THEORY // WHY WE NEED CHANGE

 

1. History of Manufacturing and Waste // From chemical warfare to agricultural products and rise of synthetic material manufacture and disposal - a historic perspective on the landscape-scale social (political) and environmental effects. 

 

2. The longterm Effect  // a local perspective: Superfund sites and pollution of Newtown Creek and Gowanus Canal. Landfilling in the wetlands of Jamaica Bay. The rise of the EPA and increase of global manufacturing, and exporting ‘bad practices’ to ‘developing nations’.

 

3.  Ecosystems // Understanding ecosystems and interspecies relationships, new local ‘novelty’  systems and ecosystem services. Focus: Tropical deforestation driven by global consumer demand.

 

4. Deforestation and Effects Climate // what is currently driving deforestation and how does deforestation affect climate change? History of deforestation and reforestation in the Northern hemisphere, and how ecosystems recover from human impact. 

​

How can the product design industry encourage restorative practices such as reforestation?

RESEARCH DRIVEN DESIGN // SOCIAL AND

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

​​

La Yeguada project - Overall goal: 

Using product design to impact diversification of managed timber plantations // widening our knowledge of plant-based materials and subsequently designing habitable landscapes for human and non-humans // applying plant-based materials to design proposals. Overview of topics below. Click on image to right for details. 

​​

1. La Yeguada overview. 

2. Deforestation in Panama.

3. Effects of deforestation on flora and fauna in Panama.

4. Early reforestation efforts: 1960's 7000 hectares of Caribbean pine planted.

5. Caribbean pine information.

6. Pitch and Caribbean pine comparison: what more can we learn of faunal relationships?

7. Soil conditions. 

8. Indigenous crafts. 

9. Panamanian wood imports and exports: exporting raw wood material and importing ready-made wood consumer products. 

10. Ecotourism - additional markets. 

11. Plant-based material research: 150+ species. 

 

 

​

MATERIAL EXPLORATION

​

1. Alyssa Achacoso and Christina Murcia: Sawdust/wood shaving + lime _ cement compounds. 2019.  

​

2. Teddy Maithai: Cast table-leg compound tests, 2019. 

​

3. Georgie Osgood: Glycerine + nutrient rings, to boost and support plant growth in reforestation projects, 2019. 

​

4. Teddy Maithai and Olle Hiort: Sawdust + lime + cement compounds, 2019. 

​

5 Maryangela Rocca: Fabric expansion exploration, 2018. 

​

6. Queenie Huang: demonstrating stitches, 2018. 

​

7. Aria Shehas: Twisted fabric scrap rope, scrap stuffed pockets, 2018. 

​

8. Paige Katona: Twisted fabric scrap rope, 2018. 

​

9. Gus Rust: Textile scrap weaving, tea dyed, 2018. 

 

PROTOTYPING // MODELMAKING

​

1. Goksu Piskinpasa: Initial and final models of pinecone inspired lightning, 2019.

​

2. Goksu Piskinpasa: Prototyping final light, 2019.

​

3. Kamil Faour: Jiggering a plaster model, 2019.

​

4. Jeen Lohasiriwat: Cast sawdust compound speakers, 2019. 

​

5. Olle Hiort: Armature for cast chair, 2019. 

FINAL PROJECTS

 

1. Liam Pitts: Teak scrap deck (From Masaya & Co) and bio-degradable rubber wheels , 2017.

​

2. Goksu Piskinpasa: Lamp made from Caribbean pine scraps with natural oil finish, handmade paper from paper waste. Shape influenced by Caribbean pine cones 2019.

​

3. Zac Pepere: Console with plant-based dyes/finishes, 2017. 

​

4. Jiahuan Cheng: Ceramic tea/coffee set, fired with wood scraps. Shape inspired by volcanoes in Nicaragua, 2017. 

​

5. Emilyn Chang: Endangered Panamanian Animals, wood toys. Made from Ccaribbean pine scraps and natural plant-based finishes. Designed for conservation non-profits. 2019.

​

6. Hye Jung Moon: Ceramic and Teak scrap iPhone speakers, with natural oil finish. 2017. 

​

7. Jin Young Lee: Salt & Pepper shakers. Caribbean pine scraps, plant-based finishes. 2018.

​

8. Peaches Harrison: Kapok-fiber bag with plant-based dyes and wax finishes, 2017.

​

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.