Striving for 'Social Active Design'

In a world full over overconsumption, I have chosen a design concept that looks to solve an issue of waste. In our society it is thought to be okay to throw away perfectly usable products if we are merely sick of them or if they no longer look exactly like they did when purchased. Society must realize that like us, products age and can no longer perform the same function as before, but I don’t believe we would appreciate being thrown away. We shall learn to treat our possessions, as we would like to be. This paradigm involves the appreciation and use of quality over quantity.  Fuad Luke sums this approach up by stating in Beautiful Strangeness for a Sustainable World, “There is a stream of consciousness and activity around what could be termed ‘social active design’, where the focus of the design is society and its transition and/or transformation to a more sustainable way of living, working and producing.”

My design concept is simple and merely proposes the use of a household item that can be looked at as disposable or one that is commonly not used to it’s full potential. Bath and beach towels are items that can be used for years and even after their first life cycle they can continue to serve a purpose. My concept is to take old towels and to sew them as lining in beach bags. This would be beneficial to the user because if water were to leak into the bag, the towel would soak it up as oppose to thinner, less absorbent fabrics. Also, a perk to this method would be that the consumer could use their own style by putting together their bag and whatever print or designed towel they prefer. This concept allows the old item to be reused, while allowing the owner to individualize their bag.

Environmental Sustainability Issues has opened my eyes to many issues we all must face and allowed me to realize that I can make a difference. Simple changes in my daily routine can preserve resources, while also minimizing unnecessary waste. My favorite part of this course has been learning about different design methods that have been used to allow products a longer life cycle. Before this course, I thought buying cheap clothes, accessories or shoes that don’t last was saving me money, while in reality it is only causing a bigger problem every time I over-consume a certain item.

Celebrate Sustainability

Discussed in C2CAD,“According to the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document (United Nations, 2005), the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development are economic development, social development, and environmental protection.” In order for a difference to be made concerning the reuse, or “upcycling”, of items we use everyday, our society has got to get on board towards creating a sustainable future. What we all must grasp is that the small things do count.

Society must take responsibility, because we are the ones creating waste issues and therefore should do what is in our power to fix them. With the increase and population and the rate at which resources are being consumed/used and thrown away, we have got to change our ways, as discussed in Cradle to Cradle. With a paradigm shift and a newfound concern for the future, everyone’s contributions would change the future of generations to come. According to Sustainability, “A holistic, cradle-to-grave approach is emerging, which considers the impact of a textile’s entire life cycle.” A simple change in the interests and concerns of designers could ultimately lead to the creation of products that serve several purposes and ultimately have several life-cycles in order to reduce waste.

My concept is the reuse of glass bottles. Living in a college town, the amount of glass bottles being thrown away and wasted adds up to be no small quantity. What people don’t realize is that these simple every-day bottles have potential for other uses. The concept began as a gift idea, but has changed in my opinion since learning about sustainability. Like most girls, I like things that are pretty…and sparkly. Insert a birthday celebration and you have got my “upcycled” product:

A little glitter can go a long way, as well as some sequence.  Still after the beverage is long gone, there is not only a reused product, but also a reminder of what the festivities held. Like a picture, certain items summon memories and find a place on a desk or table to remind you every time you pass it of, oh say, your 22^nd birthday.

Alternative to Waste

According to the Rhoener Textiles video, society is capable of taking waste and reusing it, ultimately creating “food” out of waste. The idea of “waste equals food” is based upon the belief that what is waste to one person, a product that seems to have run it’s course, is food for others and can serve other purposes. The video also discusses McDonough’s process of finding a way to create a dye that does not contaminate the environment and water, while also not affecting the health of the workers handling the dyes as well as the consumers. After a long process and a few bumps in the road, McDonough and the others working on this project figured out a way to help conserve resources, while staying at a low price. Another victory the team had was that this dye eliminating the water pollution that was previously an issue and making it possible for the water leaving the plant to be as clean as when it entered. This effort is a great example of how something as simple as dye can affect the environment and how with consideration and concern for the well being of earth and its habitants, there are effective alternatives to all waste issues.

According to Cradle to Cradle, since population has increased, resources have become largely employed but not replaced at the same rate at which they are consumed. Also, products these days are considered “throwaway,” which ultimately contributes to the excess amount of waste that grows daily.

Technical metabolism defines products that are produced to be reused in the “technical cycle” of which it was originally created. My design concept is to reuse old bike tires as a rope you could tie to hold products together, specifically tools and other heavy items. The use of this reusable product could ultimately eliminate the use of string on certain products. For example, instead of using weak string to tie heavy items together and the rope continuously breaking, the old tire has the strength to resist the pressure and not break. Because a bicycle tire’s texture is stretchy, yet has a firm grip, it is ideal for making and holding knots. According to Cradle to Cradle, consumers would no longer have the need to feel guilty about purchasing and using products because they would no longer have a short life cycle.

Give It a New Life

My first principle is to “Use Waste as a Resource”. According to our reading, Quinn’s Sustainability,  “fashion manufacturers use bleaching, dying and printing processes that place clothing fabrication on a par with petro-chemical production.” Quinn also names many alternatives to these processes, such as beading or embroidery to be visually appealing to customers. Taking an old garment and using recycled beading or thread and making it new would be one way to use potential waste and give it a new life. For example, Raquel Allegra transforms old prison shirts into “fashionable couture.” She has taken something otherwise to be thrown away and has built a business and name for herself with her innovative design concept. I believe that by being creative and thinking outside of the box when designing, the fashion industry could cut back greatly on unnecessary use of resources.

