PROJECTS.
ESCAPING TO SEAWEED.
“Escaping to Seaweed” is a project which utilised futures methodology like Horizon Scanning to understand the potential of seaweed as a material that could be used in daily life. Currently, the narrative establishes us as separate from nature (particularly the ocean) while we should be considered as one system. Macroalgae (seaweed) is available everywhere around the world in many different forms. So, why do we not use this natural material more within our daily lives? As, Greg Gerrard said ‘nature is only valued in terms of its usefulness to us.’ So, in order to materialise a world where the dominant narrative includes sustainable practises, I mimicked a possible routine that involves seaweed at every point – the starting point being a seaweed bag replacing the plastic bag.
“The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something we make and could just as easy make differently” David Wolf Graeber
PART TWO.
By revisiting this project I was able to explore different communication methods. I focused on how to bridge the gap between science and design to consumers by creating a wooden file to hold envelopes which hold information about the possibilities of seaweed. The idea being that it is an accessible, user friendly method that encourages the recycling of seaweed within the home; i.e using scraps as compost or within soup. To further situate it I created a website so that the information is readily avaliable.
2023