While i believe all design should improve life, INDEX: awards those who truly do. While all of the projects nominated are inspiring and innovative [and i love that they overlook the age of the project], the one to the right especially caught my eye. The Hippo Roller was designed to assist those impoverished towns and people who must walk long distances to a water source and carry it back (often in buckets on their heads). The Hippo Roller is a low cost plastic drum that can be rolled back and forth carrying far more water in one trip.

Every now and then, and example of innovative intelligent design like this reminds me of how much potential there is for designers to really make a difference.