Group Studio Project - 2024

ColdForm is a wearable cooling system designed to protect roofers - who are seven times more likely to experience heat stroke than other construction workers - from extreme heat on the job. By leveraging existing on-site tools and materials, it introduces a seamless safety innovation into the roofer’s workflow.

The project began with a deep investigation into the roofing industry’s power dynamics, incentives, and working conditions. Roofers, often independent contractors paid by the job, face pressure to work quickly in harsh conditions with limited institutional protection. ColdForm was designed to serve this overlooked workforce by creating a solution that prioritizes both practicality and comfort.

ColdForm integrates three existing technologies into a novel system:

1. Compressed Air — already available on every job site.

2. Vortex Tube — splits compressed air into hot and cold streams with no moving parts.

3. Phase Change Material (PCM) — stores thermal energy to maintain a stable, cool temperature.

Together, these elements provide up to 1.5 hours of consistent core-body cooling and can be recharged in just five minutes using the roofer’s own air line - requiring no additional equipment or downtime.

This project reimagines worker safety through empathy-driven design, bridging industrial practicality with human well-being. It envisions a future where comfort and safety blend naturally into the work environment, giving essential workers the protection and respect they deserve.