Recycled Beans
2021
University for the Creative Arts
The purpose of this project is to create a circular economy product from the place that originated the material and ends within. Near my master's university, an art center known as "Farnham Maltings" ran a couple of exhibitions, workshops, and events related to art and craft. As a student of product design, we were supposed to investigate the waste of materials and recycle it into a possible product to complete the circular economy.
Farnham Maltings is an art center in the city of “Farnham, Surrey“. Many local artists and students of UCA come together and promote various types of art disciplinary. The purpose of the Farnham Malting is to capture and preserve the various types of culture that were initiated or brought into the city.
The cafe is the central recreational/relaxation place of the Farnham Malting. It unites people and many communities together for discussion and socializing purposes. There are a fair amount of customer visits on the week, out of which Wednesday and the weekends seem to be one of the busiest days due to a screening event in the Farnham Malting. The cafe produces ground coffee waste on a daily basis which gave an idea of how the project can be led further.
The Farnham Maltings Store is a collection of people’s artwork and craftsmanship to be sold to the public, tourists, community, visitors, etc. A
point of observation, most of the products/craft work is mainly focused on recycled and sustainable material to centralize the topic of Green Life and Eco-Friendly lifestyle. One of the lamps had the vinyl molded to the shape of a lamp-head. There were also baskets that were made from recycled plastic.
Farnham Maltings
Depending on the events that occur in the Farnham Malting, the number of customers shall differ on day to day basis. But on an average week, there is a screening event that occurs on Wednesdays and weekends by default. Hence, in the chart, you may notice the growth of customers, and coffee usage increases accordingly.
Research Input
Click below to view a detailed version of this project.
Input Research
Depending on the events that occur in the Farnham Malting, the number of customers shall differ on day to day basis. But on an average week, there is a screening event that occurs on Wednesdays and weekends by default. Hence, in the chart, you may notice the growth of customers, and coffee usage increases accordingly.
User Studiy
The project is focused on reusing a waste/bi-product and re-selling the product at the origin point of the waste. The Farnham Malting was producing coffee waste from its cafe which can be converted into a product and can be sold at its store. There were two days spent in the Farnham Malting Store observing and inquiring about their views/opinions about the store and what they like. As per the research majority were adults and senior citizen who visits on a daily basis and have an interest in crafts or tableware product, which gave an idea about how the audience is targeted. The Farnham Malting Store had more products that were made for tableware purposes or decor pieces that were designed artistically.
Experiment
In this journey of exploration there, much new knowledge was passed on regarding bio-plastic, poly-lactic acid, and organic bonding adhesive. The research came from studying existing sustainability and understanding how they have brought the material to life in the form of providing functionality. At the beginning of the material exploration phase, there was testing on existing bio-plastic (i.e. cornflour with glycerin and gelatin sheet) to understand the based property and see what it was lacking.
In this journey of exploration there, much new knowledge was passed on regarding bio-plastic, poly-lactic acid, and organic bonding adhesive. The research came from studying existing sustainability and understanding how they have brought the material to life in the form of providing functionality. At the beginning of the material exploration phase,I had done some testing on existing bio-plastic (i.e. cornflour with glycerin and gelatin sheet) to understand the based property and see what it was lacking.
Blending grass seeds with the product with creating a form of fiber to the material and would also leave a legacy to the product when discarded in the soil/land dumping. The Idea of applying grass seed is for the user to discard the product life would be formed and give the user certain responsibility to take care of it to promote sustainability mindset. The fiber of the grass seeds gave a better malleability to the material while making it.
