Upon hearing stories from homeless individuals about the challenges of sleeping on the ice-cold floors of subway stations during winter, I aimed to use design to help solve this problem. The main goals of my design were to ensure warmth by creating extra layers between the body and the floor, block wind from all sides, use materials that could be replaced for hygiene purposes, and make the system portable. Not only did I want to mitigate the immediate challenges of being homeless, but I also wanted to help address the issue at a broader level by improving societal perception. To accomplish this, I directly spoke with homeless individuals, listened to their feedback, and created multiple study models and prototypes based on their input.

Eventually, I used Rhino3D to design a joint system customized to fit and connect the cardboard boxes that homeless people already had access to. Corner-type joints stabilized the boxes, while side-type joints connected the roof panels. This joint system allowed the solution to remain small and portable, making it easy for individuals to carry and use whenever needed. The bag of joints transformed any size of cardboard box into a neat, makeshift shelter. By relying on cardboard boxes that could be replaced easily and sustainably, the final design minimized the footprint of these temporary homes, while also preserving dignity and organization in shared public spaces.