Rachel Glinsman
BA Product Design
As a designer, I am driven by a desire to create captivating and unique objects. My designs are inspired by my sustainable mindset, an appreciation for materials, and the desire to create something unexpected that would intrigue and delight its user.
Forage Stool
The forage stool is for creative people who value craftmanship and sustainability. These stools are designed to last a lifetime; growing richer and more characterful with age. This contrasts with how this material could alternatively have been burnt or sent to landfill as a mere by-product of the furniture industry; being too small or irregular for reuse.
Made entirely from reclaimed scrap, these stools present waste as luxurious again; drawing attention to the value of different types of wood and aiming to encourage more awareness of material wastage in the industry. The end-grain seat design utilises even small scraps, and reveals the intricacies of the wood they're made from, with unique colour variations and end grain patterns making each piece one-of-a-kind.
The creative narrative behind the stools is emphasised by a series information stamp which displays details of its design and manufacture locations alongside my initials and year of production, to evoke a more tangible product story and connection between designer, manufacturer, consumer and product. The whole design is tied together by an aesthetic language of circularity; every surface is rounded and smooth, and complements the signature walnut inlay with highlights a unique series number.
Bellows Speaker
This project was a response to a brief based around exploring a new design language of sustainability. With this in mind, this project aims to offer a new and unique take on a portable Bluetooth speaker that is built to last and truly stands out amongst the typical materials and forms that are expected from this kind of product.
The reasoning behind the ash wood and leather casing is that these materials are known to not only stand the test of time, but actually improve with age and convey a visual and tactile reminder of years' worth of memories and usage. Through continuous engagement with the speaker, there exists an emotional connectivity between owner and product, which encourages a more circular and sustainable approach to consumer habits, leading to its repair rather than disposal in years to come.
The most notable feature of this speaker is the collapsible bellows structure that functions as both acoustic chamber and folding mechanism; allowing for seamless transportation and flexible functionality. This collapsible element aims to incite curiosity and tactile engagement with the speaker, in a way that is reminiscent of folding cameras and other nostalgic, timeless designs.