The Green Approach to Designing

The power to design using a direction to include sustainability is more than a growing trend. The agenda for the future is to recognize whether designing or buying(end user)have ecological responsibility. Environmental issues are not just the responsibility of governments, it’s everyone’s responsibility.

Sustainable design is our future, in order for the world to pull back the chaos of pollution and the over use of our natural resources. We need to consider connecting with nature and the ability we have as humans to recreate from what is being wasted, this brings me to my current research.

My research is about the fundamental urgency for ecology issues to be recognised by designers and consumers. Responsible shopping co-existing with responsible designing.

Re-using, up-cycling, reducing is a key link to how we can change and start to consider sustainable products.

                                             The Green Design Initiative

In my search for such products I have noted a number of designer/makers who are currently re- using products that have forfilled there use (wooden palettes).

There is a growing trend within design, recycling palettes into useful items.

Outdoor furniture is typical of how designer/makers are reusing, recycling wood to useful and ethically pleasing furniture pieces.

Corner Sofa made by hand .Sean Satchell.

Bright turquoise has been used to compliment the climate in Menorca. This colour is also traditional in this area of the Mediterranean used within local architecture on the island.

Designer maker Sean Satchell has transformed unwanted palettes into useful garden:patio furniture.

Creating bespoke furniture specifically for individual requirements.

Re using, reworking materials gives designers the choice to add social responsibility to the designer/maker roles.

Small side table or Plant Stand.

The Adirondack Chair Traditional Homestead style.
Named after a Mountain

As philosophers and researchers gather information on what is happening with our planets resources Theodore Roszak points out

“The epidemic of our time is the lie of believing we have no ethical obligation to our planetary home” .

Studio Space/Workshop

Workshop space can be created in small spaces for ease of production processes and can link easily within  individual homes. Removing the need to pay for working premises and also keeping costs down.

Sean Satchell in his workshop up-cycling wood.

Traditional Hand Carpentry

Traditional wood work processes limiting waste.
Small work spaces reduce costs for the consumer.

      My blog is a away not only to connect to consumers but also to connect with Designer Makers and companies who are relevant to my research and current interest.

The Green initiative currently trending is for people to think about our environment and consider our own unique carbon foot print and in small ways we can change the current global green house effect. Buying products that have used little or no natural resources is a good thing. Up cycling is a way of insuring less global waste which is deeply effecting our oceans and wildlife.  https://pin.it/lof44skxwygknm

  Local Traditional Stores

Traditional Small Independents shops that like to include local crafts are ideal locations for smaller items. Small enough for tourists and locals to shop easily stock. 

Small boutique: Cuitdella Port Menorca.

Specialist eco conscious natural fabrics tie dyes and batik sarongs and throws are sold including other home interior items and jewelry. Created from a previous fishing boat house, this store is filled with charm and interesting little handmade items and weathered patined  bric a brac.

Eco-conscious designs have over the last decade or so changed from it’s original perspective of tie dye throws, rope beaded curtains and hemp bean bags established in the 1960’s. Linked to the hippy sub culture which previously represented anti –fashion. Empowered the consumer with visual cues of his/her socio political power associated with animal and human rights. The new eco conscious market challenges these understood stero- typical images. This is a challenge for designers of which many have eco conscious production and values but don’t promote it as their main aim. Eco-ghosting is the terminology designers who eco produce but don’t shout about it. As consumers become more and more aware designers are responding accordingly.(the Guardian)

Philippe Cousteau - An Arctic Discovery

                                                   Environmentalists

Ocean biologist Jacque Cousteau (1910-1997) was an inspiration when I was growing up and also for many people interested in ocean environmental and conservation issues.

Recently Jaques Cousteau’s grandson has been part of a series of documentaries highlighting environmental and conservation issues of our planets oceans, he specializes in oceanography which is looking into scientific aspects of our oceans to better understand what is happening due to pollution and global warming issues.
The sketch books to the left and below show some pencil drawing illustrations I would like to create some wall papers and fabric with either one shell drawing repeated with marl effect
warn out blistered dried out backgrounds to add a tactile approach to create a relaxed vintage feel to my design work. I would also like to create some seaweed and coral repeat surface pattern using one colour or two that are tonal. Black backgrounds and silver ,gold and bronze would add opulence and romance to surface design. 

background textures.

Ocean theme drawings.

under water background.

He has recently also highlighted concerns in regard to melting ice gaps in Antarctica and has explained present forecasts are not accurate. The environmental issue is far greater in terms of climate change and biodiversity within our oceans

Oceans and sea creatures have been depicted within art and design since ancient Greeks and Romans and other ancient cultures, tribes and religions. I have chosen to use oceans, wildlife, natural flora, nautical imagery as my focus in order to improve knowledge of conservation and marine ecology of our oceans.

Oceans are the colour blue. Colour  theory is a method of inquiring what effects can a colour have on human behavior. 

Sketches of ocean shells.

History of Oceans

    Cultures are developed against our oceans around the world. Romans are one of the earliest super powers who used the sea to transport goods around their empire. Researching ancient cultures gives us insight into how history has developed so that we can understand how our cultures across the globe functions previously so that we can create links to modern day society. It shows us how previous trading links, linking continents developed. Looking at sea levels at different historical eras can give us important information in regard to when sea levels dropped which in turn created an environment for humans to travel across continents.