After having the artists Tattfoo as a guest for our sustainable design class and having the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas about his work and the projects, I have started to look at my assignments more aware in terms of re-producing or re-shaping the material that I have. Instead of working with its direct way of usage, the interpretation that us, artists and designers will make the existing object much more interesting and valuable.
I felt so inspired after having a chat with him and realized how lucky we are that we had a great example and an artist to look up to. His works towards community and more general public meant so much to me rather that just a painting that he did. My favorite part was to see how he transformed and put in use the old object that he owned and found. He totally re-shaped the usage and made unique objects that were much more practical.
- When I researched the recent articles about climate change, an article about Floating Cities captured my eye. With its futuristic architectural drawing, it created a picture in my mind for the future cities and how they will be changing according to the climate change and the problems that will occur.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/world/australia/climate-change-floating-islands.html?_r=0
In 50 years from now, if the situation with the climate change becomes worse and develops more and more problems, it wont be a surprise that most of the systems that serves us in our daily lives will be affected. For example, the way we transport, the way we keep and store things and our living spaces will shape around the current problems. I believe the major difference will be seen in the environment and the other species around us like animals and plants. Their life cycle may potentially change in order to survive the critical conditions that may occur. The man made buildings will be designed in order to face with severe climates like very hot and cold weather. Excessive rain or snow can also shape the way buildings and their systems are designed.
With having major differences in our lives compared to today, we will have to design and create in a way that not only has an art work value but also more provocative and informative about the situation. Critical thinking and practical solutions will take huge role when we will design and create an object that will be produced in the market.
Masuda says, “nobody wants to leave the next generation with nothing but trash.” Do you think designers should consider the ability for their designs to be repaired, as part of their initial design process? What else might help create less waste?
- I sort of agree with this statement that is about the future of mass production and how we should control and try to minimize it as much as possible, however we need to find a sufficient and a practical alternative to meet the demand and the need of the community.
What are the two things that Masuda says designers should be mindful of when designing (see timecode 20:00)? Why does he say this is important? Do you agree?
- Seeing his own washing machine design in the Kyoto river, started him to think and care more about the environment.
- If the object is in a condition that repairmen will make it useful and valuable again, I will deffinently not lose my attention and care to it. And with the effort and work that I will put in it in order to repair, it will have more of a personal meaning to me rather than an ordinary object.
- I would say if we use all natural materials and compostable materials such as wood, dried stems of plants to use when weaving a basket or making a sandal or re-using the existing metal, aluminum by re-heating them.
- If we design with a repairmen process added to our creation, it will have a backup plan already installed in it. It wont be just one time usage, but if any damage comes up the user will have a second or even a third chance to recover and keep using it just like the beginning product. Using less material and keeping the components minimal will both decrease the amount of unnecessary involved systems as well as complicated production and assembly process.
- Simple creations, natural materials. And also designs should not require extra effort that will be complicate the recycling process. These initial steps are important because we should also consider the future of our planet not just the era that we are living in.
What are you overall thoughts on this video? Did you enjoy it?
- Watching this video was interesting in terms of learning more about Japan’s thoughts and styles of approaching a sustainable and ecological design solutions and creations.
Week 4: Regeneration and Repair Part 2
A quick run down of my thoughts and steps that I plan on following when starting on a re-designing/ repairing a chosen used object.
- I will be repairing/ re-designing two of my old jeans. I have chosen those pieces to work with because after a lot of use, the choices were to throw the out or donate them. Since I am now in a design school, I wanted to extend my creativity on such a basic and everyday object.
- As a design skill, I think repair is one of the key elements. First of all, it makes your object much more durable and usable. Secondly, it extends its lifetime and creates a B plan incase something happens unexpectedly.
- I am thinking of using parts of the jeans and creating a stuff-holder wall hanger. Another option can be a ‘jean bowl’. Where parts of the jeans will be rolled and shaped into a bowl.
- For this project I will need, two jeans, embroidery hoops and hot glue gun to stick the pieces together.
- I only need to get the embroidery hoops in order to complete the repairment process.
- My process of repair will definitely creative, exciting and innovative.
- If I make a great plan and an arrangement, I think the whole process will no longer be more than an hour.
- The end result of the object will hopefully last as long as the jeans did, because they wont be used for clothing anymore so the usage will be a lot milder.
