CLEVELAND, Sept. 16, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL) has announced
that its IQ Design team received a 2019 IDEA Gold award in the
Social Impact Design category from the Industrial Designers Society
of America (IDSA). The award recognizes PolyOne's work in designing
and developing the USee™ self-refraction device for Global Vision
2020, a nonprofit organization founded by the device inventor J.
Kevin White.
IDEA is one of the most prestigious and rigorous design
competitions in the world. This year's competition, judged by a
panel of over two dozen global design experts, included over 1,600
entries from 24 countries, with only 19 designated Gold winners
from among the 101 awards presented. As an IDEA-winning design, the
USee device will be part of the permanent collection at The Henry
Ford Museum of American Innovation (Dearborn, Mich.), an IDSA partner.
PolyOne's team of industrial designers and design engineers
combined their expertise in materials science, manufacturing, and
design to help overcome multiple performance and production
challenges in bringing the USee from concept to reality.
"As an inventor," White said, "handing over your initial idea to
a designer is like handing over your child and asking them to take
it to college graduation. This award is proof that the USee device
not only graduated, but was the valedictorian. I can't thank
PolyOne and its IQ Design team enough for donating their time,
passion, and expertise to help change the world with the gift of
clear sight."
Unlike vision care in the developed world, the USee enables
those with blurred vision to dial in their best optical acuity
while viewing an eye chart, thus determining their correct
prescription. Trained local 'refractionists' assist in the process.
It takes about 15 minutes to deliver prescription glasses for less
than $5 per pair.
"Our IQ Design team sought to enhance the device's simplicity in
both design and production to facilitate larger-scale vision care
that met low-cost targets," said Cathy
Dodd, vice president, Corporate Marketing at PolyOne.
"Tackling a worldwide challenge like this one aligns well with our
sustainability goals and commitment to our local and global
communities, and we are honored by the recognition that this award
from IDSA conveys."
For a video detailing this impactful project, click
here: A Pioneering Vision Correction Solution for
the Developing World
About IQ Design
IQ Design is an award-winning,
full-service design team within PolyOne that provides comprehensive
support to customers around the world – from research, concept, and
3D modeling, to simulations and final implementation. Our group of
experienced industrial designers and project engineers combine
design, polymer science and manufacturing expertise to
streamline customers' product development process and sharpen their
competitive edge. For additional information, click here.
About PolyOne
PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL), with
2018 revenues of $3.5 billion, is a
premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and
solutions. The company adds value to global customers and improves
sustainability through formulating materials, such as:
- Barrier technologies that preserve the shelf-life and quality
of food, beverages, medicine and other perishable goods through
high-performance materials that require less plastic
- Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional
materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel
efficiency in all modes of transportation
- Breakthrough technologies that minimize wastewater and improve
the recyclability of materials and packaging across a spectrum of
end uses
PolyOne employs approximately 6,900 associates, is certified ACC
Responsible Care® and Great Place to Work®, and is a founding
member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. For more
information, visit www.polyone.com.
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SOURCE PolyOne Corporation