Design challenge

Upcycled Design Challenge:

This week I have looked at a range of options around my initial design challenge concept of upcycling.  I found that it is a trend many people are involved with and it is not only for aesthetic, vintage purposes but for the sustainability and low environmental impact purposes too.  It seems that in society many people are becoming concerned about the Earth's resources and the affect that human activity is having on the environment and are opting to re-use a range of materials in order to reduce their impact.  There are many levels to the upcycling project, they can be simple such as a tea cup and saucer turned into a bird feeder (below) or more complex and on a larger scale such as the car garden (below).

Sourced from: http://secondchancetodream.com/2015/03/10-upcycled-diy-birdfeeders.html.

Sourced from: http://www.fleamarketinsiders.com/car-parts-into-furniture/.

I must admit that  I did get a bit carried away with my researching looking into options that would not be age-appropriate for school students so to keep myself on track I decided how my ideas could link to the Australian Curriculum.  When looking at the Scope and Sequence of the Design and Technologies Curriculum I decided that I  wanted to create a project that would challenge students in terms of their innovation, creativity and design and so decided to opt for them creating either a garden bed, garden decoration (wind chime, scarecrow, bird feeder) or outdoor play equipment using only upcycled materials.  I felt that this particular project came under the Year 5 and 6 Design Curriculum as they explore how designers "address competing considerations including sustainability in the design of products, services and environments and for current and future use" (Australian Curriculum, n.d.).  This particular project came under the Materials and Technologies specialisations strand where students "investigate characteristics of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment to evaluate the impact of their use" (Australian Curriculum, n.d.).

In this way students could investigate a range of recycled materials and their properties and how they could be best suited to re-use.  For example, could they withstand the elements if they were placed outside? If used to grow plants such as an upcycled garden bed could the root systems grow into the object to sustain its growth?  These questions and investigation allows students to think critically whilst creating their design and has many avenues for exploration through trial and error before the final product is developed. The students will be required to complete the design cycle (see below) where they research, weighing up the pros and cons of their designs (investigate), explaining its value and purpose, explore the materials properties and benefits (plan) create a prototype (create) and then design the final product and reflect upon it (evaluate).

Sourced from: http://mypdesign.weebly.com/design-cycle.html.

To begin my exploration within this design challenge I researched some upcyled garden beds, garden decorations and play equipment.  Below are a few of my favourites that I have used for inspiration.

 



Guitar garden bed:

Upcycling an old guitar by cutting it in half and using it as a garden bed to be stored outdoors.  It does not only meet aesthetic needs but is a practical and re-usable product.

Sourced from: https://www.pinterest.com/upcyclethat/in-your-next-musical-life/.

Hanging window frame:

This is a garden decoration where an old window frame has been upcycled into a hanging ornament housing pot plants. It again meets both practical and aesthetic needs within the one product.

Sourced from: http://dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/upcycled-garden-using-recycled-salvaged.html.

Playground equipment made of tyres:

This playground equipment is made using recycled tyres and upcycling them into balancing equipment and climbing walls.  The perfect addition to any playground! Sustainable, aesthetically appealing and practical.

Sourced from: http://kaboom.org/blog/playgrounds_made_junk.



From my research I have decided that playground equipment may be too challenging for the Year 5 and 6 age group, and so I have decided that my design challenge will either be making an upcycled garden bed or decoration (bird feeder, wind chimes or scarecrow). Stay tuned for my attempts!