A word from Gaïa

The term sustainable is growing popularity and too often thrown into the "neo-eco" discourse. Although I am overjoyed to see a substantial movement towards sustainability, I often feel that we as a society are missing the mark in our understanding of what sustainable is. My name is only a small indication to my upbringing and interest in true sustainability. However, education and upbringing are not enough to raise a more sustained consciousness. Like any “good” practice, one actually needs to develop and constructively use these skills to ingrain them into daily practice.

The increased social-political-economical need as well as the trendy-ness of the sustainable movement stimulates much academic discourse. Yet, not enough is actually put into application. I have recently been graced with the opportunity to work for a sustainable company, which surpasses the surface ideals of sustainability. We are few employees who work in production of organic felt and cotton home accents. We work from our employer’s home and are engaged with our work as we develop a better understanding of our materials. This scarce work-model has encouraged me to take pride in developing my artisanal skills, a relationship between designer and work that is often distanced by the application of machines and industrial production.

With knowledge in hand, I want to use this class and project as an opportunity to foil the assumption that all “green” designs prescribe to an evidently hand made, lacking in sophistication aesthetic of design. As a student, I want to develop a set of resources and skills that I can sustain not only ecologically, but financially. The last thing I needed to map out was the relation between the object and myself. Apart from the evident need to build a portfolio and produce a final project, what purpose would this object fulfill after those immediate requirements?

It dawned on me that I had not addressed personal and social sustainability as much as the other applications. This project is ideal as it allows me to work in collaboration with an excellent friend and work partner. This union will allow us to learn together and from each other. I look forward to the final project as its something that I actually need in my home, I want to experience the joy of skillfully making something... for myself.