A team of students from The Umeå Institute of Design is representing the Swedish design institution at the global Electrolux Design Laboratory competition in New York on 18 November. The Swedish students will display their design concept “FooZoo,” an innovative and aesthetically appealing storage unit that keeps fruit and vegetables in perfect conditions.

The Umeå students’ concept was designed for health-conscious consumers who care about their physical and mental health and quality of life. After careful observational research and analysis, the students developed FooZoo, which is a covered fruit bowl that provides ideal humidity and temperature conditions not attainable in conventional fridge or room temperature storage.

FooZoo consists of three removable bowls in which different types of fruit and vegetables can be easily stored and served, as removable units can also be used as serving bowls. Through the introduction of small amounts of ethylene, a natural ripening gas, FooZoo can speed up ripening by releasing the gas into the chosen compartment. In addition to being highly functional, FooZoo is also decorative, as its transparent hydrophilic plastic walls allow the fresh fruit and vegetables to be seen. This visual appeal serves as a reminder to consume fruit and vegetables, thereby promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Several models of the concept were created to test accessibility, cleaning, size, handling, frequency and opening. The models were then tested on users who were asked to criticize them on the usability aspects. To improve the design, the students held interviews with the test users.

FooZoo also appeals to consumers at an emotional level due to its interactive feature. When one approaches the Foozoo, it actually comes "alive" with a gradually increasing light. The light in the compartment turns red if the fruit or vegetables begin to lose quality. A small humidifier that uses ultrasound provides cool mist to control the humidity in the compartments.

For more information on The Electrolux Design Laboratory 2004, visit the website: http://designlab.electrolux.com"