Product Design

Cathal O’Malley

I’m a 22-year-old final year Product Design student with a passion for creating practical, human-centered solutions to real-world problems. My journey into product design began with a deep interest in how everyday objects can shape lives, especially in communities facing social, environmental, or infrastructural challenges. I’m drawn to the process of turning insights into tangible outcomes, combining creativity with technical problem-solving. 

/ Linkedin

HydroWheel

The HydroWheel is a water transport and treatment device designed to support refugees living in camps with limited water infrastructure and inequitable distribution. Addressing the urgent need for accessible and safe drinking water, the HydroWheel enables users to collect, transport, and filter up to 60 litres with minimal effort. 

The system features a durable rolling drum fitted with a passive gravity-fed filter and a metal handlebar frame. The frame serves both as a mobility aid, allowing users to roll the drum across challenging terrain and as a lever to lift the container into a vertical position for filtration. Once the filter is attached to the drum, and the frame is lifted into its standing position, the filter activates, providing clean water without additional energy input. 

Designed with portability, ease of use, and user capability in mind, the HydroWheel empowers individuals, especially women and children,to manage water collection more independently.