Second Week Reflection

Another week another learning process completed. Unlike last week where we first learned about sustainability, in this week's assignment we learned about the different initiatives one could take to achieve sustainability. Including turning water bottles into useable houses for people to live in to even trousers for people to wear.  The possibilities are almost limitless when it comes to up or down cycling old materials into new products.

By learning about the creative ways some people have turned a negative, like the amount of water bottles that will fill up a land fill for years to come and how one company is turning it into a positive by creating a functional house that gives back to the environment helps to inspire or give hope that we will be able to make a difference in the green movement. Since learning about all the interesting ways people have re-purposed old materials into new products, from sites like pinerest, I find myself looking at old window frames and doilies and thinking what can I make from them. I also have used this week's research into the chemicals and life cycles of certain products, mainly water bottles, and have since done more research into finding a more sustainable and up-cycled water bottle that I can take with me to the gym and not feel guilty about using it. 

Though I am beginning to learn more about up-cycling and how I hope to contribute to it with some home-made designs, I would still like to learn more about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Because as a designer I will want to make my clients more conscious of the materials they are selecting and how there are green alternatives for any material/product out there and are just as durable and stylish as their counter-parts.