FROM WASTE TO A PRECIOUS OBJECT
Skalja publication
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Book in three volumes
_Material Library
_Skalja
_From waste to a precious object
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2024
Montreal
FUKAI In collaboration with Emilie Gibert
Can exclusivity be a vector for better consumption?
Deeply concerned about the impact of our profession, we refuse to align ourselves with the current continuum of overconsumption. As ecological disasters multiply and material resources dwindle, it becomes urgent to reassess the environmental cost of design. Our concerns echo those of our generation, facing a future shaped by scarcity and climate disruption.
This research project unfolds in three complementary parts:
- _ From residue: A collection of around sixty recipes for a bio-material based on fish scales, developed by our team and offered as a foundation for further exploration.
- _ Skalja: The description of our project, serving as both inspiration and visual reference.
- _ From Residue to a Precious Object: A collection of theoretical essays that reimagine residue, not as waste, but as a material with hidden potential.
Design holds transformative power. It is not only a tool but a catalyst for change, capable of reshaping our environment and our relationship with materials. Through practice-led research, we combine academic rigor with creative exploration, opening new pathways for innovation. By embracing divergent thinking and the emotional dimension of design, we aim to produce artifacts that enrich daily life while contributing to a sustainable future.
The publication From Residue to a Precious Object embodies this journey. Divided into two essays and a manifesto, it addresses residue as a material, reflects on the civil and professional responsibility of the designer, and explores how strategies of exclusivity (traditionally linked to luxury) can be redefined as drivers for ecological design.
The first part, From Residue, proposes a technical approach to transforming fish scales into a refined material. It includes detailed recipes and evaluations, offering an open resource for designers and researchers. The second part, The Object, presents a concrete example of shaping, not as a DIY manual, but as an invitation to open the “designer’s black box” and encourage active decision-making rather than passive consumption.
Ultimately, this project is both a manifesto and a toolbox. It condenses the reflections, processes, and prototypes of our exploration, while acknowledging the collective nature of design. No project exists in isolation; it thrives through shared expertise, collaboration, and exchange.
By transforming residue into something precious, we seek to challenge perceptions, spark dialogue, and contribute to building a more responsible, sensitive, and sustainable design practice.