OptInk
A person can get a free tattoo that serves as a symbol of their commitment to organ donation.
Although 84% of people in Germany favor organ donation, only 0.001% of people in the country donate organs. At the Die Tattoo Convention in March 2023, the nonprofit Junge Helden, which promotes organ donation awareness, presented OptInk as a solution to this problem. The idea is straightforward: an individual can express their wish to give their organs and tissues after death by getting a unique tattoo that does not cost anything. Express consent for organ donation is currently required by law in Germany. This can be a donor card, an advance healthcare directive, or a written statement while the individual is still alive. In the absence of prior explicit agreement, the donor's relatives must make the choice, which results in fewer organ donations than is required. OptInk solves this problem by providing a visual symbol indicating one's intention to donate. Because participating tattoo shops apply OptInk at no cost to customers, the symbol had to be designed to be inked quickly and easily by the shops. In addition to forming the letters 'O' and 'D' for 'organ donor,' the geometric design, consisting of two connected semicircles and a full circle, conveys that organ donation is essential to the continuation of life.