Projects
MATERIALS + SYSTEMIC DESIGN
My master’s thesis research was about rethinking how materials are designed and experienced, from land to sea. What resulted is a proposal for a materials hub in the Philippines that educates about natural materials that are locally available, supports research and development of ecologically safe materials, and links sellers and buyers of materials in the Philippines. The hub is a physical space with a digital counterpart… LEARN MORE
MATERIALS + RESEARCH
Abaca is an indigenous plant species to the Philippines. Its fibres have high saltwater resistance and can perform well in marine environments when used for ropes. This material exploration is focused on leveraging abaca’s inherent properties and using different processing techniques to form it in ways that it can be used for more applications in the ocean. The aim is to replace petroleum-based materials that are commonly used for marine gear and are known to negatively affect species and ecosystems… LEARN MORE
RESEARCH
To address the tension between making materials that are technically sound and ecologically safe, I propose a different way to approach materials design. A Multi-Perspective Materials Design (MPMD) process looks beyond a material’s technical properties for a specific application and also considers the perspectives and experiences of various human and non-human beings and ecosystems that a material comes into contact with throughout its life cycle… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
The “Explorer Destination” is a playful and scalable sustainable tourism approach to conserve and experience the Rhine Gorge in Switzerland. Visitors get a passport for their trip (analogue or digital) and get stamps at explorer stations along the trail which feature activities and information about endangered species in the area and the importance of stewardship… LEARN MORE
MATERIALS
A material-driven approach was used to explore cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and its potential as a material. My explorations led me to see the potential of CNF as a material component that can be used to replace problematic materials (e.g. petroleum based-netting and seedling pots)… LEARN MORE
RESEARCH
This research study mapped out the current landscape of circular economy education among higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were organised to bring relevant stakeholders together to share their experiences and insights about circular economy education in their institutions. An additional stakeholder engagement workshop was organised after the FGDs… LEARN MORE
RESEARCH
A screening LCA report I completed for my Aqua Sphere Vista swim goggles. What’s included in the report: goals and scope of the assessment, life cycle inventory of the product, impact assessment (using Ecochain Mobius software), interpretation of results and suggestions to lessen negative impacts of product… LEARN MORE
MATERIALS
An in-depth investigation of my Aqua Sphere Vista swim goggles to better understand the activities, inputs, outputs and impacts across its life cycle. From there I proposed opportunities for redesign: a better system for repair, replacement of problematic materials (e.g. BPA and PU) with alternative materials or with nano-texturing… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
An innovation competition to help communities address local waste management issues by engaging with higher education institutions and encouraging youth to design circular economy-focused solutions that help solve the growing problem of plastic pollution and marine litter in the Western Visayas, Philippines… LEARN MORE
MATERIALS
A buoy system designed by looking to the natural world for inspiration, with the intention to make aquaculture gear in the Philippines both functional and life-friendly. Design elements were inspired by mangrove seeds, coconuts, arthropods, and various algae species… LEARN MORE
MATERIALS
A marine species recruitment structure made from non-toxic materials, that can serve as an alternative habitat and space for recolonisation of species affected by damaged coral reefs due to destructive fishing practices such as dynamite fishing in the Philippines… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
A hybrid learning programme offered to higher education institutions, focused on the intersection between circularity and lean innovation. For participants to put their new skills into practice, we host an innovation competition where student teams submit and pitch circular business ideas that help solve waste challenges within their local context… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
An experiential learning programme designed for high school teachers in the Philippines, which can be integrated in the Department of Education’s grade 10 Social Studies curriculum. The programme introduces the concept of sustainability (using textiles as a case study) and brings a deeper awareness of indigenous weaving culture in the Philippines… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
A set of fully coloured animal and algae information cards, that can be used by anyone who is exploring or learning about the Salish Sea (a bioregion located along the Pacific coast of Canada and United States). Cards include information on feeding types, phyla, zonation, and species facts… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
A training programme to help educators increase their domain knowledge of the circular economy and how it can be applied in entrepreneurship and innovation. It was developed as an extension of the Circular Campus Programme to build the capacity of our partner universities… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
For the second offering of L2LS, module 1 was revised to give participants a more holistic and deeper foundation of the term ‘sustainability’. The module focused on key definitions, frameworks, and the historical context of sustainability. An exercise was also developed to guide participants in mapping out their vision for sustainability on multiple levels… LEARN MORE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN
A workshop developed for the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in the Philippines, focused on sustainability and regeneration. It was delivered during their 2023 Learning Summit to educate and inspire the head office employees on the topic and how they can incorporate sustainability and regeneration into their work and personal lives… LEARN MORE