ICFF: Hero Elevates Mundane Objects

Of all the companies that exhibited at this year’s ICFF, we felt Toronto-based Hero represented a really compelling vision of where design is headed in the future. Their mission to create products that are accessible, functional, beautiful, affordable, and sustainable is printed on the the cover of their brochure. We’ve heard a lot of other people in design throw these words around lately. But we feel none have translated them into products that score as highly on each point as what Hero brought to the show.

The DR-1 Drying Rack can be used indoors or outside to dry your clothes as an energy saving alternative to using a heated dryer. The rack has a series of swivel out arms to hang clothes on. There is also a flip up shelf for small items or delicates. The cutout pattern serves as a design motif and functions to let air dry the clothes faster. When not drying laundry, the rack can serve as a room divider screen. It ships flatpacked and only takes a few minutes to assemble.

The RC-1 Rain Collector is designed to accent a garden unlike many of the plastic barrels sold that look well, ugly. The unit holds 45 gallons for watering plants, washing a car, or giving a dog a bath. Water passes through a filter screen on top into a collapsible bladder inside. Accessing the stored water is as easy as turning on the spout near the base. The space underneath holds a hanging watering can. Both the Drying Rack and Rain Collector are made of aluminum, have a rust-proof finish, and can be recycled. They are manufactured in Canada.

Beyond all the functional considerations of both of these products, they are elegantly designed. Nothing is overdone and yet they have a lot of character. They look happy to be what they are. Hero have also paid the same attention to their product collateral. The simple brochure held with a paper band is nicely designed and written in friendly language.