Stuff

Manufacturing and mass-consumerism are a worldwide dilemma and will not stop any time in the near future. There are hundreds and thousands of tables, chairs, lamps and other things we call ‘stuff’ in this world.

Why design or create more objects? Don’t we have enough already?

In some respects, yes. We don’t need another item of ‘stuff’.

However, I intend to make objects which will help people move towards a more sustainable life style. What I propose is to continue designing objects, but through a different lens. Why? Because I love the ‘made’ world, as do many other people. However, one of the key problems at this moment is that many objects are being created using poor quality materials, simply to generate more money.

Objects built for adaptability, upgradeability and longevity with user participation are the future. And the now. Yes, this means creating more objects, but it is a step in the right direction. This is about changing behaviour, paradigms and way of life. People need to be re-programmed and realise that it is better to spend more on a longer lasting product. Designers need to see that objects they create should be easily fixed, with customisable or upgradeable parts, as opposed to being replaced when they break/ the owner gets bored of them.

This does not achieve 100% sustainability but it will make a difference. I am a creator of objects moving towards a higher level of sustainability. Objects will not cease to exist or be designed in the near future, so it is the designer’s job to create objects with a longer and more adaptive life cycle.

DA UK: Videos

Not only do we have the fabulous re-cap and photographs from the DA Brighton event (as seen in my two previous posts), but the videos are now up and running on youtube. The evening's presentations began with Peter Bentley, the "Ecological Designer/Thinker and earthling!". Next up was Gabriel Wulff, an Ecologist, Community Gardener and Activist, followed by Professor Sandy Black: Professor of Fashion & Textiles Design Technology and Director for the Centre for Fashion Science both at the London College of Fashion. Our fourth speaker, Karen Blincoe was incredibly inspiring and as someone with so much experience within Sustainability, as well as being the the Director of Danish Designers in Copenhagen and ex-Director of the Schumacher College in Devon, is certainly one to watch! To bring an end to the talks we had Professor Marie Harder, the Sustainable Development facilitator at the University of Brighton. All in all, it was a wonderful and thought-provoking evening - can't wait for the next one!