Play with stuff
Materials Based Designing Continued - Vintage article update.
An important step in my creative design process is always Play.
Play might be defined as undirected, enjoyable, experimental. It’s putting the various characteristics of the material that I listed to practical testing. I want to see what the material will do. Using upcycled plastic as an example:
if it bends, how far?
if it reacts to heat, how much?
if it seems soft enough to cut, with what tool? And can it be pierced or punched?
I tend to cut stuff up, especially to see how the edges look. Some of the things I cut were small flowers with a pin hole in the center, to use as custom brads, giant sequins or embellishments.
I want to have fun. I might easily make nothing useful at first.
Defining “Useful”
As I mentioned, when I work on craft projects, especially upcycled stuff, I try to make it useful - practical, pragmatic. The object must serve a purpose that is ultimately to make life simpler, more efficient or more comfortable.
It should fulfil a need - including the need for aesthetic appreciation. So more beautiful.
My goal is “efficiency with elegance.”
Therefore qualities to avoid include fussy. Good design means functionality that limits fuss.
A few years ago I attended the Dwell On Design Expo, that is still going annually.. It’s a trade show about Modernist design focusing on architecture and interiors - all very practical “real world” applications of good design. I saw a ton of design that was both useful and elegant. I saw materials based upcycling - "how can I use this material to make beautiful, useful things?", resulting in furniture, wall coverings and lighting fixtures.
I also saw a lot of “Solution Based Design”. The designers were defining the problem, choosing an aesthetic (in this case mostly Modernism), and then finding the material to make the solution work.
I found many exhibitors that talked about using materials as an aesthetic guide. They focused on the colors and textures of natural materials - wood, stone, metals - as emblematic of luxe.
I am fascinated by the prototyping process, because it reminds me so strongly of scientific method. The designers make initial sketches, then propose a hypothesis - "will this design work?" They then experiment with more drawings, working models, 3D printed prototypes for shapes to test the functionality and ergonomics, and finally get to a conclusion - a working, useful product.
I mentioned recycled plastic bottle cuffs - and they are cute BUT some were challenging to wear because they get hot, and fasten awkwardly. However, the one I made with the button and loop, and soft crocheted edging is much more comfortable and easy to wear. It took real world testing to notice those issues and the best solutions.
Creative Inspiration:
Cut out the same simple shape - heart, flower - in a bunch of different recycled materials. Notice the challenges and what is easy.
Then take all those shapes you cut out, punch holes or staple, and make a decorative mixed media garland.
Happy creating.