Ordon
The indoor air purification haven for infants, designed in response to the child health crisis caused by pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
35 Week Project
The Problem
“The city has among the world’s highest peaks of PM2.5—the ultrafine particles that can carry carcinogens such as arsenic and mercury and are small enough to permeate most of the body’s defensive filters.”
- Time Magazine
The Cause
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Coal Mines
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Coal Power Plants
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Ger Districts
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Industrialisation
The Context
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Mongolia is home to Nomadic Herders who live in “Gers”.
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The Ger: type of of circular tent that is flat pack.
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Ger homes have traditional stoves which primarily use raw charcoal for heating and cooking.
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Many Nomads have lost their herds due to the extreme weather caused by climate change and have moved to the city, to find other ways of making a living .
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They set up their Gers at the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, creating the “Ger district”.
The Brief
To design a product for a baby which filters carbon particulate matter produced from traditional cooking and heating stoves in Ger Households located in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Primary User: Baby
Secondary User: Parents
Age: 3 Months
Ethnicity: Mongolian
Lives: Ger Home, Ger District, Ulaanbaatar
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1st born.
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Sleeps in the same bed as his mother.
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Spends most time indoors.
Pain Points:
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Finds it hard to breathe during the day.
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Often taken to the Doctor.
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Can’t play outdoors for too long.
Age: 24 & 26 years old
Ethnicity: Mongolian
Lives: Ger Home, Ger District, Ulaanbaatar
Income (approx.) : 140 USD / month
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Father works at a coal power plant
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Mother: Housewife. She sells crafts locally.
History: They were nomadic herders who lived outside the city. Their herd died due to the effects of climate change. Moved to Ulaanbaatar to find another occupation.
Pain Points
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Their son suffers from respiratory issues.
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Can’t afford a high tech air purifier.
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Miss their old way of life.
Ideation
Concept Development
The free-standing hammock concept was chosen because:
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It is easy to move.
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Multipurpose potential.
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Similar to existing cots and cribs owned by target audience.
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Celebrate traditional Mongolian manufacturing techniques.
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Is more durable.
Air purifiers were incorporated into the design solution as they are a scientifically proven, reliable and a non-invasive method of filtering pollutants. Mongolian Nomads are very resourceful and skilled craftsman hence, these traditional crafting techniques could be incorporated as a celebration of Mongolian culture and heritage. Furthermore, an external contact who is a PhD Researcher in Mongolian Culture said that the Target Audience values durable products which is why designs were focused on wooden cot/tent structures with air purifiers.
Prototypes: Detail Development
Prototypes were made of specific components of the product to explore scale, ergonomics and functionality.
Exploring ways to open and close netting.
Hammock construction
Packaging Exploration.
Finding ways to anchor the external netting.
Methods to access the battery compartment.
Hand Tool
Knock Down Joinery Development
An exploration of new and existing joinery methods. The final joinery method was chosen upon testing, analysis of existing Mongolian baby cradles and consultations with experts.
Design Evolution
Initial
Incorporated air purifier.
Experimenting with different bracing methods.
Material and colour development.
Changed footprint shape based on testing with prototype.
Finalised Hammock: Asian baby Hammock
Refining the Structure and joints.
Final
The Solution: Ordon
Air : Pure. Fresh. Healthy.
Assembly Animation
