There is something intrinsically pleasing about experiencing natural fibers in the form of good design. When this happens within a fair trade setting, the mix of aesthetics, function, environmental and social awareness is an irresistible draw for those with an eye on sustainability. That’s why we’re intrigued by “Design Beyond the Borders of Development” from SUDesign, a collaborative of academics, architects, designers and artisans from around the globe. The results are some great home products made beautifully and sustainably (environmentally and socially).
The project mixes modern and traditional design into over 100 stunning, functional pieces for the home. Industrial Design students from the University of the Republic of San Marino and the University of Venice approach possibilities in natural materials, like bamboo, with insight from craftspeople in Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Shapes are driven by the technical capacity of the materials and often derived from original natural forms. The collaborative effort between the design students and the artisans yields work that is fresh, innovative, functional, fun, and has sustainability in mind.
7 Responses to “Design Beyond the Borders of Development”
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love the orange bowl/despenser!
Other than the stool in the photo above, this is an all together lame and disfunctional collection with minimal sales potential. An interesting class project but hardly noteworthy.
hey, that’s great! i’m going to make my own orange bamboo maze bowl!
Wow Brian way to go for encouraging sustainable and alternative designs. I’d like to see what you have to offer if you don’t think these designs are “noteworthy”. I think they are all pretty fantastic I especially like the cutlery holder.
not all eco-design has to be noteworthy…let’s be honest, we’ve all seen much better. i’m not sure why this would be highlighted on inhabitat.
hahaha very good, how much does it cost?
Unlike some of the commenters here, i most certainly like these eco-friendly designs. I would really like to know which designs came from Bangladesh.