Project Brief

My project is based on experimentation of paper along with other materials to discover a new material which can be used as an alternative to make furniture.






1.DESIGN BRIEF
This project is an exploration of techniques to use of waste paper as furniture, to fulfill the fundamentals of recycling, renewing and reusing. The production of furniture takes place all over the world using materials like wood, plastic etc., but using these materials imposes a great cost to the environment. My proposal is to make furniture for kindergarten with the waste paper which is generally neither recycled nor reused. In respect to the users I’ll try and create furniture which is lively, resourceful, comfortable and contemporary.


THE NEED:
FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES:- Recycling one ton of paper saves 682.5
gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and 3.3
cubic yards of landfill spaces.
Source: Waste Reduction is a Smart Business Decision, Onondaga
Resource Recovery Agency, 1998 77 percent of paper is recycled in the
Netherlands.
Source: Washington Post 67 percent of paper is recycled in Germany.
Source: Worldwatch Institute 52 percent of paper is recycled in Japan.
Source: Worldwatch Institute 45 percent of paper is recycled in the U.S.
Source: Worldwatch Institute 20 percent of paper is recycled in India
Source: IPMA

As responsible members of human society, we have a considerable obligation to safe guard the environment we live in, not only for ourselves but also for future generations too. Especially now when there is a greater awareness of the damage already caused to our environment and the predictable after effects of this, it becomes all the more urgent and necessary to seek out methods of reducing the damage that modern society inflicts on our natural resources.
This project will look at steps towards reducing deforestation as it considers an alternative material to wood in cases of furniture manufacture.
At present paper waste along with other garbage is dumped on the outskirts of the cities or burnt which in turn causes air pollution.
If we can sense even part of this immense waste of paper and its disposal a significant reduction in air pollution is possible.


ROLE AND BELIEF AS A DESIGNER:
In today's world when we are so aware of depletion of natural resources, it’s our foremost duty to conserve these.
An important aspect of this project is for me to create something which will exercise my responsibility & duty as a professional & citizen of society.
The rising need for sustainable materials to make furniture is quite apparent in the present situation. Generating interest and awareness would be a help but each must do what one can for the future needs. The positive outcome of this project compliments my passion in making a creative contribution towards this.


2. RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. To produce one ton of paper requires 682.5 gallons of oil, 7,000 Gallons of water, uses 35% of world's annual commercial wood harvest and 3.3 cubic yards of landfill spaces then why is it only 20% waste paper is being recycled in India? What are the reasons for this?
2. Awareness, production and
Consumption of paper furniture is nearly non - existent in India. Why?
3. Can paper furniture substitute wood Furniture?
4. What are the different processes that can be used to make paper furniture?
5. Will making paper furniture be cost effective? Will it generate work opportunities?
6. Is the process of making paper furniture eco friendly?
7. Who are the people and which are the spaces that would opt to use this kind of furniture?


3. APPROACH & METHODS:
Deliverables
Designing a range of furniture made of paper.
Process:

RESEARCH: Research about the
existing products Research different
process being used
in making paper
products


EXPLORATION: Exploring the materials and techniques to make the
paper furniture.
Keeping technology to the feasible minimum and focusing more on innovation and design. Exploring with the ways to make papier mache furniture lighter, stronger, giving it different surface finishes.

CONCEPTUALIZATION To come up with different
designs of furniture. To finalize the design.

PROTOTYPING To develop prototypes.

TESTING To test the prototype with the school
kids, to check its acceptability.

REFINING Refine the designs after testing Documenting the entire process.

Timeline:
JULY
5th -17th – Research about existing products made of paper
18th – 31st -- Research about the various techniques & Materials
AUGUST
1st – 28th – Experimenting & exploring the methods & making furniture
29th – 4th – Testing the furniture
SEPTEMBER
5th – 11th – Survey (acceptance of this furniture in the real world)
12th – 2nd – Finalization of furniture designs.
OCTOBER
3rd – 12th – Giving the final touch to the products

4. MATERIAL/ RESOURCES:
Material: Paper Adhesive Waterproofing agent Moulds Colors’
Resources: Under the Guidance of Vivek & Preeti Prasad Internet
Books on papier mache & paper facts Survey in schools Help and guidance of the faculty

5. LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Learning from the research done on materials, methods and processes
• To become sensitive and aware of the issues concerning waste and pollution. To learn the properties and behavior of the material (paper). To become more aware of technologies used in manufacturing of paper furniture. To explore and experiment ways on how to make papier mache furniture lighter.
• Understanding the needs of the kids as a prerequisite to the awareness of the product and its acceptance.