Why Design Sustainably?

It can be argued that the main motivations of human life are to create, to produce and to consume. The idea of consumption has become an integral part of our daily lives, the idea of humans not consuming, in my view, is an overly optimistic one.  Instead, for a more sustainable future, we should steer our consumption tendencies to more sustainable alternatives, instead of most of the products that are on the market today. Sustainable progress can be achieved step by step through the exploration and experiment of design. Currently the appeal of most products on the market to consumers is their aesthetic value.  The role of sustainable designers is to divert the consumers desires away from aesthetic appeal and towards the appeals of ethical production and sustainable resources.

By redirecting consumer activity towards sustainable design, a considerable amount of progress will be made.

Reference : J. Chapman / N. Gant. Designers, Visionaries + Other Stories. 

Sophy Stoenner - 'Real Fake Fur'

TED's 10 - Design Activism

Sophy Stoenner creates fur trimmings from the fur that has naturally fallen out of animals. After discovering the fur market trade is increasing, she set out to create ethically created fur trimmings, to counter act to brutality behind the current market. 

Stoenner collected animal fur that had naturally fallen from the animal. By combing and cutting, no animal was harmed in creating her trimmings. The trimmings still have the sophistication and luxury of antique furs, yet without the cruelity. 

Sophy Stoenner. 2013. Real Fake Fur. [ONLINE] Available at: http://sophystoenner.com/real-fake-fur/. [Accessed 02 November 13].

Dahea Sun - 'Rain Palette'

'Rain Palette' is a collection of garments created from naturally dyed pH sensitive material. The garments are designed to change colour according to the pH levels of rainwater. The wearers of the clothing are invited to record and upload the pH levels of the rain from their location online.

By recording the pH levels of rain, the wearer is essentially recording the quality of air around us. These garments provide individuals with an easy and visually appealing way of seeing the quality of air around them. The consumer of the product gets to interact and participate with the recording of the rain, hopefully sparking a interest in the quality of the environment around them, and how they can change it.

'Because they encourage active participation,' says Sun, 'the garments become an invaluable tool for driving public consciousness about environmental issues.'

The garments are naturally dyed using food substances such as red cabbages and blackberries. Sun initially prepared these plants and samples of rain water from across London in a dye bath to create samples of the various types of rain and air qualities.

A smartphone app has been developed alongside the garments, allowing individuals to upload their personal pH recordings and see others, creating a pH mapping system on a global scale. 

Ecouterre. 2013. Wearable Technology. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ecouterre.com/dahea-suns-cabbage-dyed-dresses-change-color-to-indicate-rains-ph/. [Accessed 01 November 13].

Jeongwon Ji - 'BioElectric'

BioElectric is a project that explores the process of making Bio-plastics from the unwanted and abundant material of crab shells. The production of the plastic is chemical free and much healthier for workers to manufacture. Here are some examples of castings to cover electronic products made from the crab shell bio-plastic. 

Jeongwon Ji has named this new material Crustic. The molds for electronic covers are all rigid, however the material when set curves to create an organic line and shape. The forms she has created look natural, not something we are used to when it comes to electronic components. As well as being sustainably sourced and produced, Jeongwon Ji invites us to question the materials we use on an daily basis.

Jeongwon Ji. 2013. BioElectric . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.jeongwonji.com/bioelectric.html. [Accessed 31 October 13]

Earth Dying - 'Hyun Jin Jeong'

TED's 10 - Design to Reduce Energy & Water Use

70% of industrial waste from processes such as dyeing in the clothing and textile industry are dumped in rivers and lakes untreated. Natural dying is a great solution to this excess water and chemical waste. 

Hyun Jin Jeong explored South Korea and the UK rediscovering the potential of earth and its dying qualities. The technique of dying with earth has been used for centuries. The colour palate from earth is surprisingly wide ranging, the tones changing subtly according to where the earth has been collected. The colours sourced where separated into 7 different colour groups. The soil based paint is the painted directly onto fabric. 

“I tried to develop a new dye method in response to these issues and [communicate] the value of soil as a resource.”

Through rediscovering natural materials and applying them to everyday use, Hyun Jin Jeong has a pathway for a sustainable dyeing future. 

Ecouterre. 2013. Soil as Fabric Dye? Earth Dyeing Hits Pay Dirt. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.ecouterre.com/soil-as-fabric-dye-earth-dyeing-hits-pay-dirt/. [Accessed 29 October 13].

Kay Politowicz - 'Short-Life'

TED's 10 - Design to Minimise Waste

The first rule of TED is to design to minimise waste. 10,000 items go into landfill every 5 minutes in the UK alone. Designers should be responsible for the whole life cycle of their products, from initial design states to disposal. 

Kay Politowicz has created the idea of 'Short-Life' clothing. Essentially, they are articles of clothing that degrade after one wear. The clothing has no need to be laundered, which saves huge amounts of energy. The fibres used are stronger than paper, so it is more durable to wear. The idea of these 'paper' garments correspond harmoniously with the 'throw away' of todays fashion culture. 

TFRC Research. 2013. Short Life. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.tfrc.org.uk/research/short-life/. [Accessed 23 October 13].

Studio Swine - 'Hair Glasses'

TED's 10 - Design for Recycling / Upcycling

Here is an example of how sustainable resources can be used to create unique and beautiful products. Studio Swine is an a collaboration that focuses not only on the aesthetic beauty of their products, but also the sustainability of the systems and materials used.

Hair Glasses explored the potential of human hair, and how it can be used as a renewable material that is being produced in excess. The glasses frames are biodegradable and no harmful substances are released during production. 

To me, the aesthetic appearance of products should not be compromised when designing sustainably. Studio Swine are a perfect example of balancing the two. 

Studio Swine. 2013. Hair Glasses. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.studioswine.com/hair-glasses. [Accessed 24 October 13]