
Investigated its material properties (PP). Since it was a single-mold piece, breaking it would mean losing its identity, so retaining its structure was chosen to proceed to the final design.
The rib played an important part in its original life, therefore it was utilized to create exterior joints, adding both function and character.
In the final design, we decided to reframe its purpose.
Just as pharmacy bins are built for quick access in emergencies, so is a first aid kit. By adapting for kids, it not only teaches preparedness but also turns the kit into a guardian object, reflecting its value of readiness and care.

Reflection

This project challenged me to think differently in the design process, starting not from a blank page, but from something that already exists and critically transfomed it. I realized how important narrative is in design as it plays a role in shaping the message a product conveys and how it’s perceived. In the end, this project showed me that design can create new value that is also symbolic to its functional legacy.