Oftentimes the most meaningful and useful designs are not wholly new solutions, but born from revisiting the mundane tools we depend upon every day, simply seen with fresh eyes. Industrial designer Pelin Özbalcı’s one&done toothbrush is one such concept, a toothbrush reimagined for travelers seeking to pack lightly and efficiently, combining the identifiable form of dental hygiene with a functional addition normally associated with tooth decay.
The one&done’s frosted transparent plastic storage allows users to keep track of whether it’s time to reload the 20 toothpaste tablets capacity. Fully loaded, it’s sufficient for ten days of travel with a morning and evening brushing schedule.
With the one&done, the Istanbul-based industrial designer mashes up what could be two diametrically opposed objects: the toothbrush and a candy dispenser. Designed into a singular object using toothpaste tablets in lieu of standard tubed paste, the one&done offers a convenient space saving form ideal for travel, eliminating the chances of making a mess, while also standardizing the proper amount of dental product to an exact amount each time, something not always true while squeezing a tube.
To make brushing a little more fun, the design is realized in three vibrant colors – coral, blueberry, and lagoon.
“I designed one&done as a toothbrush with a twist,” explains Özbalcı about the PEZ dispenser inspired design. “The toothbrush securely holds up to 20 toothpaste tablets within its compact design, and also features a replaceable brush parts for a more eco-friendly approach to oral care.”
Travel toothbrushes have a habit of creating a mess. Özbalcı’s solution is a magnetic toothbrush cap to keep brushes away from germs (and vice versa).
The designer’s sustainable hygiene dispenser was recognized with a ProCarton Young Designers Award.
Özbalcı’s vision for one&done extends to its packaging, each component embossed in profile across the box.
The Junior industrial designer currently works at Silicon Valley mobility start-up ACTON Global, responsible for visualization, UI/UX, and industrial design, while also founding her own industrial design studio, Nest Studio. More of Özbalcı’s most recent work is available on her Instagram.
