Hanger

Useful information

Team members: Ady Mills
Country: United Kingdom
Keywords: Playful adaptable changeable bespoke sustainable utility abstract

Short Description

Hanger was originally about design play and the need to reuse waste off cut materials

Detailed Description

The creative process started during lockdown when I decided to try and create an artifact by using off cut strips of materials found in my workshop. These materials are common wastage in most workshops, and cause disposal issues. The creative process started by laying out these strips in a playful and random manner. I also had a strong desire to create without the use of a ‘set’ design specification, as is so often the case. This gave me space and freedom to experiment. I was also guided by having no access to a workshop during lockdown. This constraint made me think about producing a DIY and low tech outcome, without the need for ‘heavy machinery’ or high end craft skills. I became motivated by moving away from an exact and precise approach. I then moved onto producing a outcome that is adaptable, adjustable and can be easily made by hand. Bespoke and changeable. Hanger is a visual concept which I then later on introduced element of utility

Project Details

Does your design take social and cultural challenges and human wellbeing into consideration?: It reuses materials that are often discarded and create waste disposal issues. The adjustable and playful nature of Hanger can offer a pleasing distraction from the issues facing us today as it was created during lock. Mindfulness had a big impact during this period

Does your design support sustainable production, embodying circular or regenerative design practices?: It reuses strip off cuts that are created when trimming down sheet materials for other projects. These are common in workshops and I have formed relationships with other makers and schools in my local community who provide me with access to these free, waste materials. Hanger also incorporates recycled plastics produced by Smile Plastics (Uk) and Good Plastics (Netherlands)

Does your design use principles of distribution and open source?: I intend to produce a simple guide to the production of Hanger whereby other makers, schools and people can produce the concept individually. This is possible due to the simplistic nature of its manufacture and the minimal tooling requirements. Hanger can also be easily dismantled for low impact distribution

Does your design promote awareness of responsible design and consumption?: Hanger reuses waste materials in its manufacture, and due to its low tech manufacture can be produced without the need for a workshop or machinery, that consume large amounts of electricity. It is also easily dismantled so as to reduce delivery emissions