The Dream Ball project is the perfect example of why design matters in ways that are helpful and serves a purpose other than being pretentious.

The folks at Unplug Design noticed that aid boxes were delivered everyday to third world countries. As a result they’ve designed a pattern that could be adapted to different shaped aid boxes so once the box is empty of supplies it could be reused and made into a soccer ball (or futbol). Kids coming from impoverish countries do not have much, and even a simple game of soccer can make a large difference in their life plagued by poverty, war and famine.

The kids typically make their own balls out of palm leaves, rope or plastic bags filled with dirt, so this innovated design can make use of the cardboard and give the kids something better to kick around with their bare feet than bags filled with dirt.

Source: uponafold