The second principle I chose is to “Shop Locally”. Fletcher’s Local and Light states, “Localism requires us to begin to adapt our appetites to where we live…” By not wasting gas consumers can save money, natural resources and avoiding pollution by taking unnecessary trips. Another concept that goes hand in hand with shopping locally is producing and manufacturing goods as well. Going along with what Fletcher stated, if we adapt to our environment and learn the importance of shopping locally we can learn to be satisfied with our options.

Use What You've Got

According to the reading, Industrial Ecology Defined, “Industry ecology is the means by which humanity can deliberately and rationally approach and maintain desirable carrying capacity, given continued economic, cultural, and technological evolution.” Overconsumption is what I believe to be most people’s biggest weakness in most areas of life. Whether it’s the overconsumption of food, buying clothes you do not need or wear, or simply driving around town aimlessly while wasting and damaging the earth’s natural resources. Carelessness and lack of education are our main vices concerning sustainability issues; I believe if we all looked at how much we over indulge and ultimately waste because we make decisions daily caused on ignorance, we would be more aware when ordering food at Taco Bueno or impulse shopping at our favorite boutique.

The principles that stood out to me most from Benyus’ “Closing the Loops in Commerce” were to not drawing down resources and optimize rather than maximize. Not drawing down resources is the method I find most important because once natural resources are gone; there is no going back. Oil is one natural resource that stands out in my mind as a great loss we will face if we no longer have it one day. Benyus pleads that we not use nonrenewable resources quicker than we can develop substitutes. I think of all the times I’ve wasted oil and gas by driving long distances to go to my favorite store, when there was a closer store as an option. Also, before my hometown had got a Wal Mart, I would drive 20 miles to make a quick purchase that I could have done in my hometown or would make several trips a week because I went unprepared and forgot something. At the time, sustainability never crossed my mind. Nor did I consider the resources and money I was wasting by being careless. Simply carpooling to a local store can save energy and other resources we desperately need - every little bit makes a difference.

The second principle that stood out to me was to “optimize rather than maximize.” Whether it’s carpooling with friends to the store or school or cutting back on weekly drives out of town, the small changes and saving of natural resources will benefit us in the future. Like anything else, the longer you don’t use it-the longer you’ll have it. In both apparel and interiors, this principle can be utilized. Whether it’s a couch that turns into a bed or dress that can be worn as a skirt, designers have found ways to conserve energy, space, and resources. Apparel products can be used many ways and serve many purposes such as old t shirts being cut and used to create a rug or old jeans used to make a purse or bag. Simply creating another purpose for something you already have saves a resource otherwise used. Recycling is the major them behind these ideas because the concept is to reuse what you would otherwise throw away. Our issues with waste would diminish at a great rate if only we used what we already own efficiently and creatively as oppose to spending money, gas, and other important resources to get new items we do not need.

Envisioning the Future

My vision of the future involves a society that prioritizes the sustainability of the earth. These priorities would be driven by social awareness and a personal concern for not only us, but also the future of our loved ones to come. According to Limiting Consumptions, the Golden Rule is for us to meet our needs with the earth’s resources, while not diminishing them before future generations. If we do not overcome the notion that we are invincible, we are always going to be our own worst enemies. In order for there to be a future for mankind, there must be a future for the earth we live on. In order for this to become possible, we all must have the belief that conserving the earth is essentially conserving ourselves; they both go hand-in-hand.  

While the belief that we can make a difference, a positive one at that, is imperative, we as humans also have alternative beliefs and set ways of thinking that inhibit our growth. For example, the belief that one person cannot make a difference is one of the most detrimental notions to social movements. There are far too many great leaders and icons, both past and present, to defeat this misconception.

I believe one of the most efficient ways to involve others in these concerns is to divulge the truth about our environments future at the rate in which it is going. It is easy to ignore these issues if you are unaware of them. This is why education is crucial, whether it is presented in a classroom environment or simply discussed over dinner. According to the reading Visioneering, sustainability is an unclear notion. By showing people that these changes do not have to be life altering, I feel that more people would join the bandwagon; even by beginning to simply recycle old clothing. Visioneering also states that one of the most important steps in being a “Visioneer” is by imagining a world that is sustainable, then to engineer it. According to Thinking Ahead, humankind could enhance our awareness by dreaming of ideas, models, and changing attitudes towards the concept of sustainability. The first step is to create a consciousness within the people we interact with daily…That is who it must begin with.

As Simple As Synthetic OR Natural?

According to Material Diversity, two fibers dominate the market-polyester and cotton. Polyester’s, a synthetic fiber, demand has doubled in the last 15 years. Although the demand for natural fibers has stayed consistent for the last few years, the demand for cotton has increased. Though it is true that producing synthetic fibers does have an impact on the environment, many people don’t realize that processes used on natural fibers also affect the environment. For example, large amounts of water and pesticides are used to grow cotton, while there is a significant use of energy and nonrenewable resources for the creation of synthetic fibers. I do not believe the answer is as simple as to completely eliminate the use of either type of fiber; both serve their own purposes. In the video Sustainable Innovations In Fibers and Processes, Charline Ducas stated that natural fibers, like cotton, are the ones we wear closest to our bodies because they are the most comfortable. According Ducas, no synthetic fiber has been made that compares to the comfort of a natural fiber. However, if a decision were to be made based on use of natural resources, a synthetic fiber such as polyester can be produced by using less water than required to grow cotton. Both natural and synthetic fibers leave their mark on the earth-the key to sustainability is to take all the factors into account and make the best choice you can when deciding to use synthetic or natural fibers.