C, mm, n Hydrogen Car, Netherlands Society for Nature and Environment
Sustainability is an issue of increasing importance within society as businesses, designers and consumers attempt to address our unsustainable consumption of resources. Sustainable Futures at London’s Design Museum explores the latest developments.
The idea of sustainability combines the intelligent use of renewable resources with forward-thinking solutions and prizes longevity over recyclability. Sustainable Futures investigates five main themes: Cities, Energy and Economies, Food, Materiality and the Creative Citizen. Most importantly, the exhibition places emphasis on the involvement of the consumer, giving them the tools and the understanding necessary to effect change.
Grow Your Own Greenhouse, Jochem Faudet, Diagnostic Kitchen, Philips Design
Food production is often underestimated in its use of resources and the damage it does to the environment. Jochem Faudet has designed a compact and semi automated greenhouse ideal for city living, whilst Philips have come up with an idea for a sensor which detects nutrient levels in the body and informs us of what we need to eat.
The Local River, designed by Mathieu Lehanneur, combines a fish tank with a greenhouse in which the oxygen given off by the plants supports the fish. Tim Kekeritz has pointed out the vast quantities of fresh water used in food production and has devised an educational tool which shows us just how much is used to make different food items and hopefully makes them think twice about consuming food such as meat which takes up a lot of water.
Digital Rainbow, Christopher Raeburn, Hemp Satin, Miriam Ridha
In the area of fashion several designers have looked into materials and how these can be more sustainable and renewable. Christopher Raeburn has investigated the re-use of materials, sourcing a large quantity of unusable parachute silk from the Ministry of Defence and turning it into fashionable garments. Miriam Ridha has worked with hemp and wearable, natural and above all stylish clothing.
The manufacturer Puma has addressed the important area of packaging in Fuseproject together with designer Yves Behar. By replacing their traditional shoebox with a ‘shoe bag’ Behar has reduced the materials used, the overall weight and has removed the need for a box.
Changing Habbits, Giraffe Innovation Limited
The Changing Habbits Project by Giraffe Innovation Limited is an online tool which allows people to see their habits compared against an ideal. It does so by physically exaggerating body parts which correspond to the habits. The idea is to afford people a way of anaylsing themselves and combines this with information on their carbon footprint, helping them to reduce this as well as saving them money.
Sustainable Futures runs until September 05 2010. For more information visit Design Museum, London
