hello,
i would like to exhibit items from previous M.A.D.E. in Edmonton street furniture competitions & new work using waste / scrap wood and found objects.
all pieces were assembled/composed/built during 1 day of The Works festival using basic power/hand tools.
piece 1: high back chair. dimensions: 350mm W x 500mm D x 1300 mm H
piece 2: osb chair. dimensions: 450 mm W x 500mm D x 1050mm H
Log Bows are made from local unwanted trees, fallen or cut down due to infrastructure, re-landscaping, draughts, or stormy weather. The trees are collected, turned and finished by loyal loot and local crafts people. Materials: log cut offs, acrylic paint, water based gloss finish Dimensions: sizes vary between 2- 10 inches in diameter, heights vary
This product was designed to save valuable counter-space in a small, shared bathroom. Socially, it product will enhance the daily grooming ritual of a couple. It will also enhance their quality of life by adding some whimsy and acting as a focal point in a small space. Environmentally, this product will reduce waste by combining two common products into one. It will be manufactured out of ceramic which is an ideal material for a humid environment as it does not rust and is easily maintained. This product also has both mass produce-able and consumable properties.
Dimensions: 5 1/4″ H x 4″ W x 6″ D
In production, this product would be available in two forms. The first would be an in-store purchase. The item would be printed on 100% post-consumer paper and would be printed with natural inks. In this type, the exterior of the clock and the small clock mechanism and parts would be available in a thin, clear plastic bag. This would help to protect the paper clock from water damage, wear and tear while on display, and would allow the customer to see the various clock designs available, making for an inciting display.
The other form would be in a downloadable format available over the internet. In this instance, the clocks would be completely customisable, with the consumer able to choose the paper, colours, designs and size of the final clock. They would also be responsible for choosing the mechanism and clock parts which are easily available at any craft store or by re-using the mechanism from an old clock.
In either instance, it would be up to the user to assemble the clock, thereby enhancing the social attributes of the product and heightening the user’s pride of ownership. As the assembly instructions are printed on the back of the clock (or by downloadable pdf), packaging and waste are further reduced.
Dimensions: 9″ H x 9 ” W x 2″ D
Eco-correct table
I have designed this eco-correct table to be continuous of a ‘closed-loop-system’ for it’s life cycle, it is made from 100% ‘Moso’ bamboo, which qualifies for ‘LEED’ as a rapidly renewable resource and low emitting material, and its adhesives exceeds EI standards with formaldehyde levels 48 times lower than the OSHA standards. The finish is made of 100% water based lacquer, and the steel legs are fully recyclable.
Sofia is not just a reclaimed piece of furniture. It is the reclaiming of an object at which point we as a society would normally consider it to have expired. The scale of a furniture piece, such as a sofa, is what may lead the user to feel that for a multiple of reasons one can not consider how it can be reclaimed, reused, or recycled. We want Sofia to “stimulate a reconsideration of waste and consumption behavior.” By shifting our mind set and exploring new uses for the sofa and the materials found in its production we would like to remove from that public conscience the idea that this article of furniture is disposable. The sofa, for reasons such as aesthetic deterioration, scale, and a lack of imagination falls into the trap of typical contemporary consumption behavior that when its life is believed to be over we throw it out. By personifying the sofa we intend to give new life and identity to an object that until now was perceived as static and finite. As in the case of Sofia, we are exploring new ways in which we can reuse or recycle into something more than a sofa. A sofa’s form and material can lend itself to endless possibilities for reuse. Through an exploration of ones needs the user can envision a creative new use. In the simple act of stripping a sofa of its skin we are forced to examine, often for the first time, the inner beauty and scale of energy and material that goes into the construction of such a piece. Imagining the skin as a variety of different textures and treatments the potential for use explodes into multiple possibilities. By doing this we hope to convince the consumer to not remove but to rethink and reuse. By removing the skin the object is liberated and only limited by imagination.
Our environment is something we collectively can define, but my personal environment is something Idefine.
Design by: Aumer Assaf, Sid Assaf and Bobby Harris
The Canadian Millwork industry contributes a fair amount of waste through material cut-offs that are deemed unusable due to obscure shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Though there are programs and options to recycle this material, most shops simply discard their waste into bins destined for city landfills as a cheaper alternative.
