PolyCradle: A Design Conjecture
Is it possible for culture to view plastic waste positively? What would it take? There is an underdiscussed piece to sustainability that impacts these questions; it is the act of "throwing away" waste that ought to be transformed with PolyCradle. This system of products acts as beautiful 3D printed alternatives to trash cans. They feature complex, biomorphic designs intended to connect with the surrounding built environment as well as be pleasing to the eye.
Beyond mere aesthetics, the cradle's serve a practical and systemic purpose. With multiple openings, the cradles sort trash by design. Debossed symbols over particular orifices communicate to the user what kind of trash should go inside. It forces you to pause and think about where your waste is going, instead of throwing everything in your arms into one open trashcan, which then can lead to overfilling, inviting wildlife and loose debris. PolyCradle's underlying philosophy celebrates human activity instead of minimizing it or cast shame upon the waste people produce. A slow, thoughtful interaction with these bins encourages the user to see the potential in what they discard, with the cradle symbolizing a chrysalis.
