The integration of sustainable principles in product design is becoming more mainstream in Australia, thanks in part to the forward thinking Nicholas Karlovasitis and Sarah Gibson. Both tutor eco design to our future designers at the University of Technology Sydney, and are the brains behind the innovative design studio, Design By Them.
Since 2006, Design By Them have been producing innovative creations, and their most recent designs don’t disappoint. The Butter Stool and Chair are manufactured from post consumer waste derived from recycled plastic milk containers. Designed from a single piece of material, the chairs can flat pack, but once formed become a rigid functional piece of furniture which can also be stacked to save on space when not in use! Both the stool and bench come in NINE different colours allowing you to mix and match to your hearts content, and they can be used both inside and out!
The very affable Nicholas and Sarah kindly shared with us a little more about their design aesthetics:
1. What inspired you both to integrate eco design principles in the products you produce? When studying ecodesign at university we were told that up to 80% of a products impact is determined during the design phase. This was a massive wakeup call to both of us. To not to accept this responsibility – of reducing the environmental impact of products, would feel unethical.
Apart from the guilt we would have if we didn’t attempt to address this issue, ecodesign principles also serve as the foundation for making our products and business more innovative and efficient. We see it as a positive and integral part of our business and we love the challenges it can add to product development.
We also feel that sustainability will become a standard part of all design, like ergonomics or user safety. Sustainability at the moment is often used as a marketing tool but we hope that it will just be expected by consumers in the future
We also love (and sometimes hate) the way sustainability is so complex. It encompasses much more than choosing sustainable materials, it also encompasses user psychology and behaviour, forcing one to consider a product as an ongoing entity, which can sometimes be a little unpredictable and much more difficult.
2. Your most recent designs include the Butter Stool and Bench – Can you share with us your inspiration behind designing these pieces, and why you chose to make them from recycled containers!? We often come across stools designed from recyclable materials, that do not contain any recycled content. Although this is a step in the right direction we feel that in such products, recycled content could be easily utilised.
So we set about with the challenge of designing a stool from post consumer recycled plastic. We like the approach of starting with a material, as it forces us to design around a materials properties, often creating a product that is more efficient and that capitalises on the materials abilities.
People often don’t recycle plastic furniture and more often than not it cannot be done through conventional systems. This means that the end user has to go through extra steps which will usually mean that the product will end up in landfill.
3. Since you first started lecturing in eco design, have you notice an increased demand from people wanting to pursue the concept of sustainability in design? Definitely. This is also especially apparent in the students we teach – they are more engaged and interested to learn about ecodesign as they see it as a mainstream issue. Unfortunately, many companies see ecodesign as a marketing strategy first and foremost, but they are starting to come around and see it as an area of innovation and a way of improving their business in a range of areas.
4. As designers who consider eco design principles in all products you produce, what are the major challenges you face? We often face challenges when it comes to weighing up the durability of materials and finishes. Especially when it comes to finishes we find that there is less data available to designers and that it can vary considerably depending on the source.
Designers need to consider use and the need to weigh up durability, material impacts and the integration of reparability into the design and product system. It’s definitely a tricky balance and can lead to heated debate in our studio.
We tend to find that the range of materials and finishes available is sometimes limited. We are often amazed at how difficult it can be to source a sustainable alternative to existing materials or finishes.
We often have to negotiate with manufacturers or suppliers to make changes for us in order to make the product or process better. We feel that there needs to be more R&D in this area and we believe it could be a lucrative area for Australian and international manufacturers to invest in.
5. What can we expect to see from Design By Them in the future? We anticipate sustainable materials to become increasingly available in the future (and hopefully in Australia!) and we can’t wait to use them. The system surrounding a product is also crucial, and we are constantly strategising ways of making our products easier to repair and upgrade. Obviously designing for durability (both in aesthetics and use) is first and foremost in our minds, but we can’t ignore the desire for customers to change and upgrade their products over time. It is by no means ever a perfect scenario but we try to constantly seek ways to improve.
We are also exited to have other designer releasing products with DesignByThem and we see this as an area where we hope to grow. We want to build a well known and reputable Australian design brand and we are weighing up moving towards some in-house manufacturing.
6. Please share with our readers your easy eco living tip! Embrace the character of objects as they age – new is not always good, so consider buying things you will keep for a long time (and repair) or things that have existed for a long time – you will get more satisfaction from your belongings if you embrace this mindset and you will find that old and new can co-exist if they are designed to last.
Thanks Nicholas and Sarah – We are looking forward to seeing your future eco designs! Do pop on over to their website and shop for a look – we would have loved to include all their designs, and will just pop one in below (the Weblight made from 75% recycled plastic bags!) for a sneak preview – Enjoy!
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