Education, copy

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS

Non-profits // Universities

PROJECT INTRO

Miranda the Panda and the Commander Salamander were originally developed as an alternative to stuffed toys sold at zoos, which ironically are made from oil-based resources (synthetic materials) that destroy the habitat of wildlife in which conservation organizations aim to protect.

The Miranda Panda collection is made from organic cotton, filled

Parsons School of Design,

product design studio:

BUYING BACK NATURE

Key teaching points:

Historic perspective and longterm effect on the social, political, and environmental effects of product manufacturing and disposal // Arming students with basic ecological knowledge to achieve and practice regenerative design // In-depth material research and exploration // Site research: social and environmental conditions // Strategy: Reviving local maker communities + cultivating and applying plant-based resources.

Projects are carried out in partnership with communities and non-profits.

Parsons School

of Design -

Product design Studio: Buying Back Nature

Key teaching points:

Projects are carried out in partnership with communities and non-profits.

THEORY // WHY WE NEED CHANGE

1. History of Manufacturing and Waste // From chemical warfare to agricultural products and rise of synthetic material manufacture and disposal - a historic perspective on the landscape-scale social (political) and environmental effects.

2. The longterm Effect // a local perspective: Superfund sites and pollution of Newtown Creek and Gowanus Canal. Landfilling in the wetlands of Jamaica Bay. The rise of the EPA and increase of global manufacturing, and exporting ‘bad practices’ to ‘developing nations’.

3. Ecosystems // Understanding ecosystems and interspecies relationships, new local ‘novelty’ systems and ecosystem services. Focus: Tropical deforestation driven by global consumer demand.

4. Deforestation and Effects Climate // what is currently driving deforestation and how it effects climate change. History of deforestation and reforestation in the Northern hemisphere, and how ecosystems recover from human impacts.

How can the product design industry encourage reforestation?

RESEARCH DRIVEN DESIGN // SOCIAL AND

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

La Yeguada project - Overall goal:

Using product design to impact diversification of managed timber plantations // Widening our knowledge of plant-based materials and subsequently designing habitable landscapes for human and non-human habitation // applying plant-based materials to design proposals for local needs.

1. La Yeguada overview.

2. Deforestation in Panama.

3. Effects of deforestation on flora and fauna in Panama.

4. Early reforestation efforts: 1960's 7000 hectares of Caribbean pine planted.

5. Caribbean pine information.

6. Pitch pine comparison: what more can we learn of the faunal relationships by comparing Caribbean pine to Pitch pine?

7. Soil conditions.

8. Indigenous crafts.

9. Wood imports and exports: exporting raw wood material and importing ready-made wood consumer products.

10. Ecotourism - additional markets.

11. Plant-based material research: 150+ species.

MATERIAL EXPLORATION

1. Alyssa Achacoso and Christina Murcia: Sawdust/wood shaving + lime _ cement compounds. 2019.

2. Teddy Maithai: Cast table-leg compound tests, 2019.

3. Georgie Osgood: Glycerine + nutrient rings, to boost and support plant growth in reforestation projects, 2019.

4. Teddy Maithai and Olle Hiort: Sawdust + lime + cement compounds, 2019.

5 Maryangela Rocca: Fabric expansion exploration, 2018.

6. Queenie Huang: demonstrating stitches, 2018.

7. Aria Shehas: Twisted fabric scrap rope, scrap stuffed pockets, 2018.

8. Paige Katona: Twisted fabric scrap rope, 2018.

9. Gus Rust: Textile scrap weaving, tea dyed, 2018.

PROTOTYPING // MODELMAKING

1. Goksu Piskinpasa: Initial and final models of pinecone inspired lightning, 2019.

2. Goksu Piskinpasa: Prototyping final light, 2019.

3. Kamil Faour: Jiggering a plaster model, 2019.

4. Jeen Lohasiriwat: Cast sawdust compound speakers, 2019.

5. Olle Hiort: Armature for cast chair, 2019.

FINAL PROJECTS

1. Liam Pitts: Teak scrap deck (From Masaya & Co) and bio-degradable rubber wheels , 2017.

2. Goksu Piskinpasa: Lamp made from Caribbean pine scraps with natural oil finish, handmade paper from paper waste. Shape influenced by Caribbean pine cones 2019.

3. Zac Pepere: Console with plant-based dyes/finishes, 2017.

4. Jiahuan Cheng: Ceramic tea/coffee set, fired with wood scraps. Shape inspired by volcanoes in Nicaragua, 2017.

5. Emilyn Chang: Endangered Panamanian Animals, wood toys. Made from Ccaribbean pine scraps and natural plant-based finishes. Designed for conservation non-profits. 2019.

6. Hye Jung Moon: Ceramic and Teak scrap iPhone speakers, with natural oil finish. 2017.

7. Jin Young Lee: Salt & Pepper shakers. Caribbean pine scraps, plant-based finishes. 2018.

8. Peaches Harrison: Kapok-fiber bag with plant-based dyes and wax finishes, 2017.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy -

Guidebooks of plants found in Gowanus

Guides over commonly found native and non-native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in the Gowanus Watershed - including 'weeds'. The guides point out each plant’s ‘value’ in terms of interspecies relationships, ecological ‘roles’, medicinal, food and material value, in addition to information on remediative qualities.

View the Herbaceous Guide here and the Trees & Shrub Guide here.