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Dear Disaster by Jenny Ekdahl

Jenny Ekdahl Dear Disaster

One of my favorite pieces in the [D3] Design Talents exhibition at IMM Cologne was Dear Disaster by Jenny Ekdahl.

Jenny Ekdahl Dear Disaster

Dear Disaster was Jenny’s graduation project from the Lund School of Industrial Design in Sweden. Inspired by recent global events, she says: “While natural disasters are perceived as terrible occurrences, natural forces can also be viewed as awe-inspiring and magnificent.”

Jenny Ekdahl Dear Disaster

The aim of the project was to facilitate a process of recovery after natural disasters, to help the user regain their trust in nature. The moving tiles let people express their emotions and create their own personal imprint on the cabinet. Jenny says: “This was inspired by the idea that creating images and graphs might aid a psychological recovery process.”

Jenny Ekdahl Dear Disaster

Jenny looked into whether certain shapes, textures and patterns, and ideas such as rhythm, complexity and playfulness, can comfort and intrigue us as human beings. She explained that basing the patterns and colours on water, waves and sand enabled people to reverse and replay natural disasters like tsunamis and says: “The structure creates a tactile and rhythmic interaction with the user, through its ever-changing images and underlying meanings. The structures’ irresistible appearance encourages exploration and playfulness in whoever touches it, making it possible for all people to create their own ‘please touch’ art.

Jenny Ekdahl Dear Disaster

The beech wood cabinet features more than 2000 water jet cut, veneered and painted wooden parts, threaded onto a piano wire, that each can be individually flipped. One side of each wooden scale is painted blue, white or grey, while the other side has been left plain. The cabinet itself provides a space for small keepsakes from the past to be placed safely behind a closed door, and the high legs prevent the water from reaching them. A thoughtful and beautiful piece of design.

Jenny Ekdahl Dear Disaster

With thanks to Modenus and BlogTourCGN sponsors, MieleBlancoMr SteamDu Verre HandwareAxor and NKBA

Katie Treggiden is a purpose-driven journalist, author and, podcaster championing a circular approach to design – because Planet Earth needs better stories. She is also the founder and director of Making Design Circular, a program and membership community for designer-makers who want to join the circular economy. With 20 years' experience in the creative industries, she regularly contributes to publications such as The Guardian, Crafts Magazine and Monocle24 – as well as being Editor at Large for Design Milk. She is currently exploring the question ‘can craft save the world?’ through an emerging body of work that includes her fifth book, Wasted: When Trash Becomes Treasure (Ludion, 2020), and a podcast, Circular with Katie Treggiden.