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How can we maximize resources in a linear economy full of trends?
Project Focus | Sustainable Systems Design
Skills | Research and Development, Ceramics Production
Summer 2025
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"They just don't make 'em like they used to"
Almost a century ago, a chair could last 70 years, and a sewing machine could be passed down for generations. Today, most products barely make it to 5 years before being replaced.
Why lifespan
shortened
Mass production efficiency:
Lower costs → higher turnover
Global supply chains:
Easier to produce and replace than repair.
Consumer psychology:
Long-term ownership → trend-based consumption
Materials Live Longer
Irresversible material changes undergo thermal transformation, chemical processing or composite creation. Once natural, they’ve been industrially processed into forms that can no longer return to the earth—rendered non-biodegradable, inert, and sometimes toxic
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Linear Economy
Durable materials are buried after a single short product cycle to keep up with everchanging trends, while businesses keep selling more and draining non-regenerative resources.
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Lifecycle
Leaks
Without a pre-designed infrastructure in place for every stage of the process, it's easy to be myopic about intention,
not its impact.During production, not all objects make it to the user. Many get wasted or rejected due to quality checks, discarded offcuts or damage in transit.
The journey is more arduous than the destination. Travel emissions from transporting amongst middlemen also greatly impact the environment.
Items like batteries, electronics, ceramics require specific disposal procedures and users trust in community disposal services to segregate waste. But without a system enforced, it's all landfill-bound.
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Tackling ceramic waste in small businesses
Fired broken ceramic pieces mostly end up in landfills since disposal in speciality recycling centers is an extra, and often forgotten, step.
Circular Economy
Core principles:
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eliminate waste and pollution
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circulate products and materials
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regenerate nature
As designers, we strive to create systems that work cradle to cradle, but we're missing out on maximizing resources lost through leaks.
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Branding
Manufacture
Marketing
User
End of Life
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What's In?
Dopamine decor is a trend based on using vibrant colors and bold patterns to add joy and whimsy in an environment.
Rather than disposing broken ceramics, it can be turned into ceramic terrazzo for a secondary product line.
Reclaim from the casting process can be used too. Mason stains are added to color the slip for a vibrant contrast against the white binder.
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The same can be done with 3D prints used for plaster mold making, to become packaging elements.
2nd Life
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Successful online brands engage with their customers through personalized interactions on social media platforms.
Growing audience through:
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Short form videos
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Behind the scenes
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Education/ Value driven content
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User generated content
Connect with Us
Direct to Consumer method of retail involves selling products directly to the consumer, cutting out the need for intermediaries.
Pros
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higher profit margin
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total brand control
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direct customer relationships
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faster time-to-market
Cons
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higher customer acquisition cost
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logistics / fulfillment managament
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limited reach
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intense online competition
Puzzle it Out
Encouraging repair over replacement using techniques like kintsugi extends a product’s life and offers an experience that increases connection.
or
Take it Back
When damage is too extensive, users can mail back broken ceramics, giving them an active role in the circular process of the brand.
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Putting
to Rest
Partnering with artists and community art centers can give exhausted materials a creative third life instead of sending them to landfills.
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Artaic (Somerville, MA)
The Beautiful stuff project
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Piece by Piece (Los Angeles, CA)
Poppies and Lupine Mosaic
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Jim Powers (New York City, NY)
The Mosaic Man
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The Goal
With conscious design at its core, Cirq takes full responsibility for its products from cradle to cradle. It aims to close the loop wherever possible, creating systems that are intentional, regenerative, and resource-aware.
Brand Expansion
Potential collection ideas including
2nd life reuse
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Transluscent porcelain terrazzo
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Luster fired jewelry
*rendered in VisCom AI
*rendered in VisCom AI
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Moving Forward
This is foundation for my dream ceramics business (check out Cin Cin). I think it requires a lot to start a business and even more to maintain it sustainably.
Next steps:
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Prototype packaging
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Streamline production process
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Get into business specifics