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Design ForCE

Designing for the Circular Economy

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Emma Peters, Kathy Hawkins, Chris Hutch, Cathy Lockhart, Catherine Lees, Teresa Valenti and Barabara Wieckowski. Collective Quilt, 2024, Reused cotton bedsheets, silk organza, cotton muslin, cotton thread, titanium thread, polyester thread, synthetic ribbon, acrylic paint, 180x180cm, Image: Emma Peters.

About us

Design ForCE logo Design ForCE logo

Design ForCE is a research project at the UNSW School of Art & Design. The project team examines the methodologies used to create objects that fit within the Circular Economy’s biological or technical cycles.

The biological cycle requires materials to feedback safely into living systems through for example, composting, while the technical cycle sees products and materials repaired, recovered, reused and recycled in a continuous cycle. In this practice-based project, researchers aim to understand the challenges and opportunities that textile, object and jewellery designers face in using materials for artefacts in a circular system.

Our projects

ARC Linkage Grant success

Congratulations to Professor Alison Gwilt and Dr Zoe Veness, who were awarded $220,473 in the latest round of Linkage grants from the Australian Research Council. The project aims to create a framework to turn waste clothing into new products.

Working with AnglicareSA and JamFactory, this project will show how conserving resources can be improved by converting waste textiles into new products.

Our people

 Professor Alison Gwilt
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 Dr Matthew Harkness
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  Dr Trent Jansen
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  Emma Peters
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Lecturer Dr Bic Tieu
Lecturer

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Deputy Head of School (Design) Dr Zoe Veness
Deputy Head of School (Design)

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Acknowledgement of Country

UNSW School of Art & Design stands on an important place of learning and exchange first occupied by the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples.

We acknowledge the Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land that our students and staff share, create and operate on. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples across Australia. Sovereignty has never been ceded.