An RCA student has taken an everyday, mundance object - the UK electric plug - and redesigned it. Not because she wanted to redesign it for the fun of it, but rather to actually improve the design, addressing a number of flaws with the current design.
Flaw #1: The UK design is among the bulkiest in the world which, when travelling, adds weight and bulk to luggage. This becoming particularly relevant given the prevalence of small form-factor laptops such as netbooks.
Flaw #2: Multi-way adapters are even bulkier and risk safety due to the weight of plugs overloading a socket. Ever seen a 101 plugs all fighting one another for a socket?
Flaw #3: UK plugs are often difficult to pull out of the socket due to a thin edges that are difficult to grasp, particularly for those with reduced strength in their hands.
The new design solves all three of these problems, by reducing bulk, incorporating a fantastic design for a multi-way adapter that is no larger than a single existing UK plug, and providing a useful handle to remove the plug from the socket. Simple, neat and improving the experience of using something that most of us interact with on a daily basis.
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