Human overpopulation of the planet.

I’ve always admired simple engineering projects that can have a large impact on improving the quality of life for the developing world. This waterwheel concept is the kind of idea I’m thinking of. There are lots of these challenges from clean water to basic sanitation that could be addressed with low cost solutions and clever designs.

Anything that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, or other pollutants, or makes renewable power more sustainable and affordable (longer-lived batteries and solar panels, wind power systems that don’t endanger birds and bats, systems that generate power from other machinery that’s already being done for other purposes), ways to reduce the environmental impacts of hydroelectric power generation.

@Nehafaheem Not trying to be a jerk but a good industrial designer won’t have any problem thinking of something. It’s their job.

@Blackwater_Park hey! actually, I did think of a lot of problems but sadly they got rejected by my mentor so yeah I thought maybe looking at different perspectives might give me a direction.

@Nehafaheem This is your thesis, it needs to come from you.

Come up with a better alternative to fossil fuels.

I forgot to welcome you to the site by the way. Welcome to Fluther!

I thought of another idea that might be useful. I saw this video on YouTube where someone built a vertical system for composting with worms. Maybe there’s a way to explore ways for people to easily compost their organic waste with worms to make high quality soil for growing vegetables? I would want it to be convenient, not smell bad, low maintenance/self-sufficient. Perhaps there’s a way to design such a product?

How about solving people using charging stations as parking spots beyond 15 minutes of no charging? I would like to get an electric car but after seeing how long one has to wait to charge and on top of that how people hog the few charging stations there are, I feel that there must be a way to prevent that. I won’t get an electric car until there are way more stations and some deterrent to make people only use their time and go. I figure 15 minutes should be enough if they had to run into the store for a few items and the line was long.

How about an affordable system to reclaim usable methane from livestock waste?

@Strauss That’s being done in some places. There might still be a better way though. I found this article, but I saw a news item on TV years ago also about another place in the US. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/06/16/climate-solutions-manure/

Industrial designers are artist with an education. Except you need to be more
clever than engineers. Americans are still good at being clever so I understand
why you are asking this site. Industrial designers will design a better handle for a
teapot for example.

Figure out an efficient method of harnessing tidal energy.

Better packaging for Shampoo and Conditioner bottles so people know which is which if they can’t read the label. Different shaped bottles for each, it can be a small difference.

Also, packaging for sugar vs sugar-free sodas, and other items. Not only for the average consumer, but also people who are severely sight impaired, even using braille on items.

The population is aging, and we lose our reading sight as we age, and we don’t wear glasses in the shower. I have friends who put hair bands around shampoo bottles.

Many manufacturers use color coding, but a percentage of the population is color blind. Actually, shampoo they don’t use colors coding usually between shampoo and conditioner, but it is used for things like soda, milk (whole vs skim and 2%) etc.

Could also use braille for kosher, vegan, pareve, vegetarian.

Space elevators.