How COVID-19 Has Highlighted the Value of Creativity, Design, and Innovation

In the face of a health emergency like the one we are experiencing, countless solutions have emerged to address new needs and mitigate the devastating effects of this pandemic on the healthcare system, the economy, and people's daily lives.

A highly uncertain context has underscored the creative, innovative, and collaborative capabilities of our societies. We have decided to analyze this deeply so that what we are experiencing now can serve as a learning opportunity for the near future. What lessons has COVID-19 taught those of us in the world of design?

3D Printing: Immediate Responses to Crisis Contexts

Many of the solutions that have emerged in recent weeks have been developed thanks to 3D printing. This technology has proven to be a viable option for mass designing and producing products with immediacy and at a very low cost. It is an ideal alternative for responding to crisis situations requiring rapid and effective solutions.

Examples include protective face shields designed for healthcare workers and the production of valves for ventilators. These alternatives aim to supplement limited traditional resources by offering viable, scalable, cost-effective, and rapid production solutions.

Another example is the field ventilator designed by El Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), Leitat, the Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, and Parc Taulí Hospital in Sabadell, in collaboration with several companies. They have developed the first industrializable mechanical field ventilator manufactured using 3D printing. This means it has scalable production capacity.

Reusing Products to Meet New Needs

While human innovation has no limits, in a crisis, solutions can be surprisingly creative, and they don't always have to start from scratch-sometimes, repurposing an existing product is enough.

One example is the work done by SEAT, which used windshield wiper motors, factory-printed gears, and gearbox shafts to design a new emergency ventilator now being used in hospitals.

The Value of DIY

In crisis situations where resources are scarce, combining efforts to achieve solutions as quickly as possible is crucial. This is where the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) movement becomes valuable. Many healthcare workers and at-risk individuals need essential protective equipment, and any contribution, even at an individual level, helps alleviate the crisis.

In recent days, numerous tutorials have emerged on how to make masks that protect against COVID-19. Online, you can download instructions to print protective face shields with a 3D printer, among many other alternatives.

These initiatives help increase the volume of available solutions during a time of great need.

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More Sustainable Designs Than Ever

As we mentioned in our latest post on designing for the circular economy, a sustainable design follows three principles: it must be made from recyclable materials, have remarkable durability, and be easy to repair or reuse. One effect of this crisis is that resource shortages have pushed us toward such designs.

This is what happened with Decathlon's well-known snorkeling masks, originally designed for recreational use, which have been repurposed as high-flow oxygen masks.

Unlimited Collaboration

If there's one thing the COVID crisis has taught us, it is the power of collaboration in society. In fact, many of the solutions that have emerged recently would not have been possible without the selfless teamwork of various stakeholders. Numerous online platforms have been created to connect different players in the design process.

One example is the Coronavirus Makers project, which aims to develop open-source plans and instructions so that anyone with a 3D printer can get involved. According to reports, there are now over 10,000 makers coordinated via Telegram, creating masks, face shields, ventilators, and protective booths in record time.