Upcycling Unwanted - Cycle Seat

Transformation Process:

Product Poster:

Rationale:

Right from the beginning I not only wanted to upcycle trash into a product but I also wanted to ensure I didn’t leave any sort of environmental footprint. My plan was to design and build this product using nothing more than what I could find within everyday garbage.

Being a cyclist myself, I have experienced the variety and quantity of waste surrounding the bicycling industry. During my research, it became apparent that the largest source of this waste was a result of punctured tyres and damaged wheels. The main reason for these damaged wheels being the planned obsolescence built into the low-end bicycles.

Initially my concepts focused on using the old bicycle parts as a form of decoration however this progressed towards satisfying the need for a more functional product. My aim was to utilise the highest percentage of the materials I received at the beginning with while still giving each part a function.

In a typical bicycle, the wheels provide the structural support, which holds the bike above the road surface. For this reason, I used the trashed wheels, as a means of support for the stool. Originally I had planned to bind them together using the spokes from a broken wheel however the spokes lacked the necessary flexibility. Instead I opted for galvanised steel wire (which I regretfully had to purchase), which both fits in aesthetically and works perfectly. Of the wheels I received one still had the spokes and hub intact. I saw this as an opportunity to provide structure and support for the seat base. By removing half of the spokes, a flat surface was created that could be adjusted by tightening or loosening the spoke nipples around the wheels edges. Similarly to the wheels, the inner tubes are used to provide an air cushion and therefore add comfort during use during use. For this reason, I constructed the seat cushion using woven inner tubes, which are both comfortable and in my opinion have a certain upcycled charm to them in their current state.

I see potential for the Cycle Seat to be used within small, trendy coffee stores or around the house if you just need a place to sit in the sun and read a book. As bicycles are made to resist the negative effects of the weather such as corrosion, the Cycle Seat could last years exposed to the elements with a limited amount of upkeep.

Overall I’m very happy with how this stool has turned out. Apart from the material choices, it’s nothing like my original concepts, however I feel this way it better suits the brief and truly represents an elegant upcycling solution.

Peer Comments:

Greg Shar

Rob Cervetto

Julian Chow
Lucinda Waters
Valerie El Khouri

Finished Product:

 

Richard Seymour and Dick Powell: Designing dream machines

This video featuring Dick Powell and Richard Seymour opens the doors on the on the processes and methods of design which we as budding industrial designers will be exposed to in our future careers whatever they may be. The video highlights the variety of areas throughout the design and manufacturing process where the designer plays a major role.
Some of the issues highlighted within this video focus on the ways a designer can satisfy not only the people they work with such as the engineers but also their target market and the consumer. 
In my opinion this video is important for us as industrial designers as it highlights the limitations we will have within our work and how we can truly work with others to perfect our final piece of work.

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Annie Leonard: The Story of Stuff

The figures shown within this video by Annie Leonard are so absurd that I’m almost tempted to call her bluff. But then again, so what if some of them are a little exaggerated in order to enhance shock value? It really does seem that our world has got to the point where change can only take place after we’re scared into it by someone else. Annie’s The Story of Stuff is very reminiscent of Al Gores, An Inconvenient Truth however it only focuses solely on the production of todays consumer products and the affects they have on our world and us.

The linear system of production in the way it’s shown by the textbooks seems to work perfectly with no downsides but unfortunately this isn’t the truth. You “cannot run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely” because the system hits limits such as societies and the people forming those societies.

Since the introduction of the mass consumerism explained by Annie, a power shift has shown the corporations take control of the governments while the people with nothing have absolutely no say in what is going in. You now cannot possess power or importance unless you buy or own mass quantities. As usual money is key, and it’s money, which have led to the depletion of resources and quality of life for humans around the world. Everyone mentioned within the video is driven by the need for more cash which can be seen not only with the government giving in to the corporations but also the 200000 people per day around the world who are forced to leave their homes and move to cities in search for work no matter how terrible the working conditions are.

It’s obvious that Industrial design has played a major role in pushing the world to its current position. And in order to get out of this ditch we’ve ended up in, the world and it’s societies will have to work together to reverse the damage and work together for a more sustainable future in which the world can prosper without its resources (and civilisations) running dry. 

For industrial designers, the moral question now exists as to whether we should abandon planned and perceived obsolescence and risk our future jobs, or keep it going and risk out future lives. In my opinion it’s an easy choice. Why ruin the world for generations to come simply to put ourselves and our own needs ahead? If the building in of obsolescence is to continue then it should at least be with materials which can be completely upcycled or those which can be disposed of without doing any further damage to anyone on this beautiful planet of ours.

Video: http://storyofstuff.com/

Image: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/05/11/education/11stuff4.inline.jpg