Soul Ash Solace (Cremation Coffin & Urn) : body
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How did this design improve life?:
Life is a trip from the current to the infinite. Soul Ash Solace is a time capsule for this trip. It radiates a peaceful image of the loved one on the final trip to the infinite. Soul Ash Solace consists out of two visible capsules: one for the current body state – the Cremation Coffin - and an integrated memory capsule – the Urn - that will keep the remains in a personal way.
There’s only one certainty in life: we will all die someday. In our society there’s a trend towards cremation. Cremation however demands for specific cremation solutions. That’s why MAXIMALdesign created a cremation coffin with integrated urn in order to appeal to the specific functional needs and emotional circumstances of a cremation funeral.
Most coffins are too expensive for cremation and aren’t made for burning. Our cremation coffin is fully executed in ecological materials (corrugated board, papier-mâché and wood), is budget-friendly and easy burnable. As a result, the cremation process itself goes faster having both a economical as well as a ecological benefit.
On top of the coffin the urn is positioned. It is executed in stainless steel and has the shape of a sandglass – Time heals all wounds. The urn withstands the cremation process during which it will be coloured through the heat, to give it a personal patina.
Life is a trip from the current to the infinite. Soul Ash Solace is a time capsule for this trip. It radiates a peaceful image of the loved one on the final trip to the infinite. Soul Ash Solace consists out of two visible capsules: one for the current body state – the Cremation Coffin - and an integrated memory capsule – the Urn - that will keep the remains in a personal way.
There’s only one certainty in life: we will all die someday. In our society there’s a trend towards cremation. Cremation however demands for specific cremation solutions. That’s why MAXIMALdesign created a cremation coffin with integrated urn in order to appeal to the specific functional needs and emotional circumstances of a cremation funeral.
Most coffins are too expensive for cremation and aren’t made for burning. Our cremation coffin is fully executed in ecological materials (corrugated board, papier-mâché and wood), is budget-friendly and easy burnable. As a result, the cremation process itself goes faster having both a economical as well as a ecological benefit.
On top of the coffin the urn is positioned. It is executed in stainless steel and has the shape of a sandglass – Time heals all wounds. The urn withstands the cremation process during which it will be coloured through the heat, to give it a personal patina.
Name of Designer(s):
Maxime Szyf (for MAXIMALdesign)
Maxime Szyf (for MAXIMALdesign)
Designers professional status:
Professional
Professional
Status of realization:
Not realized
Not realized
Kind of design:
Tangible
Tangible
Year of production, realization or publishing:
2004
2004
Designed in country:
Belgium
Belgium
Used on continents:
Entire World
Entire World
Short description of design:
Soul Ash Solace is a cremation coffin with integrated urn. It is designed for the specific needs of a cremation process keeping in mind the very emotional circumstances of saying goodbye... The urn executed in stainless steel has the shape of a sandglass, time heals all wounds.
Soul Ash Solace is a cremation coffin with integrated urn. It is designed for the specific needs of a cremation process keeping in mind the very emotional circumstances of saying goodbye... The urn executed in stainless steel has the shape of a sandglass, time heals all wounds.
Functionallity and use of design:
Soul Ash Solace is the combination of a cremation coffin and urn. The coffin is made of easy burnable, light-weight and ecological materials: corrugated board, papier-mâché and wood. The product is very functional, aesthetic, ecological and budget-friendly.
Soul Ash Solace is the combination of a cremation coffin and urn. The coffin is made of easy burnable, light-weight and ecological materials: corrugated board, papier-mâché and wood. The product is very functional, aesthetic, ecological and budget-friendly.
Drawbacks of life improvement:
In our view the cremation coffin and urn has nothing but advantages considering the product itself: it’s functional, aesthetic, ecological, cheap,...
A barrier to make it a successful product in the marketplace might be the distribution channel. The funeral furnisher market is a very conservative and traditional business. We have experienced a reserved attitude from funeral furnishers towards our design because of the materials we use (cardboard and papier-mâché) and the price-setting. Nobody ever used a combination of these materials in this industry, although it has been a very rational and functional decision with a lot of ecological and functional benefits. It’s an emotional issue, people don’t like (too much) change. It’s also a matter of image and prestige. Cardboard is used for packaging... and in a way they’re right, one might consider a coffin is a packaging.
The price-issue is a very basic issue. Because ‘Soul Ash Solace’ is a rather cheap cremation coffin, the funeral furnisher makes less profit than selling a traditional, expensive coffin. So a budget-friendly coffin is an advantage for the consumer, but in a way is a disadvanage for the reseller. Our point-of-view is clear: we only take into account the benefit for the consumer. If needed we have to look for an alternative distribution channel and create a pull-market.
‘Soul Ash Solace’ recently won the Henry van de Velde Public Award 2004 granted by Design Vlaanderen. It’s a prestigious design award where the public chooses the best product out of about 20 nominations done by a professional jury. This proves that people really like the product and appreciate the benefits and ‘look & feel’. If consumers like it and demand for it, distribution will follow.
In our view the cremation coffin and urn has nothing but advantages considering the product itself: it’s functional, aesthetic, ecological, cheap,...
A barrier to make it a successful product in the marketplace might be the distribution channel. The funeral furnisher market is a very conservative and traditional business. We have experienced a reserved attitude from funeral furnishers towards our design because of the materials we use (cardboard and papier-mâché) and the price-setting. Nobody ever used a combination of these materials in this industry, although it has been a very rational and functional decision with a lot of ecological and functional benefits. It’s an emotional issue, people don’t like (too much) change. It’s also a matter of image and prestige. Cardboard is used for packaging... and in a way they’re right, one might consider a coffin is a packaging.
The price-issue is a very basic issue. Because ‘Soul Ash Solace’ is a rather cheap cremation coffin, the funeral furnisher makes less profit than selling a traditional, expensive coffin. So a budget-friendly coffin is an advantage for the consumer, but in a way is a disadvanage for the reseller. Our point-of-view is clear: we only take into account the benefit for the consumer. If needed we have to look for an alternative distribution channel and create a pull-market.
‘Soul Ash Solace’ recently won the Henry van de Velde Public Award 2004 granted by Design Vlaanderen. It’s a prestigious design award where the public chooses the best product out of about 20 nominations done by a professional jury. This proves that people really like the product and appreciate the benefits and ‘look & feel’. If consumers like it and demand for it, distribution will follow.
Research and need:
MAXIMALdesign did research in several domains:
• a ‘competitive’ market analysis
• functional analysis and user requirements
• ergonomic analysis
• construction and material research
MAXIMALdesign did research in several domains:
• a ‘competitive’ market analysis
• functional analysis and user requirements
• ergonomic analysis
• construction and material research
