[ Problem Statement ]

Everyday objects hide complex supply chains, and even the simplest furniture can carry an invisible environmental footprint. A bar stool is chrome-plated screws, petroleum-based foam, chemically tanned leather, industrial adhesives, and agricultural systems stretched across continents. I wanted to make that footprint visible. And then I wanted to see if I could make something better. Not perfect, just better.

[ Outcome ]

Starting with a standard bar stool, I traced each material back through its manufacturing process and environmental impact. I then rebuilt the stool from scratch using the most sustainable methods available to me: locally sourced wood, hay-stuffed cushioning, homemade glue, and a seat upholstered in kombucha-based “leather” I grew myself. I highlighted not just the improvements, but also the tradeoffs, showing that sustainable design is always a practice in nuance.

[ Year ]

2019-20

[ Type ]

Furniture Design

[ Tags]

Sustainable Design, Material Research, Bio-materials, Furniture Design, Life Cycle Analysis, Systems Thinking, Prototyping