Bricolage 2.0

Material & Surface Exploration

What is Design Practice? An Inquiry into Value, Waste, and the Art of Availability

The Inquiry

In a world obsessed with standardisation and mass production, we have lost touch with the inherent value of the "discarded." This project was an experimental rebellion against the traditional design workflow. Instead of asking "What materials do I need for this design?", I asked, "What design emerges from the materials I already have?" It was an exploration of Bricolage - the art of making do with what is at hand.

Radical Resourcefulness

The process was strictly governed by availability. I harvested the "unwanted" from my immediate environment: leftover yarn bits from textile labs, discarded copper wire from machine shops, and even cigarette butts found on the street. Using simple hand-braiding and weaving techniques, I deconstructed these waste streams to strip them of their stigma. The goal was to force a confrontation between the viewer and the material transforming "trash" into complex, tactile narratives that demanded to be touched.

The Outcome

Showcased at the NID 'Lines of Sight' exhibition, the final artifacts were not just "upcycled products" but material provocations. They demonstrated that aesthetic beauty is not defined by the cost of the raw material, but by the intent of the maker. This project serves as the foundational bedrock of my practice today: a reminder that true sustainability begins with a shift in perception, seeing the potential in what others leave behind.