L.I.N.K Skin Eyewear

red dot
red dot award: design concept 2007

design: Eye-Biz Pte Ltd
In-house design:
Yang Wah Kiang	Zhang An Dong

L.I.N.K. Skin Eyewear encompasses the unique combination of reused plastic and metal components to create surprisingly thin eyewear from recycled material.

Common plastic sheets (from old discarded plastic files) of 0.5mm to 0.6mm thickness are used for the L.I.N.K. Skin Eyewear frame. A separate metal bar forms the supporting structure of the frame-front with hooks/clips to lock and secure the plastic frame. There is an extension at the centre of the bar to create the nose-pad holder. The lenses are rimlon cut to fit onto the plastic frame.

A buckle joint locking system is applied to secure the temple to both sides of the metal bar. The tip of the bar is shaped like a ‘fork’, which is secured to the temple by sliding it through the groove of the temple and firmly securing the frame front to the temple. This application makes the holding of the lens much more secure than the conventional method. No soldering or screws are required, and no tools are needed to dismantle or disassemble the spectacles. The frames are extremely light weight compared to the average frame, weighing less than 10 grams.

The frame-front is made with translucent polypropylene, a thermoplastic polymer that is noted for its light weight, durability and resistance to chemicals, water and impact. The metal bar is stainless steel or beta-titanium. The temple uses injection-molded TR90 plastic, and silicone is used for the nose pads.