Off the Grid

Diabet-cool

Nicolas Nicolaou

Another nominee for this year's Index: Awards in Copenhagen, this imaginative device addresses new and global markets. The Diabet-cool prototype is targeted to diabetics living in poor, rural areas with no electricity—or travelers who might find themselves in remote locations. The goal of the design was to create a portable unit that uses solar energy to power a cooling device for insulin, which must be kept at a cold temperature to retain freshness. Copenhagen-based industrial designer and architect Nicolas Nicolaou applied his own experience as a diabetic to his design. Diabet-cool is made of aluminum and its surface holds a solar cell. It holds five insulin injection devices (syringes or pen-like delivery systems) and was created to accommodate a variety of brands and shapes.