Graduate Exhibition

Designers have historically chosen materials based on their physical, aesthetic, chemical, and economic properties. In the context of this current ecological situation, there are now imperative environmental parameters to be considered. ‘Sea Harvest’ engages with seaweed as a renewable material, derived from the biosphere that does not use fresh water for irrigation, pesticides or consume fertile farmland. Seaweed is an abundant resource in Jessica Zinga’s local community, therefore, she has harvested and transformed this seaweed into natural dyes for the textile industry, and into biodegradable food packaging. Created from 100% seaweed, this packaging can be returned to the sea rather than landfill, where it can integrate back into the ecosystem. Jessica's process of creating value from locally accessible and renewable resources can be explored in any region throughout the world; therefore, seaweed farming has been promoted to fisherman in developing tropical countries as a profitable revenue, taking pressure off local fisheries. ‘Sea Harvest’ is an innovative and meaningful solution to waste, sustainability and disposability that applies an environmental solution on a local level to potentially contribute to a larger global solution.