Revolutionizing Disposable Coffee Cups: The Flies Trap Lid

Li Zhu and Yanqing Hu's Innovative Design Tackles Global Health Issues

The inspiration for this design came from a staggering statistic from the World Health Organization: every year, more than one million people die from vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, carried by flies and other vectors. Zhu and Hu decided to tackle this issue head-on, creating a solution that is both widely distributable and cost-effective.

The Flies Trap Lid is a coffee cup cover with a unique feature: a trap for flies. After finishing their drink, users simply press a button on the lid before discarding it. The residual smell of coffee attracts flies, which enter the trap and are unable to escape. This simple yet ingenious design can help prevent the spread of diseases at a minimal cost.

The lid is made using PVC thermoforming processing and measures 9.5cm in diameter and 2.3cm in height. The design team, which also included Huilan Luo, Shuai Xu, and Shaohong Zhan, spent a month in Toulouse, France, developing the Flies Trap Lid. They conducted extensive research into the habits of flies and tested several prototypes to ensure the effectiveness of their design.

The biggest challenge the team faced was the design of the button that activates the trap. They had to consider numerous factors, including user finger size, processing possibilities, cost, transportation, and aesthetics. However, their hard work paid off: the Flies Trap Lid was awarded the Golden A' Disposable and Single-Use Product Design Award in 2017, a testament to their innovative approach and the potential impact of their design.

The Flies Trap Lid is a prime example of how design can be used to address global health issues. By giving disposable coffee cups a second life, Zhu and Hu have created a simple, low-cost solution that could significantly reduce the number of deaths from vector-borne diseases each year. Their design is a reminder of the power of innovation and the potential for everyday objects to make a difference.