The “stories of stuff” has been an interesting topic, I am not sure the stories of stuff are told enough, we have all these “things” or “objects” in our lives and how many of us truly understand or know their story. Where did they come from? how were they made? who made them? Again, it all relates back to our lack of understanding as humans of the life cycle of products and things that we consume, surely learning the “stories of stuff” can enable us to design “stories” that have a full life cycle that benefits humans and nature.
(Understanding the full story/journey of a product)
To follow this, theme our workshop task was to create a product with a full life cycle. We were given “clothing” and decided to design a jacket that was made of natural fibres all grown on a single farm. The fibres and materials were to be responsibly treated with natural dyes etc. The farm would then also manufacture the jackets, deliver, recycle and reuse creating a full life cycle for the product. Our vision was that if everything is produced on one site it makes it possible to ensure every element is sustainable and that we are creating a product that has a cradle-to-cradle life cycle.
(Process of designing a jacket with a full life cycle)
We delved deeper into all the factors that would be required to produce such a product and realised that there was such a large variety of skill sets needed to tend to every aspect of the production such as farming knowledge for the materials, manufacturing, design and tailoring to name a few. How could it be possible to achieve all this responsibly from one place? Creating a product that had a complete life cycle that was sold on its story and journey was not something that was going to be easily achieved.
(Factors we need to think about to create a completed life cycle)
Looking at the details involved in a concept like this really got me thinking about how our society has such little knowledge about the “stories of stuff”. I now feel that it is our responsibility as designers to make the stories of what we are designing known. The story begins with the materials we choose, how they have been harvested, how the land has been cared for, how those materials are then used to create products or “stuff”, where that stuff goes after its use and how that continues to aid new growth. The only way we can create social and environmental justice is by telling the whole story.
This is a reflective and thought-provoking post! You’ve captured the essence of the ‘stories of stuff’ concept well, raising important questions about the origins, production, and impact of everyday objects. Your workshop example of designing a jacket with a complete life cycle is a great way to illustrate the complexities of creating a truly sustainable product. Overall, this is a strong and engaging post – well done again!