SNU Upcycled Carabinar
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Contributor
Seoul National University, Master of Fine Art
MFAYANG HUIHAN, KIM EUNJIN, SONG SEOIN and BEN MOHAMED OMAYMA
PH.D. Wu Yi
Prof. Jangsub Lee for professional advice for the project SNU Socially Responsible Community for funding for our website and product Prag-lab Studio for product production(www.prag-lab)
Project
The SNU Upcycled Carabiner is a group project that was held in Seoul National University with PRAG-LAB collaboration in 2020. The main purpose of this project was to use the bottle caps as a raw material in order to make the upcycled product. The concept was contributed in the Design Studio (Studio42) by five graduate students: YANG HUIHAN, KIM EUNJIN, SONG SEOIN and BEN MOHAMED OMAYMA under MFA Degree and WU YI under Ph.D. of Fine Arts Degree in Visual Communication Design at Seoul National University, South Korea.
After being part of the Plastic Free Challenge, the students decided to bring used plastic (the bottle caps) and use it as a raw material for an upcycled product.
In addition, Seoul National University is actually located near the Gwanak Mountain in Seoul, and it is considered the first destination for those who like hiking. And one of the main tools that hikers use is the Carabiner. As a result, the idea of Carabiner made of plastic caps was initiated.
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APPROACH
After participating in the Plastic Free Challenge, the team members decided to go for “upcycling the plastic bottle caps” and design an eco-friendly product.
As a start, The team’s vision was to design a plastic signage module product for coffee shops in SNU, to ensure costumers if the place serves a zero-waste campaign. However, spread of COVID 19 caused fears among people and this caused to stop the campaign. So the members changed the subject to another direction. Seoul National University is located near the Gwanak Mountain in Seoul, and it is considered the first destination for those who like hiking. And since the Carabiner is considered one of the main tools that hikers use, the idea of creating an upcycled carabiner made of plastic caps was chosen to be our project.
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IDEATION - concept
The Upcycled Carabiner was the result of the research that the group did during the semester in Design Studio 42. The Carabiner is originally made from the plastic bottle caps collected in different places in Seoul National University. Each one weighs around 9g, which is about 5 plastic caps.
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PROCESS
STEP. 1
Collecting Bottle Caps
Our original destination to start was at a recycling collection center in the dormitory of Seoul National University, which was the most promising candidate to collect bottle caps. but itwas closed so we had another long way around. The first collection research was taken at three dormitory buildings. However, because it was a weekend evening, the dormitory recycling bins were mostly empty, and it was difficult to enter the dormitory building because there weren't many people coming and going. Instead, we switch the place to the 1st to 8th floor of the Kwanjeong Library, the 1st floor of the Central Library, and the lobby of the eudcation college to collect bottle caps.
during our process, we heard there is a main garbage recycling collection center behind the central library. We continued to collect bottle caps from there.On the second collection meeting, we visited the same place again to collect plastic bottle caps collected for 3 days to ensure we have enough bottle caps necessary for further product manufacturing. The bottle caps were collected, taken home, sterilized with clorax water, washed with shampoo, and dried well under the sunlight. In particular, the process was carried out carefully especially during a time when hygiene problems were issued.
Works of Collecting Plastic Bottle Caps, 2020
STEP. 2
Classification of Plastic Caps
We processed a subdivision process of plastic bottle caps collected mainly at the SNU and our home, and donated from classmates by its colours to make variety types of products. The bags used for the subdivision work were recycled and re-used again. After the classification, bottle caps were delivered by courier because the quantity was quite large.
Works of Collecting Plastic Bottle Caps, 2020
STEP. 3
Visiting PRAG-LAB Studio
Our team visited Prag-lab located in Jung-gu, Seoul; we mainly shared our plans by sharing the sketching process, the module production process, the actual molded plastic models, and schedule. After this meeting, we share our production stages by email. This includes the shape, time, and process, as they constantly changed.
Works of Collecting Plastic Bottle Caps, 2020
STEP. 4
Feasibility Test
We processed a test of how the modeled carabiner came out in the actual injection. Through this experiment, the modeling was modified so that the carabiner can bend more easily using its own elasticity.
Ejected 3D Modeling of Carabiner, 2020
STEP. 5
Tag Design
A tag has been designed for the product. The design came out with the researchers' illustration and graphic design, and Br Candor and Nanum Eco-Font were applied. This tag uses eco-friendly technology using soybean oil ink and 350g recycled paper, reducing ink waste by designating the graphic in grayscale color tone. It was produced in Korean/English for Korean and foreign students in Seoul National University.
STEP. 6
Manufacturing Process
This is a process those collected plastic bottle caps were actually crushed in Prag Lab, and then injected into a mold to be manufactured. We visited in person and recorded all of this process. We tried to attached the tag and the injected product to find a best fit as a package product.
Ejected actual Carabiner, 2020
STEP. 7
Photographic Process
This is the process of photoshooting ejected plastic carabiners and tags. We arranged a meeting at 1 o’clock at the school and took photoshoots; laying colored papers in the background and shooting carabiners from various angles using a fishing line. Various accessories, such as keys, wallets, and bags, were used.
Photoshoot in SNU, 2020
Video Records of Research Process
Final Product
