Archive by Author
The meaning of ‘green’ investigated through the lens of design trends- Part 2
Posted on 08. Dec, 2009 by Wakako Takagi.
In this series of green design trends, I have investigated how sustainably-minded products are shifting the language of design. In this post, you will find the second half of the design trends:
MINIMIZE
FLAT
L(U)ST/L(A)ST
The case studies shown in this presentation are a mix of concept ideas and products that are already in the market. On each slide, you will find a selected design example, a key design attribute, explanation of why the key attribute matters in sustainable design practice and also how you can apply the inspiration from the design language to your projects.
If you are interested in checking out the part 1, you can find it here!
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The meaning of ‘green’ investigated through the lens of design trends – Part 1
Posted on 21. Oct, 2009 by Wakako Takagi.
How does a product look and feel like when it is designed with the consideration toward sustainability and our impacts on the environment? In this series of two presentations, the meaning of GREEN is investigated through the lens of design trends and its physical manifestations in today’s products.
The case studies shown in this presentation is a mix of concept ideas and products that are already in the market. On each slide, you will find a selected design example, a key design attribute, explanation of why the key attribute matters in sustainable design practice and also how you can apply the inspiration from the design language to your projects.
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Shaping a Sustainable Mindset – An Interview with USELESS Founder Mark Simmons
Posted on 30. Sep, 2009 by Wakako Takagi.
What does it take to create a brand that gives more than it takes? Mark Simmons believes he has the answer. At the beginning of this year he launched a for-profit company USELESS to give people ways to solve big issues by selling sustainable products and giving 10% of profits to water and sanitation projects. Click the play button above to navigate through his interview, where he discusses his entrepreneurial journey as well as future plans for USELESS:
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Union 18: Beauty From the Unwanted
Posted on 06. Sep, 2009 by Wakako Takagi.
There are few features of modern life as ugly, on both an aesthetic and environmental level, as cheap synthetic carpeting. Audaciously bland in color and style, synthetic carpeting requires massive amounts of chemicals to produce, and once discarded, it can sit in landfills for 50,000 years or more.
The design house Union Eighteen has found a surprisingly beautiful reuse for these ugly ducklings, by fashioning discarded scraps into gorgeous multi-hued rugs.
Led by husband and wife team Todd and Meg van der Kruik, Union Eighteen’s “RAW Carpets” line uses the bits and pieces of carpet that manufacturers would either reprocess into carpet liner, or throw away.
What’s most inspiring about RAW designs are the vivid patterns that emerge from patching together seemingly bland cast-offs.
RAW Carpets are not a solution to the problem of carpet waste (companies are experimenting with recycling programs), but by re-purposing these toxic ingredients into objects of beauty, they’re pushing back against poor taste — aesthetic and environmental.
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Interview with Emily Sugihara, making the world greener one BAGGU at a time
Posted on 30. Aug, 2009 by Wakako Takagi.
Interview with Emily Sugihara from wakako takagi on Vimeo.
I am thrilled to post my first blog here at Opportunity Green. I will be sharing stories about the latest trends on design+sustainability. The first post is a visual interview with Emily Sugihara, a founder of BAGGU.
When I first met Emily about two years ago, BAGGU was just opening its door to the world with an original BAGGU bag, a reusable bag made of 100% ripstop nylon in a few selected colors. At that time her vision of turning the everyday act of sustainability more accessible to people by creating products that are stylish and affordable was forward thinking and exciting. Since then BAGGU has grown. Now people can choose their BAGGU bags from a spectrum of beautiful colors and patterns as well as sizes and proportions that fit their needs.
In this interview Emily shares her insights about green entrepreneurship with Opportunity Green. I think you will find her genuine yet innovative approach towards running a successful green business inspiring.
