Interdisciplinary Arts 0294 - Sustainable Product Design

Is it possible to completely eliminate negative environmental impact of the everyday things we buy with careful design? We will learn about where raw materials come from, how they are used in manufacture, and how they are disposed of. We will investigate alternative materials or design approaches that may result in less waste. Students will then choose one consumer product to investigate; how it was made, the source of its components and materials, and what typically happens upon disposal. The final project for the course will be to design a functionally equivalent "no-harm to the environment" version of one or more products researched by students in this class. Students who take this class should be diligent, resourceful researchers, comfortable with the process of making functional objects, and experienced with the process of design.

Independent Work Lab fee: $60.00 Field trips are anticipated (lab fee will cover cost of field trips). In this course, students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. This time includes reading, writing, research, design and fabrication.