Avoiding The Drench

Imagine getting soaked by a car-splash, on your way to work or an important meeting. I’ve been through it one too many times thanks to the heavy monsoons my city experiences. The Rain Shield offers a shield-like umbrella and is crafted with a single curved steel wire and a telescopic rod. It has no pointed ends or sharp edges, and it won’t blow inside out in windy conditions. Sounds too good to be true!

But it is true, because I saw this at the red dot award: design concept ceremony in Singapore. Designer Liu Li-Hsiang demonstrated to me how this umbrella easily folds and compresses into a 180-millimetre-diameter disc that can be stored in a bag. Have a look at the video and judge for yourself.

Designers: Lin Min-Wei & Liu Li-Hsiang

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?=2X0E3QQqQWI 600 451]

Radhika Seth

Radhika Seth is a design and technology writer with over 18 years of experience covering products, innovation, and the ideas shaping design. She serves on the jury of international design competitions, including the iF Design Award, and hosts Yanko Design’s Design Mindset podcast. A former Ogilvy advertising professional, she has also taught Communication and Design Journalism, bringing together her experience across design, storytelling, brands, and media.

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