DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
YZ : The main principle behind Papera is to integrate sustainable practices into the hotel booking experience, encouraging eco-conscious behaviors among travelers. Inspired by the urgent need to reduce plastic waste and environmental impact in the travel industry, Papera combines a digital platform with physical eco-friendly initiatives, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among hotel guests.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
YZ : The primary focus was to create a seamless and intuitive platform that not only simplifies the process of booking sustainable hotels but also incentivizes eco-friendly behaviors. The goal was to achieve a user-friendly system that guides travelers toward making environmentally conscious choices, thereby promoting sustainability within the hospitality industry.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
YZ : Plans for Papera include expanding the platform to include more hotels globally, enhancing the green credit system to offer more rewards, and integrating advanced features like real-time sustainability tracking of hotels. Additionally, we aim to collaborate with more eco-conscious brands and hotels to further promote sustainable travel.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
YZ : The design and development of Papera took approximately five months from initial concept and research to design. During this period, communication and feedback were conducted with sustainability experts and hotel teams to ensure that its environmental and user experience goals were achieved.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
YZ : This design was pursued out of inspiration. Recognizing the significant environmental impact of the travel industry and the growing consumer demand for sustainable travel options, we saw an opportunity to create a solution that addresses these concerns while enhancing the travel experience.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
YZ : Papera is currently not cooperating with other companies or putting it into use on the market, but if there are any interested companies or hotel groups, please feel free to contact me. The material development and system construction of this project are currently in the prototype development stage, and we are willing to establish strategic partnerships with hotels and travel agencies that are as committed to sustainable development as we are.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
YZ : The design of Papera was driven by a passion for sustainability and a desire to make a tangible impact on the travel industry’s environmental footprint. The increasing awareness of plastic waste issues and the need for more sustainable travel options motivated us to create a solution that addresses these challenges directly.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
YZ : The design of Papera was influenced by various sustainable design initiatives and digital platforms that prioritize user experience. We also drew inspiration from existing eco-friendly practices in the hospitality industry and collaborated with sustainability experts to ensure our approach was comprehensive and impactful.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
YZ : The target customers for Papera are environmentally conscious travelers who seek sustainable travel options and want to minimize their environmental impact. This includes individuals who value eco-friendly practices and are looking for ways to align their travel choices with their values.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
YZ : Papera stands out by integrating both digital and physical eco-friendly practices into a single platform. The unique green credit system rewards users for sustainable behaviors, creating a gamified experience that encourages continuous engagement. Additionally, the sustainable hotel ranking system provides transparent information, empowering travelers to make informed decisions.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
YZ : The name "Papera" is derived from the idea of a paperless, sustainable travel experience. It evokes the concept of minimal environmental impact, aligning with the platform’s goal of promoting eco-friendly practices within the travel industry.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
YZ : I used some design tools, including figma for interface design, 3D software Rhino for modeling, and rendering software Keyshot.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
YZ : The most unique aspect of Papera is the integration of a green credit system that rewards eco-friendly behaviors. This feature gamifies the travel experience, encouraging users to engage in sustainable practices and providing tangible incentives for their actions.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
YZ : In this design, as a designer, I took into account both new material production and interface design. Along the way I work with a diverse team of sustainability experts, UI/UX designers, software developers, and hospitality professionals. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that the platform is both environmentally friendly and user-friendly.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
YZ : Technology plays a central role at Papera, enabling sustainable practices to be seamlessly integrated into the booking process. The platform leverages advanced web development technology, real-time data processing, and secure cloud infrastructure to deliver a reliable and user-friendly experience.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
YZ : Yes, Papera is heavily influenced by data and analytical research. We conducted surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gather insights into traveler behaviors and preferences. Additionally, I analyzed sustainability reports and industry trends to ensure this platform addresses key environmental concerns.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
YZ : Some challenges include integrating comprehensive sustainability data from individual hotels, ensuring the platform’s user interface is intuitive, and developing a strong green credit system. Overcoming these challenges requires extensive research, an iterative design process, and communication and collaboration with people in a variety of fields.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
YZ : The decision to submit PAPERA to an international design competition was made in the hope of gaining recognition from others for this innovative approach to sustainable travel and connecting with a wider audience who share our commitment to environmental responsibility. The competition also provides a platform to receive valuable feedback from industry leaders and peers.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
YZ : During the design of Papera, I learned the importance of user-centered design and the need for iterative testing and feedback. I improved my ability to balance sustainability goals with user experience, ensuring that eco-friendly practices were seamlessly integrated into a convenient and engaging platform.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
YZ : I would like to emphasize the potential of Papera to drive meaningful change in the travel industry. By making sustainable travel choices more accessible and rewarding, we hope to inspire a shift towards more responsible tourism and contribute to global environmental efforts. Additionally, we are committed to continuously evolving Papera based on user feedback and emerging sustainability practices.
