ReCycle and Skate
TEAM
TIMELINE
SKILLS
Me and 2 other students
12 weeks
Prototyping, Sketching, Manufacturing Processes
2023 / PRODUCT DESIGN
Global warming is a pressing issue in today's society, with single-use plastics being major contributors. Recycling and repurposing these plastics is a crucial step toward mitigating the effects of climate change.
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To address this problem, our team developed a pair of elbow pads and wrist guards for skateboarding, promoting safety and sustainability in style. This product leverages the properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), a common, durable, and versatile plastic used in items such as LEGO bricks, hardhats, and kitchen appliances.
Design Process
The deliverables for this project included a video to showcase our product and the design process we followed to arrive at the final design and prototype:
DEVELOP
Sketches
Ideation
DEVELOP
During the project's research phase, we analysed the properties of ABS plastic and assigned one to each team member as a basis for initial ideation sketches. My sketches focused on the food and child-safe properties:
Development
The design solution we decided on was a top for skateboarding with integrated elbow pads and wrist guards, aiming to make skateboarding gear more fashionable. This product employs the impact-resistant and protective properties of ABS. I created the following development sketches to illustrate the function and details of the product:
Media
Our project was featured in an article published by the University of Canterbury celebrating Plastic Free July. You can find the full article here and watch the video interview here: