Personalized Touch

It seems that when people have an emotional attachment to a product they tend to take better care of it. They want it to last a long time and don't want to have to replace it. As discussed in Design Activism,  overconsumption is creating many environmental issues. The rich 20 percent of the population, which includes us, is creating many of these problems because of their mass consumption. We are using more than we have and we know there has to be a change. However, the real question is how?

In Design Activism they discuss how the focus of design should be on society and transforming a sustainable way of living. Like discussed earlier, society seems to have a different level of connection with a product that means something to them. A 'halfway' product is something that allows a consumer to complete a product by adding their own personal touch which creates an emotional attachment. If a consumer uses their own creativity and stories to make a product then it will mean more to them. Which in turn will make them want to take better care of the product, not allowing it to go to waste or easily replacing it.

My idea would be creating a store where you can design your own belt. The store will supply you with a leather belt with just holes, no buckle. The customer will have a wide variety of buckles to choose from to add on to their belt. Next, the customer will be able to design their belt however they desire. There will be paint, stamps that will imprint the leather, and jewels to create your own design. Once you are done, the belt will be sealed for protection and to ensure a long lifetime. Customers can create their own story through the design and it will be unique. Belts are something that are used often and can be worn many times. It is ideal to have a belt that has emotional meaning to you so you don't have to keep buying more and more. Not only will this help save on overconsumption but it also a fun activity that you can do with friends or family.

I feel that this class made me aware of all of the environmental problems that I had no idea about before. One of the most valuable things I have learned is that we need to educate people if we want to see a change. Change starts not only with designers and manufacturers but also consumers. No one will be encouraged to make a change if they aren't aware of the problems. I plan to take all the information from this course and spread the word in the workforce. I want to educate people so we can all work together to make a change. However, one thing I would like to learn more about is organic materials. I would like to learn in depth about how it works vs. using chemicals. I think going organic is great but I would like to be more aware of exactly what that entails.

Time to Get Technical

Imagine a world with no waste. In the article Textile futures: Fashion, design and technology, Earley brings up the point that creating clothing for long term use is not the answer to our environmental problems because after it goes out of style there will be no use for it anymore. That's where McDonough and Braungart's idea of "upcycling" comes in to play. This concept allows what would be waste to be reintroduced back to the top of the consumer chain. By implementing "upcycling" into our world, we maybe could see a time where there is no such thing as waste.

My idea will focus on technical metabolism. In the article C2CAD they describe technical nutrients as a product that will continuously circulate within "closed-loop" industrial cycles while remaining the same value as when it started. They also address the issue of how reusing and recycling clothing from more than one material and using permanent junctions can be difficult. That is why I will be sticking to 100% polyester and as little junctions as possible.

My idea is making polyester neckties in to bracelets. The only supplies I will need is a pair of scissors. I will take two neckties and intertwine them together.They will be secured together at one in with polyester string and a polyester button. Some ties come with buttons attached so I will use that button and I will use thread form the tie to secure the button. At the other end I will cut a small slit in both ties, overlap them and then put the button through both slits to secure it around the wrist. The bracelet will be avaliable in all sizes. Some of the bracelets will be made from the thickest part of the tie, some from the thinnest and some with one piece from the thick part and the other from the thin part. The patterns will be mixed together so no two bracelets will be alike. This will allow for variety and individualism. This will also allow for every part of the tie to be reused so nothing goes to waste.