Ephemeral Exploration: Redefining Planned Obsolescence
by Samuel Cunliffe
Close-up shot of 1:6 scale prototype
Project Description
Ephemeral Exploration investigates the opportunity to develop an outdoor furniture concept that challenges and redefines the incompatibility between planned obsolescence and sustainability. By utilising biodegradable materials that originate from the surrounding environment, the project attempts to create a paradigm shift from permanency to impermanency, provoking the user to consider the destructive behaviours and practices of the fast furniture industry and the micro trends that exacerbate resource consumption, climate change and anthropogenic waste. The project also investigates how furniture can act as a tool to actively communicate and complement the local environment’s natural history, ecology, and landscape.
The chaise longue temporarily employs sand, carrageenan (a binder derived from red seaweed), and water for its construction. Over time, this material slowly degrades back into the landscape through use and weathering, leaving the landscape untouched at the end of its life. Through extensive material research, the ephemeral material developed for the project was restricted to smaller thicknesses to be able to cure and become stable. However, the innovation of a central core with surrounding rings of increasing diameters allows all sections of the structure to be cast and thoroughly dried separately before being assembled into the final form. This innovative breakthrough in fabrication techniques allowed the expressive form of the chaise longue to be fully realised and developed.
Initial material tests
Exploded view showing sliding cores and rings
In-context render of the chaise longue on the beach
Bio
Samuel Cunliffe is a designer specialising in furniture, lighting, and object design with a background in set design. Whilst studying, Sam worked in the workshops at Dinosaur Designs and Defy Design[CH1] , interned for Atelier Sisu, and started his own set design business. Sam is a firm believer that form and aesthetics are crucial elements for a design to be successful and combines this with the idea of elevating everyday objects in his concept creation and development. Sam is inspired by design histories, particularly the atomic age, retro-futurism and 90s minimalism, and the possibilities, presence and stories of materiality.
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