As in every design endeavour, it all started with a problem. In fact, two of them. The first encountered problem was the plastic waste, that designer João Leão encountered every day on the beaches of Porto. The second problem consisted on the hectic commutes of endless hour’s that he lives in the streets of Porto. The solution? Create a fast-personal transportation that uses recycled thermoplastics as the main manufacturing material. Weighing 8 kg, with its smaller 75 cm long size, it becomes easier to transport, with a top speed of 35 km/h, a range of 36 km and charging time of 2 hours.

PET MINI seeks to end stressful commutes in overcrowded cities while simultaneously giving you the perfect last mile recycled green vehicle. Promoting soft means of mobility in the city while simultaneously tackling waste problems in the city are fundamental for the future of design and of city life. The PET MINI skateboard seeks out to unveil to users that recycled plastics can have exceptional properties with a special emphasis on patterns and forms.

PET MINI (personal electric transport) was developed based on the growing importance of creating participatory approaches to design. With the increasing access to digital fabrication tools through Fab Labs, and information through the internet, the Maker and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) movements are booming. We must rethink how we design and manufacture the products of the future through distributed approaches and bringing the user and industry closer to the design process. This opens the possibility to use Open Design as a development tool and Digital Fabrication (Fab Labs) as a manufacturing process, opposed to the normal industrial process. This project was developed in collaboration with a local Fab Lab, VIVA Lab, The University of Porto through the Masters in Product & Industrial Design and Precious Plastic.

Co-Founder & Fab Lab Manager at VIVA Lab. Industrial designer by the University of Porto. Social innovator and co-founder of Precious Plastic Portugal.