Emily Pilloton inspires women to leave their comfort zones to help others.

Emily Pilloton founded Project H Design in January 2008 when she was only 26 years old. She has a background in architecture and product design and like many other young designers, started to realize most products produced at work are superfluous. She quit her comfortable job and is determined to pursue things that really mattered. She is also the author of Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People and is currently on a nation-wide roadshow with her air stream, boyfriend, dog, and one milk barrel of clothes.

ZENPLIFICATION:
Can you describe your idea of peace of mind?

EMILY:
I am the wrong person to ask because I am incredibly busy but for me peace of mind is having an inbox with no unread messages. I spend a lot of time multi-tasking, so peace of mind is knowing that of the seven hundred things that I have to do, that they are all accounted for, either they’re done or they’re on their way to being done.

ZENPLIFICATION:
Can you please describe a moment of metamorphosis for you?

EMILY:
Probably the most important moment of metamorphosis for me is that when I’ve decided that I’ve have enough with working at a traditional design capacity. I had been working as an architect and a designer for some firms that I ended up not really believing in the work. And left my job as a designer to pursue things that I really felt like they were things that mattered. Things that had real relevance in the world for people that needed great solutions.

ZENPLIFICATION:
How do you think product design can make this world a place a better place for women and girls?

EMILY:
I think design has the great ability to transform anyone’s life. Specific to women and girls, my favorite example is something like the Hippo-roller, which is a water transport barrel. Traditionally it was women and children that transport water in the developing world. So something like the Hippo-roller allows them to do this task more efficiently and give them time to go to school or start businesses. I think this is when design can become really transformative when it makes the things that you have to do everyday that much easier so that you have more time to do things that are more important.

ZENPLIFICATION:
Can you talk a little bit about shopping?

EMILY:
I actually really hate shopping. I wish I am better at it so I would be more presentable. But going on this Design Revolution Road Show, I was forced to pair down to two milk crates full of clothes. So I did a little bit of shopping and searched for things that I knew I could wear everyday. This t-shirt and this sweater will be my uniform for the duration of the road show. So as far as shopping goes, I hate doing it, but when I do, I look for thing that I know I will wear until they’re thread-beared.

Learn more about Project H Design.