---
title: "Custhome"
description: "Custhome (Deep Blue Foundation, 2025/26): A Velcro-inspired patch lets crews rearrange the ship's recreational room themselves"
url: "https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/custhome-2025-26/"
lang: "en"
---

# Custhome

**A Velcro-inspired patch lets crews rearrange the ship's recreational room themselves**

_On board like at home_

- **Corporate partner:** [Deep Blue Foundation](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/partners/deep-blue-foundation/) (https://deepbluefoundation.org/)
- **Cohort:** [2025/26](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/cohort/2025-26/)
- **Theme:** [Work & organisations](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/themes/work-organisations/)
- **Type:** Physical product
- **Projected:** > 5 % Projected officer shortage in the sector by 2026
- **Universities:** [d.school Paris · École des Ponts](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/dschool-paris/)
- **Team:** 3 master students
- **Disciplines:** Computer Science, Social Sciences, Product Engineering

## Challenge

The maritime sector expects a global officer shortage above 5% by 2026. Fatigue, an industrial work environment and family isolation lead many officers to leave the profession around age 30 to 35.

## What they built

A guidance platform plus the CustHome Patch, a Velcro-inspired fastening system for furniture. Seafarers use it to reorganise the recreational room, the main social hub on board, to suit rest, social time and other activities.

## Impact

For seafarers, a warmer mess that helps them disconnect and recover. For the Deep Blue Foundation, visibility among shipowners and support for its advisory work in the maritime sector.

## Full project text

Fastening system to modularize the crew's recreational room onboard merchant ships.

### Challenge

Faced with growing demand from shipowners, the maritime sector projects a global shortage of officers exceeding 5% by 2026. Despite dynamic training programs, early disillusionment drives many officers to leave the profession around age 30 to 35, due to intense fatigue, an industrial work environment, and family isolation. However, maintaining workforce numbers is strategic for the sector's competitiveness and French national sovereignty. The project aims to challenge daily life onboard to offset the constraints of the profession.

### Solution

To improve rest periods, CustHome transforms the recreational room experience—the main social hub—into a modular, warm, and customizable space. Thanks to a guidance platform and an innovative Velcro-inspired furniture fastening system, the CustHome Patch, seafarers can easily reorganize their space according to their needs and activities, helping them relax, connect, and feel at home onboard.

### Impact

This solution improves comfort and daily life in the crew's mess. For seafarers, this lever allows them to better disconnect and enhances their recovery capacity. For the Deep Blue Foundation, this solution provides visibility among shipowners and supports their commitment to providing advice and support for the maritime sector.

## Who built it.

- Anaïs Achard, Human and Social Sciences (d.school Paris · École des Ponts)
- Barnabé Blanchard, Product Engineer (d.school Paris · École des Ponts)
- Alexandre Schwalberg, Computer Science Engineer (d.school Paris · École des Ponts)

## Video

- Team Deep Blue - Custhome by d.school Paris (and San Francisco State University) - EXPO Teasers 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgYh8A5Hy2A

## Sources

Summarised by the SUGAR editorial team from the team’s project page.

Figures marked “Projected” are the team’s own estimates, not measured results.

Open the 2025/26 booklet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YuEdSu72p4SvYlsdPbHL04C_lRETW8r1/view?usp=sharing