Nevale: Metin Kaplan Wins First Prize in Electrolux Design Lab Competition

Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century.

Could newly designed household appliances contribute to a healthier life style in the future?

This was the challenge Electrolux put to young design students in the fourth edition of the Electrolux Design Lab.

Metin Kaplan, a young student from Turkey, designed what the jury thought was the most innovative product - a product to take healthy meals on the go.

The winner of Electrolux Design Lab 2006 was announced today at the Design Lab final competition in Barcelona, Spain.

Metin Kaplan capitalized on the idea that people would take healthy meals with them if they could find a way to keep warm food warm and cold food cold.

He created a mobile food carrier that keeps food at the desired temperature until it's time to be eaten.

This, figured Kaplan, would promote healthy eating and reduce the need for fast-food restaurants.

Kaplan's concept, which he termed Nevale, is based on the shape of an antique food container named "sefertasi," a type of layered food container that's been used in Middle Eastern countries for centuries to carry homemade food.

Kaplan's product is also built in layers, with a hood featuring a digital control screen, and holds up to four different hot and/or cold meals.