what CAN Design DO?
What Design Can Do is uniting the design community to tackle some of the world's biggest issues
Published On: 21/02/2023
Design is a broad idea that stretches across an infinite number of industries. Many people don’t recognise the vital role it plays in our everyday lives. Design shapes the world around us, it can convey a message, keep us connected, change our thoughts and behaviours. Design can even help to change the world, which is what "What Design Can Do" is aiming to do.
Modular hospital ward made from up-cycled trash, by Miniwiz
What began as a small collective of creative minds has today grown into an international organisation, encouraging creatives, designers, and entrepreneurs around the world to develop solutions to our most pressing social and environmental issues.
“Our vision is a world that is sustainable, inclusive, just and safe, and we believe in the problem-solving power of design to get us there.”
Each year, WDCD proposes a new challenge. The winning ideas are then given the tools and funding needed to actualise these innovations. To date, the program has reached 126 countries, and the projects have raised 10 million euros in funding.
Sustrato — biomaterials made out of pineapple waste: felt, an agglomerated material, rope and bioplastic — by Andrea Michael De La Peña Aguirre
The current challenge, “Make it Circular,” called on designers, creatives, and startups to share their ideas on how to create a circular society based on 5 fundamental themes: what we eat, what we wear, what we buy, how we package, and how we build.
“For our societies to become fully circular, we need to change the way we design: from quick fixes to long-term solutions, from exploiting nature to collaborating with it, from creating new materials to using what we already have.”
Veneer material Totomoxtle, made with the husks of heirloom Mexican corn, by Fernando Laposse
A staggering 650+ applications were submitted from all over the world. Apps for clothing swaps, bricks made from plastic waste, and innovative ways to use textile waste, to name a few. While we strongly urge you to have look for yourself, we wanted to share a few ideas that stood out to us.
Eggshell Ceramic by Atelier LVDW
Atelier LVDW is a material design studio that focuses on bio-based interior surfaces and objects. Their Eggshell Ceramic is a lightweight, biodegradable, and versatile material made from discarded eggshells, which can later be easily recycled into calcium water for plants.
Eggshell ceramic by Atelier LVDW
Circular Jewellery by NoWa
NoWa, which stands for “no waste,” is the first and only company in the world that extracts gold and silver from discarded phones to create beautiful pieces of jewellery. E-waste is a rapidly growing problem, and it is believed that a staggering 30% to 40% of the world’s need for rare metals can be met through urban mining.
Bright Star necklace made of silver with a high-quality layer of 14KT gold, all extracted from recycled cell phones, by NoWa
Aquatecture by Studio Sway
Aquatecture is a unique urban water harvesting system that makes water conservation both visible and engaging through structural elements. The modular panel discreetly fits on the sides of buildings and collects rainwater, which can then be pumped into the grey water system. Once treated, this water can be used for irrigation, toilet flushing, or washing clothes. When integrated with technology, it is even capable of harvesting moisture from the air.
Aquatecture water harvesting system by Studio Sway
The need for environmental and societal change is imperative. We applaud organisations like WDCD for their initiative and masterful way of bringing the international creative community together.
In the words of Bruce May, “Design got us into this mess, now it needs to get us out.”
To keep up to date on the entries and winners of the Make It Circular Challenge and for more information on WDCD challenges and events, check out their website or give them a follow on Instagram.
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Sources & Images:
https://www.instagram.com/whatdesigncando
https://www.whatdesigncando.com/
https://makeitcircular.whatdesigncando.com/
https://www.instagram.com/this_is_nowa/
https://www.instagram.com/studio_sway/
https://andreamichaeldlp.com.mx/Sustrato-Applications
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