Eggo, The Sustainable Wall

Eggo a public canopy wall made from egg crates that won the third prize for the category “Urban & Public Design” of Ro Plastic Prize 2022, during Milan Design Week 2022, is a design submission from Qatar-based student, Nada Raafat Elkharashi, a  Virginia Commonwealth University of Art’s (VCUArts Qatar) alumni.

Eggo is a public canopy wall that adds value to the lifespan of single-use egg crates. Eggo is the product of the creative thinking of Nada Raafat Elkharashi, an interdisciplinary designer and design researcher based in Qatar. An exemplary student with a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture Honors from VCUArts Qatar with a full scholarship from Hamad Bin Khalifa University for academic merit and excellence, and a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Design Studies—MFA, from VCUArts Qatar, with a graduate fellowship from the Dean of the Graduate School for academic achievements, Elkharashi is an achiever who explores natural materials and handmade techniques to imbue everyday objects with cultural insights to stimulate and inform behavioral culture advancements.

Elkharashi not only wanted to touch on sustainable solutions but she also wanted her designs to have a connection with its user, to trigger a responsible thought process.

“The main intention of Eggo is that I wanted users to see a daily used disposable matter in a foreign environment, to be able to relate, have a connection, spark a meaningful understanding, and initiate conversations surrounding single disposed purchases. Once the users “see” and ”feel” a daily used disposable matter in a functional environment, they would start looking at them as not a “disposable material” and possibly see materials with more thoughtful consideration,” she explains about her award-winning entry at the RO Guiltless Plastics event at Milan Design Week 2022.

Eggo transforms the basic egg tray into perforated screens by subtracting holes from the opposing protrusions, breaking sunlight strikes into fluttering shadows. It utilises the existing qualities of the egg crates: the series of alternating dips to act as a noise reduction applicator. It allows users to appreciate a shaded breathing moment with nature, while simultaneously, serving as a tool to stimulate our emotional sympathetic system into action—to start seeing and feeling what we usually don’t see and feel with the disposable matter.

“The use of egg crates in this foreign setting and function triggers others to be more attentive to adapt and shift their behavior to respect the life of a nonliving organism. The product allows the public to visually see how the raw material behaves after its expiration date —deterring shallow living,” she says.

The canopy wall silently communicates an emotional connection between the user and the egg crates.

“The inherited qualities of the plastic (transparency and reflection) allow for that emotional sensation to develop and formulate in the user using fluttering lights and simple, intimate moments,” explains Elkharashi.

Eggo had a history of achievements before it went on to win the third place at the RO Guiltless Plastics.

“Eggo was first designed for Qatar Museum’s open call theme of reuse, recycle and reduce, which was exhibited during ‘Qatar Creates’ in March 2022, at M7 Msheireb. Then it was selected for Rossana Orlandi Ro Plastic Prize 2022: Urban and Public Design, and exhibited during Milan Design Week 2022,” explains the designer, “Eggo was also selected to participate in the 2nd Waste Management Conference 2022 in Qatar, where it was presented to the Minister of Municipality on how to benefit from our local community.”

All Images Courtesy the designer.

Pic Courtesy Katarina Trpcic