About the project
Fishing Solutions proposes transforming marine plastic waste from fishing communities into tools that serve both fishing activities and domestic use. The concept addresses three areas: environmental impact of discarded fishing materials, income variability in fishing communities, and preservation of traditional knowledge. The collection includes a fishing needle, line organizer, pocket knife, and fish scaler – each designed considering potential economic benefits through sales, environmental benefits through waste reduction, and social benefits through knowledge sharing. The proposal suggests collaboration with fishermen, local authorities, and volunteers, outlining a circular model that could potentially be adapted for various coastal communities.
About the Project’s approach
Fishing Solutions explores distributed design values by proposing an open approach to local challenges. The concept suggests openly sharing design files and production methods, allowing coastal communities to adapt solutions to their needs. The project envisions bringing together fishermen, municipal workers, and volunteers to create knowledge-sharing opportunities connecting traditional craftsmanship with sustainability. By reimagining materials that typically pollute marine environments as resources, the project considers regenerative principles. This approach connects environmental considerations, local economic possibilities, and cultural aspects, suggesting a model that could be adapted to different contexts while maintaining local relevance.
About the collective
Rita Conceição, Rafaela Castro, Juan Felizardo, and Rafael Gonçalves are Visual Arts and Technologies students at Politécnico de Lisboa. Through this project, they explored their interest in sustainable design and community development. Their research into fishing communities allowed them to understand local challenges and propose conceptual solutions connecting traditional practices with environmental concerns. As design students, they approached this as an opportunity to learn about cultural preservation and sustainability while developing product design skills. Their work represents an academic exploration demonstrating how design education can engage with real-world problems through research and creative conceptualization.