> Industrial design maybe rediscovered by archaelogists as ultimately
responsible
> for the plastics landfill strata they see centuries from now. (hopefully)
I think there's no denying that the accumulated efforts of (most) industrial
designers will indeed be unearthed by those future archaeologists. It's
something that has played on designers' minds for years. Not just plastics
of course, but the constant renewal of all kinds of products for the sake of
new brochures, new promotion and new sales year in, year out. Browsing
around high street stores, I don't see things slowing down either.
(Comments from anybody at the cutting edge of research in such matters?
Probably best to continue any further discussion of this on ID Forum mailing
list, rather than this one....).
> Just out of curiosity and from designer to designer, do you come across,
or use
> a lot of re-cycled material?
I'm just starting out in my professional career as a designer. In my
current line of work (sports-related products) I do see opportunities for
using recycled materials. I'll always try and investigate the possibility
of bringing them in to a product. I suspect the use of these materials will
result in too much of a cost increase though. Incidentally, a small section
of my PhD looked at the current state of play (in 1998) of 'green issues and
materials selection' in professional industrial design practice. The
results were fairly glum reading, revealing more of a statement of intent
and ecological 'lip service' than a concerted effort to integrate large
quantities of recycled materials into products (especially mass consumer
products). Of course, in many cases a moulded plastic product will contain
a small percentage of re-ground 'waste' material...
I agree with you that re-use, re-invention, re-pair and (ultimately)
re-thinking of the way we purchase, use and dispose products will start to
rectify the waste of manufacturing industry. A big task, and one that
everyone (yes, everyone) needs to address. Perhaps we need another Great
Exhibition showcasing visions of the way forward?
Owain
---
Dr Owain Pedgley, R&D Industrial Designer
Sports SET Network
www.sportsetnet.org.uk
+44 (0)114 222 7853
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