Seam Chair by Chris Kabel

This 'Seam Chair' is entirely made out of polypropylene fabric. This material is cheap, non toxic and completely high-grade recyclable.

For a sustainable innovation in the future it is important that objects are made of a single material. It saves time in recycling and the material does not become conterminated. The technique as is used by Kabel saves energy and creates a lightweight material that can replace the toxic and single use thermosetting glass- and carbon fiber resin systems.

I like this design as it is showing that there are some designers out there understanding and including sustainable and recycling issues in their design processes.

Shigeru Ban

Shigeru Ban is one of the designers/artists that I am influenced by. I love the way his cardboard designs are modern but then they still have the edge of being different.

'A Drop of Water' by Van der Veer

Thousands of litres of water disappear via the rain pipe into the sewer during a rain shower. At the same time, an average household uses litres of drinking water to irrigate the garden. Bas van der Veer combined these two concepts in A drop of water: a rainwater butt with an integrated watering can. The light grey water butt is attached to the rain pipe, so during a rain shower the watering can is automatically filled. Once it is full, the rest of the water flows over into the water butt, so serving as a reservoir. “In this way, it is easier for the users to water their garden using rain water instead of drinking water from the tap.”

I like this design as it is sustainable and also helps save on resources such as water, which in some areas of the world are scarce. I also liked this as it relates to my own field of research of sustainability and recycling.

Research

Ive decided to research sustainability but more specifically recycling for my project as it seems quite a broad subject which still has quite a few routes to explore. Sustainability and recycling are current growing problems in the design world today with all of the current economic issues that are currently in the news. With in these areas I also want to look at inclusive and user centred design with regards to recycling. Hopefully this will take me somewhere exciting!