Pure upcycle design is design that only uses discarded materials and objects. I think it’s one of the best ways to create eco-friendly design. But what about other upcycle design? Well, as long as design is made by using discarded or waste items and/or materials it can be seen as eco friendly. Because one uses items that would otherwise be thrown away. Result in either case is less waste being thrown away. And that’s one way of contributing to sustainability. We should all promote a sustainable and healthy world. And when I say all, I mean businesses, consumers, designers and governments alike.
Tripod and washing machine drum make a perfect unity
Having said that I want to show a design that is made from a discarded object in combination with other objects and materials. Let me introduce the ‘REWASHLAMP‘ by Portuguese freelance graphic designer Tó Martins.
Martins came across old washing machine drums and thought of a way to make lamps out of them. Another upcycle design using the same object is the drum lamp by Dutch designer Willem Heeffer. This time the drum is transformed into a floor lamp. The drum, which of course is the central decorative piece, is connected with a photographer tripod. This perfect unity is a friendly design and possesses great functionality in setting the hight of the lamp. All the fabrics used are synthetic and the product comes with an energy saving light bulb.
“The production process is 100% manual, giving these pieces the characteristic of being totally customized and exclusive. Giving this process, the pieces are made in limited quantities.”
So far, he’s made many versions using fake grass, cork, measuring tapes, steel roses and tons of other materials. The available lampshades are named piedecoq, redstars, camouflage, purplemisc, corkupine, blackswan, and green grass among others.
Martins:
“This design product is born with an original form, but it’s through the exploitation of new processes and joint ventures, that emerges a perfect union between the design and functionality, transforming these objects into unique decorative elements.”
Photos © Tó Martins
Design by Tó Martins
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