Postcards from the edge: Trash-2-Cash communication tools used to support inter-disciplinary work towards a design driven material innovation (DDMI) methodology

R Earley,R Hornbuckle

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/254/21/212002

Abstract

In this paper postcards from the EU funded Horizon 2020 Trash-2-Cash (2015-2018) project - completed by workshop participants – are presented in three tables with a focus on how they contributed to the building of communication channels, shared understanding and methods in this inter-disciplinary consortium work. The Trash-2-Cash project aims to support better waste utilisation, improve material efficiency, contribute to reduction of landfill area needs, whilst also producing high-value commercial products. Novel materials will drive the generation of new textile fibres that will utilize paper and textile fibre waste, originating from continuously increasing textile consumption. The inter-disciplanarity of the participants is key to achieving the project aims – but communication between sectors is challenging due to diverse expertise and levels of experience; language and cultural differences can also be barriers to collaboration as well. Designing easy and accessible, even fun, communication tools are one of the ways to help build relationships. The cards reviewed were used in Prato (November 2015), Helsinki (February 2016) and London (November 2016). This paper concludes with insights for the ongoing development of the project communications work towards the Design Driven Material Innovation (DDMI) methodology, due to be presented at the end of the project in 2018.

Highlights

The aim of Trash-2-Cash is to provide creative companies with new material solutions for fashion, interiors, automotive and other luxury products. 18 partners, from 10 countries – around 50 individual designers, design researchers, materials scientists, social scientists, raw-material suppliers and endproduct manufacturers from across Europe - make up the inter-disciplinary and cross-sectorial consortium
In this paper postcards from the EU funded Horizon 2020 Trash-2-Cash (2015-2018) project - completed by workshop participants – are presented in three tables with a focus on how they contributed to the building of communication channels, shared understanding and methods in this inter-disciplinary consortium work
This paper concludes with insights for the ongoing development of the project communications work towards the Design Driven Material Innovation (DDMI) methodology, due to be presented at the end of the project in 2018

Summary

Introduction

The aim of Trash-2-Cash is to provide creative companies with new material solutions for fashion, interiors, automotive and other luxury products. 18 partners, from 10 countries – around 50 individual designers, design researchers, materials scientists, social scientists, raw-material suppliers and endproduct manufacturers from across Europe - make up the inter-disciplinary and cross-sectorial consortium. The designers lead on the formation of ‘scenarios’ for new material and product futures, defining the desired material properties and developing ways to collaborate with material scientists and developers to further develop the different eco-efficient regeneration processes for cotton fibre, paper/cardboard, polyester and fibre colouration. In bringing together designers from academia with designers from industry, scientists and manufacturers, consumer behaviour researchers, and life cycle assessment researchers, the project demands that participants be prepared to challenge their normal ways of working. To embrace the ideas of others – the language, methods and processes – and in order to collaborate, the project requires the participants to consider where their discipline ends and another begins.

Methods

Results

Conclusion