chiu chih's survival kit for the ever-changing planet calls attention to the state of mother earth

in recent weeks, designers have put their skills to use in response to the coronavirus pandemic, from 3D-printing ventilator valves, proposing new hospitals and sharing their thoughts within the context of the ongoing pandemic. as we search for solutions in the face of a global coronavirus crisis, we recall this project from 2013 — chiu chih’s ‘survival kit for the ever-changing planet.’

chiu chih’s survival kit for the ever-changing planet
all images courtesy of chiu chih

originally a school project for wuhan university, where chiu chih studied industrial design, the oxygen mask responds to the deteriorating air quality within crowded living environments and the changing face of the built landscape. this led the designer to develop ‘voyage on the planet’, a project tackling big questions, and focusing on the idea that the world is in a constant state of flux.

the earth is in a constant state of flux and we potentially need to create new equipment just to survive

the subtle mysteriousness of the planet’s unknown future often forces human beings to adapt – and potentially create new equipment just to survive. the design responds to a sense of curiosity towards this ever-changing environment – where old buildings are demolished and new modern ones continue to rise.

the built environment is constantly changing, old buildings are demolished and replaced with new ones

society and culture modify from one moment to the next, which in some cases chiu chih believes renders people hopeless, while for others it brings about hope and new expectations. the scary nature of this vulnerability is most poignant in the depletion of natural energy resources.

‘voyage on the planet’ brings attention to the state of the planet

‘voyage on the planet’ brings attention to the sate of the earth, and like new energy that is sought after as a replacement, it raises the question of further exploration and continued survival on the planet. in this series of images, chie chih photographed the product on a polluted day in china, sending a poignant message about environmental degradation.

society and culture modify from one moment to the next forcing humans to adapt

a solution for the deteriorating air quality within crowded living environments

‘voyage on the planet’ questions the subtle mysteriousness of the planet’s unknown future

the changing face of the built landscape

the scary nature of the world’s position is the depletion of natural energy resources

voyage on the planet tackles big questions such as the survival of the human species

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.