RCA Graduates tackle important environmental issues with innovative designs

Graduates of Royal College of Art's Design Products tackle important current issues with innovative designs like homemade bioplastics and tools that block Wi-Fi to help people concentrate on the present moment. The exhibit was set in Machines Room, a bricked workshop in East London, for the London Design Festival. Read on to discover how these fresh master students explored their 'greatest ambition for the future.'

On Tension by Sven Ladiges

Danish designer Sven Ladiges took inspiration from the construction of suspension bridges for his bench ‘On Tension.’ His flat-pack ash wood bench fits up to 8 people and is fixed using a tension nylon cord.

Thaw by Adam Guy Blencowe & Yu-Lin Chen

Adam Guy Blencowe joined Yu-Lin Chen to create ‘Thaw’, an experimental project that melts ice in plaster. The duo soaked a foam vase in water and buried it in dehydrated plaster, which slowly soaks up the water and solidifies in an unexpected textured shape.

Sound Revival by James Boock

Kiwi sound artist-designer James Boock’s ‘Sound Revival’ is a custom 3-way sound system created for sound effects at live performances.  He uses analogue means and mechanical movements to manipulate four objects (Tremolo, Reverb, Delay and Mouth Modulation) to create different sounds while making the process visual.

TsaoMo by YunTing Lin

Taiwanese YunTing Lin’s TsaoMo project explores a new kind of lacquer ware. Featuring a patent technology, the new, quick-to-make recyclable material can be molded into different shapes, colors and surface patterns.

Private Frontiers by Julinka Ebhardt & Will Yates-Johnson

German Julinka Ebhardt and Will Yates-Johnson ‘s ‘Private Frontiers’ uses an LED light pendulum to visualize the growing phenomenon of privately owned public space in London. As the arm swings constantly, dimmed over the public land and illuminated over the private, it sheds lights on how the city is being altered.

Shield Pocket Square by Ted Wiles & Harriet Sleigh

Designers duo Ted Wiles and Harriet Sleigh’s ‘Shield Pocket Square’ is a printed silk pocket square lined with EMF Shield Fabric with graphics based on electromagnetic radio waves, which the fabric blocks. When draped around a mobile phone it cuts all network and Wi-Fi communication so the user can find peace and focus on the moment.

From The Ground Up by Theodora Alfredsdottir

Icelandic Theodora Alfredsdottir’s ‘From The Ground’ is based on the obscure significance of the mineral Fedspar, which make up 60% of the earth’s crust and is found in most domestic objects. It consists of a simple totem-dinning set for two, where each item is crafted from an everyday material that uses Feldspar.

Unflats by Li Hsin Liang

Li Hsin Liang’s ‘Unflats’ turns flat materials like cardboard, paper or plastics onto 3D volumes using a lattice structure of intersecting straight elements. The result is lightweight, minimal and large-scale furniture with a new and surprising aesthetic.

Blue Hour by Paula Arntzen

Dutch Paula Arntzen created ‘Blue Hour,’ a product that promises to revolutionize the often-static environment of our family homes. It consists of a machine with a dynamic choreographed light and a mirror core that creates sound, light and movement for passive entertainment.

Plumb by Sehun Oh

Korean designer Sehun Oh created ‘Plumb’, a DIY modular furniture system consisting of wooden structures, plastic connectors and universal connector couplers. Thanks to its versatility, users can create shelves, tables and chairs as well as modify them to adapt to different situations and needs.

Flip Cabinet by Stinekei Nicke

Danish furniture designer Stinekei Nicke created a traditional looking chest called ‘Flip Cabinet’. Flexible and functional, it is simple but far from boring with detachable doors that can be moved around thanks to magnets, to display or hide things inside.