Through out my middle school years, I was in the JMUN club as a delegate and an active member in the conferences. The chance to be able to discuss worlds problems and to come up with solutions and different ways of handling the situation has thought me so much about the way to approach a problem. As you can imagine, having an access to the UN Headquarters was so surreal. Also by having the knowledge about the renovation and building process of the main room made me more aware of the surrounding around me. The other inspiring and unforgettable moments of that night was to be able to listen to the guest speakers as they discussed their topics and gave examples of their own work. It is hard for me do downsize it to a favorite speaker so I would say that Finn Harris and Anne Dorte Riggelsen, Consulate General of Denmark impressed and inspired me the most.
Seeing what Finn Harris have done and achieved in this past two-three years really made me think because he is only two years ahead of me and if he had these types of opportunities and accesses to make such powerful and impactful work, why should I do it as well? As he said in his words also, we are the generation to not only recognize and be aware of the changes happening in our world but probably we are one of the last generations to make a change and start doing something before its too late to control the situation.
The lifestyle and way of designing cities the Copenhagen way, as Anne Dorte Riggelsen talked about in the UN was simply genius. It was clear, innovative, sustainable and practical. Not much effort and complicated plans were required to make that kind of system to happen. Good planning and organizing can lead into very well-designed and thought buildings and structures. Having more common areas and open space for the community use was a big chunk of the Copenhaganism. It helps build a stronger and more connected community while keeping the city green and environmentally friendly.
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Below are a couple of questions and my answers to them about various article that discusses different examples of repair.
- Would you like to visit a repair cafe? Why do you think so many people are interested in repair?
It would be an interesting thing to do one day. The idea behind it is so thoughtful and respectful. Because of the life expenses, not everyone can afford a brand new gadget or a piece of clothing all the time. Repairing is also another way of saving money and budgeting. So it is obvious that there is a need of repair and this idea of creating a space for reapair and getting people together is brilliant.
– 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?
I think this clever and thoughtful solution that Sweden has come up with is revolutionary. It should start with the government to take the first step and encpourage its people to follow. Since economy is one of the most important elements of country, its hitting the target to improve the problem about consuming and the amount of waste. It would be so nice to have this tax in our country because most of the population is young and working age. So by putting this tax to regulation will not only help the sustainability of our country but will also educate about sustainability. I believe that its possible everywhere if everyone thinks and cares about sustainability and the environment. By only thinking of money and power no one will achive anything than consuming the available sources.
- 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 take care of objects, even if they aren’t expensive?
This article made me think of a discussion that I had with my friends acouple od days ago. It was about the high street stores like H&M, Forever 21 a couple of similar ones. The way that the stores are setup invites the customers ot buy what they don’t need and in an extensive amount. Unfortunately just like the author of the article said, they become useless after a season. So by purchasing something that is more expensive nad good quality gives a longer lifetime and usage. The cost of the object naturally increases with the good materials that its made of and the effort that has been spent throughout its making. I think for the people ot take care and pay attention to the object that they own lies in good design and overall look. If its aesthetically pleasing to the owner, they will care about it much more. So again, we designers are the future of sustainability and good usage.
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The following context of this post is mostly about my repair project and the process behind it.
Materials Needed
Step 5: Does it work?
Was the repair successful?
Are you happy with the results?
Is the repair more beautiful/interesting in some way than the original?
As I mentioned in beginning of my repair project, I am putting my old jeans in use by totally changing the primary usage of them. I am using the pockets of the jeans as a ‘shelf’ to hold miscellaneous things.
The repairing process was not only successful but also very enjoyable too. Turning something into another object mad me feel so inspired. If I hadn’t attempted this kind of repair, my jeans would most likely end up in a charity shop or in someone else’s wardrobe. I am happy to put them in use again.
From this project, the most important outcome for me was to always give another chance to what ever you are dealing with. Whether it is a person, an object or a situation you have the power to change and re-shape it according to your personality and usage.
Step 6: Analyze and Draw Conclusions
What did you learn?
How long do you expect this repair to actually last?
What surprises did you encounter?
What would you do differently next time?
Are other ways that you could have repaired this item that you realize now?
After completing this project, do you consider repair a more valuable skill?
I am not quiet sure about how long it will last but hopefully same as the jeans did.
Throughout the process, thankfully I haven’t came across with any surprises but with the end pieces I had an idea of making flowers out o them. So I guess I gave the excess pieces a repair too! If I would do this project again, I would experiment with different kinds and colors of jeans, shorts to make it much more fun.
After the completion, I realized that with such an ordinary object like jeans there is a whole new world to discover and interpret with. I would say the repairing process added great skills and ideas to my creative practice.
Reflection:
- What is the most important aspect of making a design easily repairable?
- After completing this project, what’s one object that you wish you could repair but don’t feel as though you currently have the skills to do so?
10: Did your repair require fewer materials and involve fewer systems than buying a new replacement? Which systems?
- An easy repairable design not only makes the owner have another chance to use the object but it gives the opportunity to broaden their imagination and creativity aswell. AT the end it becomes a win-win situation.
- As a future repair project, I would like to repair a porcelain or a ceramic object by making the end result seamless and add a reflection of my personality.
- My repair needed only needed two materials, embroidery hooks and hot glue gun. Which I think is way easier and sustainable rather than buying a pair of new jeans that would have been made with a much more complex and effort-heavy process.
