Perfect Flush was a one-week introductory project at KISD, designed to help new students explore the city and develop their first collaborative design project. Working in a group led by Prof. Tumminelli, we explored Cologne through a circular hike, starting from different directions around the city and meeting at Brüsseler Platz.
Our initial task was to observe and document design-related elements along the way. During the process, however, we decided to approach the city from a more unexpected perspective: public toilets. Under the name Perfect Flush, we created an interactive Instagram project documenting and rating the toilets we encountered during our hikes.
Each group followed a shared format, producing short video vlogs before and after visiting a toilet, as well as Instagram posts documenting the locations. We developed a five-star rating system covering cleanliness, accessibility, privacy and safety, gender, and cost. QR-code stickers placed inside the toilets connected the physical locations back to our Instagram page, turning the city itself into part of the project.
After completing the hikes, we reflected on our experiences and identified the poor availability and visibility of public toilets in Cologne as a larger issue. We therefore extended Perfect Flush beyond the initial documentation project and developed a concept for a public toilet app. The prototype helps users find nearby toilets, provides information about their condition, and includes features such as a “Hurry Up” function for quickly finding the closest facility.
The project was an introduction to collaborative design, visual communication, social media as a design medium, and concept development, while using a playful approach to explore an everyday urban issue.
