UNHCR Blanket+++

The UNHCR grey thermal fleece blanket has been impervious to design innovation for over fifty years. The blanket is a Core Relief Item (CRI) with 9 million+ distributed each year. The primary purpose of the blanket is to provide effective protection against the loss of body temperature. However, our study found it no longer satisfies contemporary user-centric needs of refugees. We discovered there improvised use by refugees. When worn as a shawl, people intuitively pull the blanket’s edges together and clasp them to provide effective insulation. However, many ordinary tasks require the use of both hands. So, how do you hold and eat your meal or embrace the hands of your children while walking? These basic human-centred design considerations have been neglected. The primary objective of this project was to reimagine the UNHCR blanket for the 21st century by augmenting and humanising its design to make everyday activities a little more bearable for the millions of refugees who receive a blanket each year. A super-frugal approach was taken with the simple addition of three buttons to improve its usability and functionality. Not all great ideas need to be new. Creative thinking can improve well-established products that we all take for granted.