During 2005 till end of 2011, I co-designed a series of products that were part of the Desycling strategy. The Desycling Products were frame to inspire and be produced by people within a specific criteria. During these years we were able to conceived more than 70 lines of products within different projects and commissions.
The products were designed (re)using clean waste material, mostly coming from packaging.
The idea behind the products was to stimulate people awareness through inspiration, inviting them to take action by co-producing the products.
Another import aspect was to recycle old techniques from the popular knowhow.
The products were created and produced in different circumstances, some by groep of neighbours together with designers, some others, like the desycle chairs, by co-production with local shops. Other products were designed and made in collaboration with social organisations and some with invited designers. From each product and line of products we made a graphic manual explaining step by step how to make it.
The criteria we use to develop them:
– Reusing waste materials keeping the material capacity:
The product should be possible to repair, desycle, reuse, re-manufacture or up-cycled again.
– Communicate the local identity and cultural diversity through the products.
– Products show new aesthetic/use values.
– Low energy production process (low-tech & effective performance).
– Simple production techniques, accessible tools.
– Improve living conditions (through service, production process or product itself)
Though we don’t agree with the production of some packaging materials like plastics bottles (PET) and plastics bags (LDPE) we did design products reusing these materials, consciously. We considered that these materials were very accessible and had a big impact in the awareness of people. We proposed to keep their qualities as materials, not mixing them with other materials. We used the properties of the same material to glue them (with warm) for instance in the case of the Tetra Pak cardboard or the low density polyethylene bags. In that way we extended the life of these materials without changing their properties, transforming them in useful and inspiring (awareness rising) products.
My role in the design of the products was co-designer and criteria development.
Photos of products: Netta Tauber
Are you intrigued by this concept? Do you want to know more about the importance of inspiration and awareness in the process towards a circular economy? Contact me.
