Designers
Designers
Designers
SWASH
A public handwashing system designed for the pace of city life
Key Words
Designers
Erin Chang
SUMMARY
Across New York, people move quickly through shared spaces, touching surfaces and eating on the go, yet reliable access to soap and water rarely meets them in those moments. My project responds by integrating a hygiene solution into the natural flow of the city, making cleanliness more accessible and consistent in the places people move through most.
challenge
In New York, basic hand hygiene often becomes difficult in the fast movement between subways, sidewalks, parks, and busy public spaces. Many people rely on sanitizer even when it doesn’t feel truly clean, simply because soap and water aren’t accessible where they’re needed. My project focuses on this gap between people’s desire for real cleanliness and the limited infrastructure that supports it, especially in high-traffic areas where access is inconsistent or inequitable.
Outcome
Swash is a public handwashing system that fits into the rhythm of city life and supports the moments where hygiene needs naturally arise. It offers reliable access to soap and water in the places people already move through, addressing both functional needs and the comfort of feeling genuinely clean. By working with existing urban patterns rather than asking users to change their routines, these stations strengthen everyday hygiene in a way that is practical, intuitive, and grounded in what people expressed throughout my research.
MEET THE Designers:
Erin Chang