Project | Better Bin Design Competition

Brand | NYC Department of Sanitation

Category | Urban Garbage Bin

Date | 2018-2019

Better Bin NYC

New York City hosted a competition to redesign their classic metal litter basket. The objective was to create a practical and efficient litter basket for New York City that reduces litter and better serves both Sanitation Workers and the public.

Smart Design entered the competition in 2019 and was selected as one of the finalists to create 12 working prototypes for the final phase of the competition.

We ended the competition coming in at second place.

 

Designed with New Yorkers in mind

 

Current Litter Basket

  • Affordable

  • Easy to Surface

  • Unchanged design - since 1930’s

 

Process

Street Audit

Framework for brainstorms and structure for the project

Brainstorm Sessions

Concept explorations and refinements

First prototype fabrication

testing the first prototype with DSNY staff

 

Refinements based on testing

 

Final Design