Exploring the Potential of Bioplastics in Sustainable Home Decor
BioDesign • Sustainable Product Design
Role
Sustainable Product Designer
Timeline
Mar - Apr 2024
Tools
Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Laser Cutter, Stove, Silicone Trays,
X-Acto knife, Beaker, Spatula, Measuring Cups
Materials
Water, Gelatin, Glycerin, Agar, Potato Starch, Natural Additives (Tea, Dried Banana Peel, Rice, Turmeric, Beetroot, Essential oil)
01
PROJECT OVERVIEW
EcoGlow HEXA was developed through the collaborative initiative EcoGlow by Northeastern CAMD graduate students, focusing on innovative uses of biomaterials in home decor, particularly lighting solutions. Within this project, I independently designed and developed EcoGlow HEXA, aligning closely with the team’s goal of using bioplastics as a core material and emphasizing modularity for easy customization.
The project was completed as part of the Critical Making for Adaptive Futures course at Northeastern, which investigates how design can promote new technologies and influence public perceptions for climate adaptation.
02
EcoGlow Series
We chose to concentrate on home decor, recognizing its potential to directly influence daily living environments. Within the realm of home decor, lighting emerged as a particularly impactful area—offering both functional and aesthetic contributions to interior spaces. This focus allowed us to explore how materials like bioplastics could be utilized for lighting solutions.
HEXA
by Jane Effanga
Honeycomb inspired lampshade made with flat hexagonal bioplastic pieces that are joined together with custom made loop rings. Color gradient derived from food wastes like orange peel, coffee and beetroot.
SNOWFLAKES
by Yixuan Zhong
Snowflake-shaped, self-interlocking pieces made from bioplastics, seamlessly assembles to create custom patterns and designs without the need for adhesive. Colored with coffee grounds of varying concentration.
SQUARISH
by Deirdre Ni Chonaill
Bioplastic squares, manually shaped to form these unique cheerful lamp shade. Color gradient and texture variations derived from additives like eggshell, reindeer moss, and black spruce pine needles.
ECOGLOW HEXA
03
Inspiration & Ideation
I.
INDUSTRY INNOVATORS IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Danielle Trofe is a Brooklyn-based designer known for her work in sustainable design and innovative use of biomaterials. She gained recognition for her Mush-Lume lighting series, which is a lighting collection crafted from biodegradable materials, specifically mycelium.
Caroline Zimbalist is an artist and designer who hand creates one-of-a-kind works using nontraditional processes and techniques, sculpting bioplastic and natural materials into three dimensional forms
II.
AI GENERATED CONCEPTS
Prompt
Full image of a customizable DIY lampshade made with flat hexagonal bioplastic pieces of varying natural colors (shades of brown, orange and yellow) and translucency , joined together using loop rings. the colors are arranged to give different effects, first image ombre from dark to light, next from light to dark, other two can be random patterns
Prompt
A creatively designed DIY lampshade made from eco-friendly bioplastic materials. The hexagonal pieces, varying in transparency, showcase a harmonious blend of warm, natural colors such as shades of brown, orange, and yellow. The lampshade features intricate patterns, from smooth ombre gradients to whimsical random arrangements, creating a unique and visually appealing effect. The addition of ground coffee, orange peels, and tea leaves within the bioplastic pieces adds depth and rich textures, further enhancing the lampshade's overall aesthetic.
Prompt
A creatively designed DIY lampshade made from eco-friendly bioplastic materials. The hexagonal pieces, varying in transparency, showcase a harmonious blend of warm, natural colors such as shades of brown, orange, and yellow. The lampshade features intricate patterns, from smooth ombre gradients to whimsical random arrangements, creating a unique and visually appealing effect. The addition of ground coffee, orange peels, and tea leaves within the bioplastic pieces adds depth and rich textures, further enhancing the lampshade's overall aesthetic.
04
Prototype Development
The prototype development was carried out in two main phases, each aimed at testing different aspects of the product. The first focused on material exploration, experimenting with bioplastic recipes while the second phase assessed the structural integrity and modularity of the design during assembly.
I.
Material Exploration
This phase focused on material exploration, experimenting with bioplastic recipes, enhanced with natural additives like coffee grounds, orange peels, turmeric, beetroot, banana peels, and tea leaves. This experimentation aimed to explore diverse textures and hues while assessing the materials' behavior, durability, and aesthetic appeal.
II.
Modular Assembly Exploration
This phase focused on material exploration, experimenting with bioplastic recipes, enhanced with natural additives like coffee grounds, orange peels, turmeric, beetroot, banana peels, and tea leaves. This experimentation aimed to explore diverse textures and hues while assessing the materials' behavior, durability, and aesthetic appeal.
05
Prototype Exhibit
06
Challenges & Learnings
01
MATERIAL UNCERTAINTY
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Challenge: The unpredictability of bioplastic materials, such as extensive shrinkage and prolonged drying times, often led to delays and inconsistent outcomes. Alternative drying methods, like using an oven and a dehydrator, sometimes resulted in warping or exacerbated shrinkage.
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Adaptation and Learning: To address these issues, I adjusted the scale of the bioplastic batches, casting them in larger sizes to account for shrinkage. This iterative process of testing and adapting not only improved my understanding of the material properties but also spurred innovative solutions within the constraints.
02
SUSTAINABILITY VS PRACTICALITY
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Challenge: Navigating the conflict between sustainable and non-sustainable materials was a significant challenge. Time constraints limited the exploration of more sustainable options. Integrating the bioplastic lampshade with non-sustainable lamp bases and hardware required compromising between ideal material use and practical availability.
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Adaptation and Learning: To ensure structural integrity of the lampshade, I resorted to using laser-cut wood for the mounting framework. This decision, while practical, was driven by the need to adhere to project deadlines and the availability of materials that could be quickly and reliably integrated. This experience highlighted the importance of balancing ideal solutions with practical constraints and underscored the need for more readily available sustainable materials.
07
Future Possibilities
This prototype version focused on exploring sustainable materials and developing a user-friendly modular assembly process. Moving forward, the primary goal is to refine EcoGlow HEXA by enhancing its sustainability. This involves:
Further exploration of bioplastic recipes and other sustainable materials to identify those that can replace non-sustainable components used in the current prototype.
Iterating the design to improve ease of assembly and overall user experience.
Extending outreach to foster greater awareness of sustainable practices through the DIY aspect of the kit.