The Quebec Wall Tile Installation is an Interior Design concept to help yield a portion of this wasted material and provide an alternative wall application for the consumer. By incorporating wood shavings with random cut-offs, the QWTI attempts to make use of all discarded material components. No two tiles are the same.
Shaving attachment is either done with a water based glue or friction fit while the tile application itself to a wall surface is conducted with reusable velcro strips.
Stan is a birdhouse that thinks of the birds and gives them a practical, safe, long lasting and easy to clean home.
The front, back and bottom are made from bamboo ply; a much faster growing raw material than regular trees. The roof is made of recyclable and long-living stainless steel. It comes flat packed in minimal packaging and is easy to assemble. A thin flexible stainless steel piece pulls over the structure to form the roof. Simply lift up one side of the roof when an old nest needs to be cleaned out.
The Buoy chair was originally conceived and designed for a homeless workforce reintroduction woodworking program. As there is an immediate shortage in skilled laborers, the purpose of the design and supplementary teaching program is to empower individuals by introducing them to the basic fundamentals of woodworking. The “Buoy” series creates an educational tool that inspires and instills confidence within the individual. The completion of a chair is something that not only the end user would be proud of but the maker as well.
Being true to creative ideologies of Palette Industries, the “Buoy“, was not only designed to be a beautiful object but also embody the essence of the creator’s narrative past. As each finished chair tells the story of its maker’s struggle and triumph, every joint, every cut, every finished surface is a symbol of growth and their persistence to get back on their feet. The current design teaches the following skill-sets learned skill-set: safety, cut sheets, lap joints, butt joints, mitring, splining, finishing and others. Palette is in the midst of talks with community based social programs to try to get programs launched nationally and internationally.
The prototypes for the “Buoy” series where fabricated out of certified, formaldehyde free, moisture resistant, engineered MDF panel product for its decreased missions comparable to natural wood. This was chosen for it is readily available within the market place and is cost effective. Palette Industries envisions the “Buoy” series to be manufactured out of alternative panel products, for example: bio-composite materials made out of recycled newsprint and sunflower hulls or even reclaimed timber.
The Tall Buoy was designed as an extension of the Buoy chair project. Here established artists using the Tall Buoy as a blank canvas, would collaborate with the individual builder to create a true one of a kind art piece. Ultimately the goal is to have the pieces exhibited to not only create awareness of the workforce reintroduction program but to have the pieces auctioned with proceeds going back to the individual and supporting organizations.
The Buoy bench is an explorative continuation of the series. Using recovered wood, this piece is an exuberant example of design utilizing principles of sustainability.
Dimensions: Tall “Buoy” 50″ (H) x 16″ (W) x 22″ (D)
Small “Buoy“- 32″ (H) x 16″ (W) x 22″ (D)
Long “Buoy” Bench- 32″ (H) x 48″ (W) x 22″ (D)
Animula (latin for “little life, little soul”)
What is Animula?
Animula is the compact indoor composter that allows any person to compost whether it in an apartment or physically unable to do so in the traditional outdoor fashion. It brings composting into the indoor environment with no mess, no odor, and with little physical stress. Animula requires no electrical power to work and it is small enough to fit on your counter. Not only does it produce compost at an efficient rate, it is also able to harness compost tea which is considered to be “gardeners gold”. Animula finds a comfortable fit in the contemporary kitchen by using common materials. However, it’s unique biomorphic form makes it stand out to become a conversation piece for people of all ages.
Why an indoor Composter?
Composting has traditionally been an outdoor activity, which presents a problem for those who do not have a yard. In northern climates, it becomes unpleasant to compost in the winter months due to extreme temperatures. The extreme cold also dramatically slows the rate of decomposition. Compost needs to be stirred or flipped in order to keep it aerated, which is integral to the process. Also, maintaining an appropriate temperature and moisture content helps to maximize the decomposition rate. These maintenance aspects can make traditional composting for those with physical limitations too demanding. In essence, the traditional process of composting has many limiting factors, which inhibit both its efficiency and its accessibility. Animula enhances the experience of gardening by improving the efficiency of this therapeutic leisure pursuit. It streamlines the process, making it easier, tidier, and faster. It also serves as a vessel to educate others in the benefits of an environmentally friendly practice.
