FINAL PROJECT
<<LONG LIFE DESIGN: DESIGNING BEYOND THE PRESENT>>
STUDENT NAME:YUZHOU LOU
PROJECT NAME:Detachable protector
WHY did you make this project? What is its core function and concept?
Detachable protector is a garment consist with shawl, hoodie and protective back piece. It keeps people warm and away from water in rainy days. Pockets and snapper designs makes it easy to detach and organize when not using. Simple technique used on this garment can be easily copied and produce more.
What event(s) of environmental change will it help YOU adapt to or navigate?
This garment is good for windy days, rainy days and cool weather. Since it’s more like a cape, it can be worn with other clothing easily.
In what ways will this object be useful and meaningful to YOU over 50 years?
How does it offer aesthetics and function over time?
The function and outlook are both designed carefully. Easy construction make it exist longer because I can fix it easily. Several parts can be detachable, so it’s ok to change any of them and add more things. As a cape, this garment can be worn in daily lives. Since it’s designed and made by myself, I will have more memories and keep it more carefully.
What materials did you chose to use and why?
I used knit fabric and water proof fabric (polyester). The hoody and back piece is waterproof in order to fit the environment of windy and rainy. Knit fabric is used on scarf parts because of their function of soft, comfort and stretch. People who wear it can feel better when it goes around the neck. Different material combination will also increase the garment more layered.
Reading reflection
– How you ever felt this way about an object you’ve owned?
Yes but usually happened on cheap things such as pencils, erasers…they are also important but I pay more attention to valuable things.
– How does your final project challenge having this mentality towards objects?
My finial piece is meaningful as a garment, because i designed it and made it. At the same point, I can chose my own way to wear it and keep it, which is fun. The interest and energy I put on the garment is different from something I simply get from stores. It makes me feel more careful with it.
Audio reflection
– What surprised you about this audio piece?
I think the chicken bones thing is really interesting. Animals are parts of natural environment, so they are usually ignore when people talk about pollutions or garbage. When it comes to garbage, I think more about plastic and metal. Animals which are domestic and part of the food cycle are actually something out of the natural animal circle and be a huge part of garbage source.
– Given what was discussed in the audio piece (and after taking this class), reading about what New York was like during the Pleistocene (last Ice Age), what do you think New York City’s climate will be like 1000 years from now?
One thousand is really a long period. A lot of things may change and happen in such a long time. I don’t think the environment can be better than now, but how fast it became worse will depend on how human work on environment protection. If human still live on the Earth after 1000 years, there will be new technology which can solve problems nowadays. If human are not living anymore, there may be another “ice age“ in the future. (Stephen Hawking also talked about the days human can live last year, but it’s more about other reasons than environment. I think it’s interesting as well. http://nypost.com/2016/11/16/stephen-hawking-believes-we-have-maybe-1000-years-left/)
– What are the five reasons, shared by the Dutch scientist (audio timecode 17:00) explaining what humans are “wired to destroy our environment?” Do you agree? Does your final project counter any of these reasons?
Humans value their personal interests over other interests.
We value the present over the future.
We are obsessed by status.
We copy unconsciously the behaviors of others around us.
And we disregard novel environmental threats.
Yes. There are common psycho things happen on human beings. It’s true but it’s not all of us. They of course caused the environment to be worse but they also caused other bad issues. My final project is a garment. For clothing, there are a lot of things can be told. For example, status, behaviors of others around us, both of them can be easily seen through fashion nowadays. How fast fashion was built and developed super fast is caused by people’s willing of buying more and look “greater”. The “greater” can be read as more wealthy, more trendy, etc.
