My toolkit is a Post-Disaster Survival Kit, with the targeted audience being the citizens of Puerto Rico. The idea was inspired by the outrageous government aid that the island received from the current administration post-Hurricane Maria. It made me believe that even in times of desperate need, people still need to fend for themselves, and the external resources make it possible to survive without aid. The missing links are helpful survival tools, which is what I kept in mind when designing the toolkit.
PR Citizens already don’t have a lot of money to work with, so each tool values function over aesthetic. The tools are designed with the consideration that their user is constantly on the move, so they are each light and portable.
The box itself is made of MDF, and has more than enough space for the three tools, potentially found resources in the wilderness, and small personal valuables.
The first tool is a double sided utensil, with the larger side being a sharp knife (for safety purposes, the prototype is not sharp at all). Having a knife in the toolkit is conclusive evidence that hunting to survive is mandatory. Be it plants or animals, the individual should be prepared for it. The shorter, rounder side is a bottle opener. Aside from beer, Puerto Ricans also like to drink Malta India, which is a non-alcoholic beverage that is both nutritional and energizing, despite its incredibly bitter taste. In the case of a survival, one living in Puerto Rico post-disaster would be wise to seek out both water and Malta.
The second tool is a towel-necklace. While it can commonly be used as a bib for eating, the towel-necklace serves the primary purpose of relieving oneself of their sweat. It takes little knowledge to know that Puerto Rico is a very hot environment, and if one is not careful, they could pass out in the midst of this weather. Passing out would be even more unfortunate in times of survival. Lastly, having it out in the open around your neck makes it easier to dry instead of stuffing it into a pocket like a handkerchief, as well as wiping the forehead since it is worn so close to it.
The third and final tool is a glove with a pouch for on-the-spot items. This pouch can carry whatever the user feels is necessary for survival, but the default pouch is filled with matches. after hunting plants and/or animals in the forest, the user will hypothetically have to start a campfire somewhere to both cook the food, and sleep the night. The latter is only in the case that the user does not have access to a vehicle, which is often common in Puerto Rico (either they don’t have a vehicle or they do not have enough gas to start one). While it is not recommended at all to be on the phone during post-natural disaster, the glove has left the thumb and index finger exposed to accommodate touch screens.
