September 2026 | Bulletin num.191 |
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A Spanish company wins a European design award from the European Intellectual Property Office Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, was the venue chosen to host the awards ceremony for one of the most prestigious international industrial design awards, the Design Europa Awards. The 10th anniversary of these awards, presented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), introduced a new feature: the People’s Choice Award, which was decided by a public vote among nominees in all categories. The Spanish company Showee emerged as the public’s favorite and took home the winner’s trophy. Its project consists of a smart shower system that transforms personal hygiene for the most vulnerable into a safe, private, and independent experience. Designed for people with disabilities and the elderly, Showee automates all stages of showering—wetting, soaping, rinsing, and drying—in a single integrated “all-in-one” device. Since the shower adapts to the user’s condition, this innovative system provides independence and safety to its users: they can take care of their personal hygiene on their own while safeguarding their privacy. Èric Güell, Alejandro Castro, and Eloi Mirambell are the entrepreneurs behind the project, which has already proven its effectiveness in residential and healthcare settings. The idea came about after Èric’s grandmother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Then shower time at home became a stressful and physically demanding experience. Her grandson began to reflect on how technology had managed to improve so many aspects of daily life, while showering had remained virtually unchanged. That’s when he met with the rest of the team, and together they developed a prototype. Its design combines technical rigor with a user-centered approach, effectively addressing the hygiene needs of people with limited mobility or autonomy. That’s how Showee came to be—an accessible shower capable of automatically wetting, soaping, and drying the user, restoring comfort and independence to those for whom hygiene routines pose a challenge. “We have to make our designs more accessible. We have to design for millions of people, of course, but we also have to design with a few in mind,” Mirambell said as he accepted the award. More information
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