Humanitarian Design Bureau

What Humanitarian Design Bureau does

Humanitarian Design Bureau (HDB) is a Paris-based industrial design and engineering consultancy founded in March 2012 by Antoine Choumoff as a French SAS (SIRET 750380529 00016). The firm positions itself as the first specialized humanitarian design agency, acting as a third-party R&D entity that bridges industrial product standards with the operational, environmental, cultural, legal, and climatic constraints of humanitarian field deployment. HDB serves humanitarian NGOs, international organizations (ICRC, UNICEF, MSF, FAO), industrial suppliers to the humanitarian sector (notably Nutriset), and funding bodies, delivering project-based design, packaging optimization, product reuse systems, and consulting engagements.

Its core technology is the proprietary Triple Vie® / Triple Life® methodology, which evaluates humanitarian solutions across three dimensions: product lifecycle, the emergency-to-development transition, and financial impact on the aid chain. The product portfolio spans the Humanitarian Data Base (a multilingual online collaborative platform for humanitarian product data), the SOLLUNE phosphorescent canvas technology (developed with PIROI Center for nighttime shelter illumination without electricity, field-validated in Madagascar in 2020), and a Nutriset-centered reuse series that converts Plumpy'nut packaging into beds (Sommier), mattresses (Matelas), coolers (Glacière), furniture (Meubles), and construction blocks (Concept Parpaing). Other notable products include the Caisse Kitchen Set CICR reusable packaging system and the award-winning Flacon à deux bouchons dual-cap bottle.

HDB operates a pure professional services model with no public pricing, project-by-project custom quotations, and a go-to-market built on direct B2B engagement with humanitarian actors, complemented by active participation in industry events (DIHAD, Paris Design Summit, European Civil Protection Forum, Salon des Solidarités, INDEX Award exhibitions). The team is described as small and specialized, drawing on external consultants, designers, logisticians, and scientists. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or external institutional investment have been disclosed; the company remains founder-owned and independently financed.

Name

Humanitarian Design Bureau

Legal name

Humanitarian Design Bureau SAS

Website

https://humanitariandesignbureau.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paris-based industrial design consultancy founded in 2012, specializing in adapting industrial products for humanitarian sector use. Serves NGOs (ICRC, UNICEF, MSF), industrial suppliers (Nutriset), and funding bodies with R&D, product design, and packaging optimization via its proprietary Triple Vie methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Design and Consulting Services

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (54142), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain & Air/Sea/Land Relief Transport (BPAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPAGAAAL)

Keywords

• Humanitarian design services
• Industrial product design
• Humanitarian R&D consulting
• Humanitarian packaging design
• Product lifecycle consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Design and Engineering Services: Project management, product design, product improvement, research and development, and consulting services for humanitarian sector. Acting as master d'ouvrage and promoteur of solutions adapted to humanitarian needs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Humanitarian Design Bureau is an industrial design and engineering consulting firm that adapts standard industrial products to the specific needs and constraints of humanitarian organizations. It provides product design, product improvement, R&D, project management, and consulting services as a third-party R&D intermediary, bridging humanitarian sector requirements with industrial R&D departments. The firm also develops named products such as the SOLLUNE phosphorescent canvas and the Humanitarian Data Base platform.

Product overview

Humanitarian Design Bureau operates as a specialized industrial design and engineering consulting firm serving the humanitarian sector. The portfolio includes the Humanitarian Data Base (a multilingual online collaborative platform), the SOLLUNE phosphorescent canvas technology, and various product designs including the Nutriset packaging reuse series (Sommier Nutriset bed frames, Matelas Nutriset mattresses, Glacière Nutriset coolers, Meubles Nutriset furniture, and Concept Parpaing construction blocks), the dual-cap bottle (Flacon à deux bouchons), and the Caisse Kitchen Set CICR reusable packaging for ICRC. The company also provides R&D, product design, product optimization, project management, and consulting services. The 'Triple Life' methodology integrates product lifecycle, emergency-to-development phases, and financial impact considerations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOLLUNE: Phosphorescent canvas technology for humanitarian safety applications, developed in partnership with PIROI Center for emergency shelter lighting solutions
• Humanitarian Data Base
• Triple Vie
• Flacon à deux bouchons

