Healthcare workers always have a lot on their plate and, above all else, the year 2020 has revealed that innovative design is essential to keep up with ever-evolving healthcare standards. Cloud, a modular shower system, was designed by Dongje Park for just that, specifically for caregivers who help the elderly population. Providing baths and showers for elderly patients is the responsibility of many healthcare workers and formed the primary inspiration for Cloud, the complete shower system that you can use with one hand. Cloud is a modular, ergonomic shower system constructed using mostly stainless steel, thermoplastic, and silicone, which can be integrated into either your own bathroom at home or community care sites, like nursing homes or hospitals.
Designed with the user in mind, Cloud is built to be intuitive and easy to understand so that anyone can feel confident when using it. The handheld showerhead comes equipped with a treaded, silicone grip that allows users to easily slip their hand through the handle with open access to the shower head’s interface where the control buttons are located. In order to give healthcare workers plenty of hands-free options for providing baths and other hygienic routines, Cloud comes with three different modules. The first module, a nylon-bristle brush, can be used for heavy scalp washing or for the tough skin that lines the bottoms of our feet. The even rows of silicone bristles on the second module could supply the means for harder-to-reach deep back or scalp massages. The third module, made from sponge or loofa-like material, delivers a cotton-soft deep cleaning for an all-over, gentle cleaning.
In addition to the shower head’s changeable modules, Park incorporated an LED, color-coded temperature control valve, which indicates when the water flow’s temperature changes from hot to cold, vice versa, or anywhere in between. Situated just above the temperature control valve, bottle stations dispense either body wash or hair products with the touch of a button. Park’s integrated soap dispenser only requires users to press a button on the showerhead, which prompts soap to flow down to the user’s chosen module to meet with water and reach the desired amount of suds and foaminess. They say love is in the details and Park kept even the smallest of details in mind with Cloud. When designing his shower system, Park prioritized the user’s intuition in Cloud’s ergonomic handles and seamless product assembly and incorporated modularity into a household product that’s known for predictability and rigidity, ultimately delivering a shower system that even those outside of the healthcare industry can appreciate.
Designer: Dongje Park
