Faculty of Design

Industrial Design

Esteban Poblano-Zenil

(THESIS PROJECT) Water on the Route: A Water Filter With Life-saving Purposes

How might we provide migrants with safe, accessible resources to filter water during their journey through remote and neglected areas, while also raising awareness about water safety and their rights to access it?

“Project Value Proposition / Description: Each year, thousands of migrants risk their lives crossing the Darién Gap, a dense, lawless jungle between Colombia and Panama in search of safety and opportunity. One of the deadliest threats they face is dehydration and illness from drinking contaminated water. This project offers a dual-purpose solution: a biodegradable brochure that serves as both an educational guide and a water filter. Embedded with copper nanoparticles, the paper eliminates 99% of bacteria from any source. Distributed through UNICEF-led workshops, it equips migrants with the tools and knowledge to stay safe and hydrated, turning information into survival.Insight, Idea, Impact:Migrants crossing the Darién Gap face extreme risks, with dehydration and waterborne disease among the most common causes of illness and death. While water filters exist, they are often too bulky, expensive, or unsuited for the rugged, fast-paced conditions migrants face. The insight was that a survival tool must be simple, lightweight, and easy to distribute. The idea: combine critical information and water purification into a single, accessible format, a brochure made from filtration paper embedded with copper nanoparticles. Unlike conventional filters, this one is locally produced, cost-effective, and easy to carry.By pairing the tool within short UNICEF-led workshops, it is ensured not just access but understanding. Migrants gain practical skills and health knowledge, which in turn helps create informal networks of support and shared learning along the route. This solution stands out by addressing both the physical and informational needs of migrants, empowering them to make safer choices and reducing preventable suffering.”