Lex11 Upholstery Magic Goal

The design goal of my project was to remake an object so that it is an improved version of its original self whilst at the same time addressing sustainability and waste practices in the modern world. Through the process of upholstery and marbling my aim was to create a relatable object that is beautiful, innovative, handmade and fit for everyday use. My response to the modern attitude of manufactured factory objects which ignore basic design principles, is by repurposing and being an example of the possibilities and benefits of reupholstering pre loved, discarded and unvalued objects. This project is a design that revolves around sustainable development and reducing the amount of material waste produced. The aim is to give old objects a renewed finish as a way of increasing the usable lifespan. Throughout the implementation of this project multiple objects were considered, I decided to provide a practical example of how a vintage seating area can be brought back to life from objects that would otherwise be destined for general waste facilities. Through the reuse of the object frames I was able to remove approximately 100 Kilograms of waste from the cycle.  All of this often bulky furniture ends up in either landfill or the incinerator, thus adding to global warming. (“The Environmental Benefits of Reupholstering Your Furniture |”, 2019) Reusing existing quality furniture has another advantage, as it is able to slow down the extensive carbon footprint  that the world is currently experiencing because it slows down the demand for resources and hinders deforestation and pollution. (Alexa Papas, 2022)