The idea of waste infuriates me, therefore my final year project will be based on the subject of waste and how I can turn something that is thrown away in to a functional working object!
I absolutely love 'Eco age' a store in Chiswick London that house everything thing possible that is sustainable, recycled, re-used, up-cycling, you name it they have it!..it's a shame the store id so small, although I think these types of shops will start to appear everywhere soon, as we get closer to re-using old things and transforming them into useful beautiful objects!
Eco Age (Re lux at Eco age)
We at Eco Age work with the best of national and international designers to bring you the best from the sustainable world. From toys to bespoke furniture, green cleaning products to energy saving gadgets, this is the place to be. highlights include a glass chandelier and bowls made out of recycled toughened glass which were saved from landfill. Also featuring the Lynn chair made with cardboard.
Here are some of the best shots of their products I took last year...
Retrouvius ('Off the Floor' - Feat. work by Fabien Capello & Daniel Heath)
I met with an Goldsmiths graduate at Retrouvius on north west London where I live and he was so inspired by these guys that he applied to work with them when leaving uni. I took a few snap shots in their warehouse space whilst admiring the craftsmanship of the work on display.
Two designers, Fabien Cappello and Daniel Heath, have been wooed into the secret depths of Retrouvius. Their brief: to explore and expand our re-use philosophy by interpreting three salvaged materials.
Brit Insurance Designs of the year
Design Awards 2010 - featured at the Design museum
I thoroughly enjoyed going to this exhibition last year. There were so many clever new ideas that served a purpose which is close to my heart! Here are my top 20 Design Fav's - a combo of furniture, product, graphics, sustainable and architecture.
This exhibition showcases the most innovative and forward thinking designs from around the world.Now in their third year, the Brit Insurance Designs Awards, "the Oscars of the design world," showcases the most innovative and forward thinking designs from around the world. Last year's winner, the unofficial Barack Obama poster by Shepard Fairey, demonstrated the power that design can have at a grass-root level. This year's winner is the Folding Plug by Min-Kyu Choi that revolutionises a humble, but essential, piece of everyday equipment. See all the category winners, nominations and comment on the designsoftheyear.com blog.
Why should we Upcycle?
The need to find alternative ways to deal with our waste has never been greater – across Britain we throw a staggering amount of stuff into landfill. Even if you look just at clothing and textiles…. we throw 1.8 million tonnes away every year.
Instead of paying extra for eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton or bamboo silk, try transforming an old item of clothing into something new, for example cutting old faded jeans into vintage style shorts for the summer.
Your old items aren’t going to landfill sites, where a gas called methane is released, which contributes to climate change. There’s no need to recycle them in the traditional sense, which requires energy and resources. If you can make use of old items, it might save you buying new things – thus, reducing the need for more goods to be manufactured.
So, before you start filling your recycling bags, have a think about other uses for your unwanted bits and pieces and you’ll not only help the environment, but should also save yourself some money too.
