Learning through making was one of the main takeaways from my time on the course. Finishing during a pandemic made this especially difficult as I wasn’t allowed to attend uni to successfully do this. However, I learned things this year that were valuable and that will stay with me as I continue after University.
The two projects I worked on this year were very different, one a piece of furniture to encourage reading and the other a shoe project fueled by sustainability. Each project is explained more below.
The Book Hod, named after a bricklayer’s hod mimics the shape and stores a small number of books directly next to a couch. In England, 31% of adults do not read in their free time. Reading has proven benefits including; improving mental health, higher self-esteem, and improves sleep patterns. The Book Hod is a direct response to the lowering reading statistics. By moving the books closer it encourages the user to pick one of them just as easily as a TV remote.
Why are we still gluing our shoes? The current way of attaching soles and uppers is called cementing and involves heading an adhesive that creates toxic fumes and contaminates the water supply De-tach would bypass the adhesive process and allow the consumer to attach the two parts using a shoelace. This new way of attaching shoes would allow for customization that was previously not possible. At the initial purchase, the consumer would pick one sole, two uppers, and three laces; which would allow for a total of six possible combinations for them to switch between. The typical shoe has 52 components which add to the manufacturing process and adds to the number of carbon exiled, the limited amount of components of De-tach would lower this number.