Products and services

• Industrial Design and Engineering Consulting Services Project-based professional services for humanitarian NGOs, international organizations, and industrial suppliers, including product design, product improvement, R&D, project management, and consulting. Clients include ICRC, UNICEF, MSF, Nutriset, and other humanitarian actors.
• SOLLUNE Phosphorescent Canvas Phosphorescent canvas technology providing nighttime illumination for emergency shelter materials including temporary roofing, walls, and fences, developed for humanitarian safety applications in partnership with PIROI Center.
• Humanitarian Data Base First multilingual online participatory database platform serving humanitarian action, providing a collaborative platform for exchanging data on humanitarian products, their context, and environmental impacts. Accessible via computer, phone, tablet, or any connected device.
• Caisse Kitchen Set CICR Reusable packaging design for kitchen sets distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), integrating through distribution chains with reuse and end-of-life solutions.
• Sommier Nutriset Pre-cut and pre-folded cardboard bed frame designed for Plumpy'nut therapeutic food packaging transport, transforming into bed without tools or effort to protect children from lung infections.
• Matelas Nutriset Mattress design using Plumpy'nut plastic packaging materials for emergency situations, protecting children from lung infections when sleeping on the ground.
• Concept Parpaing Cardboard packaging designed to transform into assemblable construction blocks without tools, suitable for ages 7-77, for partitions or simple furniture.
• Glacière Nutriset Cooler design reusing Plumpy'nut packaging materials for emergency use, part of broader recycling program with minimal tools and infrastructure.
• Meubles Nutriset Furniture designs reusing Plumpy'nut cardboard packaging for emergency situations or broader recycling programs with minimal tools and infrastructure.
• Flacon à deux bouchons (Bottle with Two Caps) Dual-cap bottle design allowing complete product evacuation to eliminate 5-8% product waste in cleaning product bottles, making recycling simpler.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transforms standard industrial products into humanitarian-specific solutions while reducing costs for both humanitarian organizations and their suppliers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• PIROI CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership for Sollune phosphorescent canvas development. PIROI Center is the Indian Ocean regional platform for humanitarian response. HDB partnered as R&D provider for phosphorescent technology development.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2012Collaborated on Nutriset mattress and bedspring projects. UNICEF France participated in La Troisième Voie exhibition (2012) at Parc de la Villette. UNICEF is listed as a key partner organization in development projects.
• ICRC (CICR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2012Client for Caisse Kitchen Set CICR project (September 2012) - reusable packaging design for kitchen sets distributed by ICRC.
• NutrisetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor client and partner for multiple projects: Sommier Nutriset, Matelas Nutriset, Meubles Nutriset, Glacière Nutriset, and Concept Parpaing. All focused on reusing Plumpy'nut packaging materials.
• MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as key partner organization in humanitarian development projects.
• Croix-Rouge FrançaisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as key partner organization in humanitarian development projects, particularly for Nutriset mattress project.
• ACF (Action Contre la Faim)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Nutriset mattress project.
• URD (Groupe URD)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian research organization partner for Humanitarian Database project and La Troisième Voie exhibition.
• ENSCI-Les AtelierskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcole Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle. Partner for FOKUS exhibition (December 2013) and academic collaboration. Antoine Choumoff obtained Mastère Spécialisé from ENSCI.
• Allard EmballagessupportingTechnology or IntegrationPackaging supplier partner for Nutriset sommier and parpaing projects.
• L'européenne d'EmballagesTechnology or IntegrationPackaging supplier partner for Nutriset mattress and sommier projects.
• EmballisosupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Glacière Nutriset project.
• CVPsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Flacon à deux bouchons project.
• DWB (Doctors Without Borders)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as key partner organization in humanitarian development projects.
• FAOkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as key partner organization.
• EmmaüssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization.
• Génération HérossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization.
• Croix-Rouge de MadagascarsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sollune field testing in Ampahana, Antalaha, Madagascar.
• Croix-Rouge du LuxembourgsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sollune field testing in Madagascar.
• EDF PulsekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSollune project featured on EDF Pulse platform for innovative humanitarian solutions.
• IGSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Humanitarian Database project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: Global industrial design and innovation consultancy with an established Human Centered Design practice serving international development organizations; larger incumbent operating in the same industrial design services space as HDB.
• Phillips Design (Phillips): Industrial design and innovation studio with humanitarian and social impact engagements; broader incumbent offering industrial design services similar to HDB.
• frog (frog design): Global design and innovation firm working across consumer and social impact products; broader incumbent that occasionally engages humanitarian and social-sector projects comparable to HDB's portfolio.
• Smart Design: Industrial design consultancy with a Social Impact practice serving humanitarian and mission-driven clients; comparable as a B2B industrial design firm working with humanitarian-sector buyers.

Direct peers

• Proximity Designs: Mission-driven design organization creating products and services for rural customers in emerging markets; directly comparable as a humanitarian/development-focused industrial design entity with field-tested product portfolio.
• Elemental (Alejandro Aravena): Architecture and design practice recognized for incremental housing and humanitarian-related built environment work; comparable to HDB in applying professional design services to humanitarian and base-of-pyramid beneficiaries.
• Design that Matters: Nonprofit product design firm that develops solutions for humanitarian and developing-world contexts, sharing HDB's exact positioning of applying industrial design rigor to humanitarian field constraints.

Regional players

• URD (Groupe URD): Humanitarian research and evaluation organization that partnered with HDB on the Humanitarian Data Base; comparable as a France-based, mission-driven organization providing specialized professional services to the humanitarian sector.
• PIROI ( Croix-Rouge / French Red Cross Indian Ocean Risk Platform): Regional humanitarian innovation platform and HDB's partner on the SOLLUNE phosphorescent canvas field trials; operates an R&D and innovation function for humanitarian products that overlaps with HDB's role as external R&D partner.

Emerging players

• Architects Without Borders: Network of architecture and design professionals applying design to humanitarian shelter and reconstruction; comparable to HDB in mission-driven design services for humanitarian beneficiaries, though more architecture-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DesignHuma
• Facebookfacebook.com/Humanitariandesignbureau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2409784

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Humanitarian Design Bureau