1. What do you think of the ten Long Life design criteria? Which criteria in particular might assist in skillfully meeting the challenges created by climate change and how? What criteria would you add or how would you update the current list to account for specific design challenges presented by the Anthropocene?
I think planned production, environment and design are the most important, or the factors I resonate with the most. Designers should keep in mind of what they design is going to be put into production, and the materials, the effects to the environment will be hundreds of thousands larger. A small amount of waste in each design will become much more waste when put into production. I would also add “future-oriented” to the list. With an understanding of what’s going to happen in the future, designer can be prepared and best work for future.
2) Find an object, device or material that needs to be repaired in some way. Follow the Repair project brief (steps 1-3 for this week) and post responses to each question and images on your LP.
Q1: I would repair clothes, because used clothes (sometimes torn) that I no longer like would be discarded, but as a designer I feel there’s a responsibility to re-design the piece and have it hung back into my wardrobe, to give the clothes another chance. Repair is an important design skill because it asks the designer to find what’s useful, what’s beautiful in a broken object and to give the object a new meaning, a new purpose.
Q2: Possible ways to repair garments are 1 simply sew it back; 2 use patches; 3 add new materials. To repair I need sewing tools, fabrics, patches. Yes I have the skills to repair. Still need to get materials.
Q3: I expect the repair process to be a full day – a few hours to get materials, a few hours to design and sew together. The repair would last many years.
3) Read the following four articles on repair and answer the following questions.
– At Repair Cafes, ‘Beloved but Broken’ Possessions Find New Life (Links to an external site.). Would you like to visit a repair cafe? Why do you think so many people are interested in repair?
I would like to visit a repair cafe. The reason why many people are interested in it is that people want their belongings/objects to last longer. They don’t want to waste those things. Plus, it’s such a joy to repair with their own hands and to make their objects function again.
– Waste not want not: Sweden to give tax breaks for repairs. (Links to an external site.) Would you like to see this kind of tax be possible in your home country? Do you think it is possible there or the United States? Why or why not?
Such tax is a good way to raise people’s awareness in living sustainably. But I don’t think it’s going to be possible in China, or in Beijing/Shanghai. People are too busy with their work/lives and they don’t have the time to repair their own things. People in China are so busy making money in order to buy new things. So I think people care less about repairing. In the U.S. it might be possible in less big cities. Same reason as Beijing/Shanghai, people who live in big cities are just too busy with making money and constantly buying new things.
– Spend the Money for the Good Boots and Wear the Forever (Links to an external site.). Were you surprised by this article? Do you agree with the author? Do you think an object has to be expensive to be well made? What might make people want to take care of objects, even if they aren’t expensive?
I’m not surprised. I always like to buy things that are more expensive, because I love the time, care, design put into the object. They are valuable, and they last long. Sometimes when I buy cheap products I just tend to not cherish them. When people devote quite a lot of money they are more likely to take care of the objects. I think people might need to be educated in order for them to take care of inexpensive objects.
– Origami-inspired clothing line that grows with kids wins Dyson award (Links to an external site.) What do you think of this design? What is most innovative about it? Do you think it’s possible for adults to enjoy long life design clothing or objects that transform/change in other ways (than getting bigger)? What kind of designs might be possible?
I like this design! The Petit Pli can be wearable from 3 months old to 3 years old. It’s really useful because kid grow so fast that wasting clothes are very common. There’s already some types of long life clothing design for adults today, multi-purpose, or can be worn in different ways. But it’s mostly for those who are quite open to fashion and would like to try unique styles. It’s not as useful as the Petit Pli.
4) Come to class prepared to share some wisdom from your culture in a 2-3 minute presentation. What is a perspective on nature, the environment, or a healthy and sustainable community that generations before you have held important (around 100 years)? What makes this wisdom still relevant today? Do both older and younger people respect it? Is it something that you feel other cultures can benefit from knowing about? How do you practice this wisdom in your own life in New York?
I do not know any collective habit of older generations and how they protect environment. But generations before us are more likely to walk instead of driving cars; to save energy, try not to use as many air conditioners; to keep in mind on switching off lights, etc. They like to encourage younger generations to do so. Also, when I was little, the school encourage us to plant trees. I think younger people respect these habits, but it’s hard for them to do. Younger generations are kind of getting comfortable enjoying the abundant resources. I would practice these good habits starting from myself, and gradually affect my friends’ behaviors.
5) Research and read an introduction to the Sixth Extinction (Links to an external site.) then visit artist Maya Lin’s project: What’s Missing : whatismissing.net (Links to an external site.)
– How would you describe the Sixth Extinction to a friend who is unfamiliar with it?
The Sixth Extinction is the sixth large extinction in species like plants and animals, and it’s mainly resulted from human activities. It’s a mass extinction because over 75% of species are extinct.
– After reviewing the “About page” on the what’s missing site, what is one species that you learned about on this site that has gone extinct?
Heath Hen has gone extinct.
– What do you think of this site as an artist’s project?
The design of the website and how the videos tell stories are really inviting and encourage people to learn more about the extinct species and how to participate in the protection of the species. The design is really thoughtful, and well executed.
– What did you learn on the “what you can do” page? Are you willing to do this? Why or why not?
I’m willing to do this because it’s not so far from my daily life. I can eat less meat, buy groceries that are produced from sustainable farms, conserve energy – switch off lights when I’m not using it. These things are doable every day. I’m willing to be mindful of these things. Even small changes in personal behavior are necessary.