HandiShred: A Compact Solution to Privacy Concerns

Yen Lau's Innovative Design Wins Platinum A' Design Award

HandiShred was born out of a simple necessity in daily life. Yen Lau, while working from home, found himself concerned about the safety of his discarded documents. Tearing up credit card statements, bank bills, and other sensitive documents, he wondered, "Is it safe enough? What would happen if somebody got hold of my documents?" This led to the conception of a compact, easy-to-use paper shredder that could sit unobtrusively on a desk or be stored in a drawer.

The unique properties of HandiShred lie in its new operational concepts, neat design, and compact size. Unlike traditional, bulky electrical shredders, HandiShred is small and aesthetically pleasing. The blades and shafts are made of stainless steel, while the body is made of ABS plastic. The product dimensions are 43mm x 43mm x 150mm, making it a perfect fit for any workspace.

HandiShred is a manual shredder that doesn't require any electrical power. To use it, one simply folds a document to fit into the slot, feeds the folded document into the entry following the "PAPER IN" direction on HandiShred, and twists both ends in opposite directions to shred it. This simple yet effective design ensures that private, confidential, and personal information is kept secure at all times.

Creating HandiShred was not without its challenges. The most significant hurdle was designing the cutting disk. It had to be made from the right material that was both inexpensive and durable. The alignment of the cutting disk also posed a challenge. However, through a process of research, testing, and modification, Yen Lau and his team at Inform Designs were able to overcome these obstacles.

The HandiShred project began in April 2009 and concluded in October 2010. It was exhibited at the MEGA SHOW in Hong Kong in the same month. The design was awarded the Platinum A' Home Appliances Design Award in 2011, recognizing it as a world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative design that contributes to societal wellbeing. The award is given to designs that advance the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology, exhibiting transcendent excellence and making the world a better place.

In conclusion, HandiShred is a testament to the power of design in addressing everyday problems. Its innovative design, compact size, and user-friendly operation make it an essential tool for maintaining privacy in today's information-driven world. Yen Lau's HandiShred is a shining example of how design can contribute to societal wellbeing, as recognized by its Platinum A' Design Award.