How Animula Works
Because of its compact design, it is perfect for both small and large spaces. It can produce compost for plants as well as minimizing trips outdoors in colder weather. It requires no electricity, just a simple turning action on the side and it will dice, mix, and aerate your forming compost. A scoop on the bottom allows the dispensing of compost with ease as well as the collecting of compost tea through the bottom. Because of the scent proof Gortec © filter, there is no hassle, and cost efficient. The look is bothe contemporary and nostalgic to target a broader market.
Project by Greg Freer, Katrina Kszekely, and assisted by David Zhang
What is Sol~rella?
Sol~rella is like a regular beach umbrella, except that it is a source of energy and also has an outlet to power small appliances. Because of these alternate uses, the Sol~rella can be beneficial to multiple users. Along with a plug in for small electronics, it comes with a built in fan for additional cooling on hotter days. The parts are all detachable for easy flat storage, and the spheral solar cells ™ used for the panel are durable, light and flexible. For the beach, you can also use the drill anchor for an easier set up. The Sol~rella was designed for personal (beach goers, porches) and for commercial use (Resorts, Street Vendors, and Restaurant Patios).
Why Sol~rella?
Right now the use of our limited fossil fuels is not only going to run out, but it is harmful to our atmosphere with the release of CO2. The sun is a constant source of power that is poorly harvested for energy possibilities. As of recently there has been a huge trend in applying solar power to everyday uses from back pack solar pads to portable generators.
The solution I propose is not to eliminate a problem but to give a stepping stone into the use of solar power. In the long run, the problem of unharnessed common goods will be addressed.
Benefits of a Photovoltaic Beach Umbrella
Economic Value: Sol~rella’s generation of power can reduce energy costs and total energy bills for vendors, restaurants and hotel resorts by providing additional power from the sun while still providing customers with shade.
Environment: Photovoltaic based electricity is produced in a clean and silent manner. As well, the Spheral Solar ™ technology is a clean renewable energy source that has been designed with the environment in mind. There are no dangerous raw materials and the production process generates a minimal waste stream and recycling is done wherever required.
Resource Economics: Sol~rella harvests a free and abundant energy source and puts it to work, reducing the rate at which society is depleting the world’s increasingly scarce fossil fuel resources.
Infrastructure Reliability and Efficiency: Sol~rella, in the long run, can increase grid reliability, resulting in increasing value in the future as reliable high-quality power becomes more valuable.
Energy Security-Economic: A renewable resource such as photovoltaics reduces dependence on all traditional sources of energy inputs and creates a source of energy secure against any external supply interruption or price manipulation.
High Value Jobs: A sophisticated semiconductor technology, photovoltaics offers the opportunity to build an industry of high-technology companies and jobs in science, engineering, manufacturing and services.
Lower Manufacturing Costs: Spheral Solar ™ technology uses lower cost raw materials: Silicone and Aluminum.
Conclusion
This product takes on task object that occupies space and turns it into a multi functional object that is working to harness the power of the sun. It brings a greater value to the beach umbrella and reduces the dependence on fossil fuels as a power source. Although one may not be enough to make a significant impact on the environment, a larger number distributed across the continent would begin to show positive specs.
In our increasingly fast-paced world, individuals often turn to convenience goods as a solution to their time-stressed lives. This trend is particularly evident in the fast food industry where the use of cheap, disposable plastic utensils is the norm. However, the cost to the environmental is immense as these items eventually end up in the landfill.
Eatensils are a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternative to petroleum-based disposable cutlery. Being made entirely from corn-starch and vegetable matter, they can be completely eaten after a meal – creating zero waste. The utensils also double as an breath-freshener and come in the flavours of spearmint, cinnamon, and citrus.
Design by David Bayda
File submission:
All submitted designs and proposals must be original works and exempt of any copyrights and any kind of obligation. For more information, contact us at consumablewaste@theideagroup.ca.
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What to submit?
As an individual or group, you may submit a maximum of three designs. Please note, if you are submitting more than one product, submit each product seperately in a different post.
For each work please supply the following:
Registration / Submission deadline: February 29, 2008
Finished entry deadline: May 01, 2008
