# Spotted Dirty Indicators The Expression Dot Towel Lets You Know When to Launder By Meghan Young | Published 2010-05-24 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/expression-dot-towel References: [yankodesign](http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/05/24/does-spotted-towel-mean-measles/) & [sanghoon-design](http://sanghoon-design.com/ver2/) It's probably safe to say that most of us don't know when to [throw the towel in--in the laundry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smartwash-technology), that is--but with the Expression Dot Towel, we will never have to second-guess the [cleanliness of our towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plush-ritual) again. Featuring dots that gradually appear as your towel becomes dirtier, this design is an easy-to-read indicator. Conceived by Sang-Hoon Lee, the Expression Dot Towel is especially helpful for those who use [darker towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cotton-towels), which mask dirt easier. Although I'm with Yanko Design in that I'm not sure of the mechanics of this concept, it's definitely a hygienically interesting one. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 35% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Smart Textiles:** The Expression Dot Towel is an example of a smart textile that uses visual indicators to inform users when it is time to launder. - **Hygiene Monitoring:** Products like the Expression Dot Towel highlight the growing trend of incorporating hygiene monitoring features into everyday items. - **Consumer Convenience:** The Expression Dot Towel addresses the consumer need for a convenient and easy way to determine when a towel needs to be laundered. ### Where This Applies - **Home Textiles:** The home textiles industry has the opportunity to explore and incorporate smart features like the Expression Dot Towel to enhance consumer experience and convenience. - **Household Appliances:** Manufacturers of household appliances can consider integrating hygiene monitoring systems into towels and other household items to add value and convenience for consumers. - **Smart Home:** The smart home industry can explore the integration of smart textiles with visual indicators, like the Expression Dot Towel, to enhance home hygiene management for consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Antimicrobial Towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/titan-yarn.md) - [Perma-Black Towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-towel-collection.md) - [High-Performance Reversible Towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everlayer-1.md) - [Creative Laundry Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rewear-chair.md) - [Waffle-Knit Hair Towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-hair-towel.md) - [Quick-Absorbing Textural Bath Towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bath-towel-reloaded.md) - [Style-Conscious Cleaning Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everyday-cleaning-tools.md) - [Odor-Free Bath Towels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/k-25.md) - [Rotating Punctuation Mark Hangers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emotion-hanger.md)