Home/Work/
Reshaping
Desire
Year: 2017
Post Graduation Thesis
Material Innovation
Material: Wool Felt
Home / Crafts and Materials/
Reshaping Desire
Year : 2017
Master Thesis : National Institute of Design, India
Material Innovation using post production waste felt
Material : Wool Felt
Products made from waste could be a hard sell, conditioned as we are to seek out the new.
This project is a mission to Reshape Desire by repositioning the discarded, low-value felt waste in the context of high value design.
About the company
Parampara, Jaipur
An export firm, known for its handcrafted and quirky, felt based christmas and wall decor products sold across USA and Europe under labels such as Crate & Barrel and Fiona Walker, England.
As the company aspired to be a zero waste organisation, the issue of production waste still remains unaddressed. Hence, this project aims at exploring constructive use of felt waste that has otherwise unusable.
Ways and means
In the first phase, research and exploration were carried out simultaneously.
In my search to way forward, the objectives of second phase research were manifold.
Firstly, comprehending the wastefulness of textile consumption in global and Indian context inhibiting sustainability, in both environmental and socio cultural terms.
Secondly, looking into the old archives for the indigenous knowledge of living resourcefully.
Understanding the ongoing characterisation of how waste issues were dealt across globe through mapping trends, taking me through in-depth examination of several establishments focusing on reusing textile waste, also bringing to light the factors influencing businesses in long term while revealing conceivable opportunities.
There were two parallel tracks, first being research based and second being exploration based, both these tracks influenced each other over the three phases of project.
Being an experimental project, the approach to design was to look at material explorations as an important strategy for generating new ideas.
What had to be dealt with?
Looking Back To Move Forward
Patchwork Quilt
Applique Guajarat
Traditional terrazzo floor
Taking a deep look at the archives, I drew key elements from old ideas to create a fresh take on the problem of waste.
Inspired from the patchwork and Applique techniques used in several Indian traditional crafts to the beauty of evergreen terrazo flooring from the past, my explorations came from a mixed range of influences, fusing old and new.
They were a distilled interpretation of past eras, leading me to re-evaluate about what ‘classic’, thinking means today, both for strategy and for products.
Trend Analysis
The shift towards environmental responsibility is spurring designers and companies to develop new experimental materials, by making use of post industrial waste.
Aspects of design and production are increasingly informed by the need for zero waste solutions following the cradle to cradle approach.
Handmade processes and local craftsmanship are celebrated as consumers embrace the flaws and irregularities of products.
Interest in ecological consciousness is likely to grow as maturing consumers recognise the consequences of consumption.
Maintaining a sustainable lifestyle could become a priority for lot of people, who perceive it as a modern, sophisticated way of living.
Hands-on Enquiry
Terrazzo
Terrazzo makes use of small scraps that are otherwise unusable. It's sustainability credentials are a neat match with its versatility.
The material can be updated season on season, while still evoking the appeal of memphis style and the classic marble and stone.
With brands developing their own materials to provide a point of difference, terrazzo's customisable potential makes it a material of the moment.
Pastel colorations, carefully considered speckle patterns and painterly mixes of color and texture bring further newness to the traditional terrazzo.
Patchwork
Patchwork uses the irregularly shaped and sized felt scraps patched together to create a new surface, a continuation of traditional patchwork, making it relevant for modern times.
The raw finishes appear worn and tactile underscoring the importance of texture as a way to add meaning to products and introduce storytelling.
The patchwork also fulfills the urge of connecting with nature, as it holds feral quality, inspired by nature. The surface has a primordial and tactile quality, emultung furry and hairy textures.
It also provides innumerable possibilities of combinations to adapt to the changing color palettes.
Wet Felting
Felting scraps between two layers of natural white wool batting. This did not work for scraps dyed in different color as their color bled in the process of felting.
Design Direction
Terrazzo & Patchwork
It was observed that the felt used in company was loosely felted and still held the scope for further felting to achieve tighter, compact, wear resistant and better quality felt. Using this opportunity to an advantage, the scraps were felted together to form a new material which was not only the answer to the waste problem but also an improvement to the existing felt quality used in the company.
Potential Product Range
MODULAR SEATING (Render & Prototype)
Triangular seating pods are a growing system of various sizes conceived geometrical and as movable furniture. As more people work from home and live in shared environments, these pods adapt to new ways of living opening up possibilities for the space to be used for multiple activities.
CUSHION (Prototype)
In the nomadic life of the persona, a cushion is something dear to them, forming an essential part of furniture and decor while making any place feel comfortable like home. The persona resonates with the multi-utility characteristic of the cushion.
RUG (Render & Prototype)
Tangram is not just a game, it’s a philosophy, a way of life. Tan rug stands for versatility, flexibility and creativity: the individual elements can be varied and put together as desired, so one always discovers different interpretations of the same rug and making it possible to design in nite variety of new forms. Like the Thinker’s ideas keep changing, the tangram changes.
PENDANT LAMPS (Render & Prototype)
The light emitted by lamps are enhanced by layered transparencies, Experimenting with light filtering to create modern yet poetic designs that change when on or off. Textured surfaces and hazy felt surfaces conceal light sources with a delicate, calming effect. The organic-looking surface of the felt shade is reminiscent of nature in shape, colour and feel, while also recalling savage sensuality and remade aesthetics.
Conclusion
Reshaping Desire began with understanding the problem of waste and its nuances while simultaneously working hands-on with the material, connecting links through physical explorations. The explorations lead to material innovation in form of one of a kind Terrazo and Patchwork surfaces. These surface were given a commercial direction by designing lifestyle products, where the designs were driven by feasibility and scalability without relinquishing the aesthetics. The project resulted in collection of modular soft furniture, pendant lamps, rug and cushions.