Connecting the World Through Canadian Design

INTRODUCTION


"Sustainability" and "sustainable design" refer to our ongoing responsibility to choose and design methods of manufacturing, building and ways of life that have little to no impact on the long-term health of the environment, society and economy.  From government to industry to individual consumers, we must all consider our "ecological footprint" and the legacy we will leave for future generations around the world.  Designers and manufacturers are now faced with the responsibility of considering the entire life cycle of the products they create, especially within the context of international trade and globalization.  As more goods and materials are shipped around the world, we must consider how products are made, by whom and under what conditions. We need to think about where the raw materials come from, whether they are renewable and how much impact we have on the environment when we grow and harvest these materials. Other factors to be taken into account include the energy and waste from packaging and shipping, the life span and use of the product, and finally its method and location of disposal.


DESIGN

Design Discipline: Industrial Design


Design Defined

Design

When used as a verb, design means thinking about, conceiving and executing an idea. It is a creative, problem-solving process. When used as a noun, design refers to the result or product of such cognitive processes.

Industrial Design

This branch of design refers specifically to the conceptualization of objects that will be manufactured in large numbers in factories. Different from handmade or handcrafted objects, industrial design represents the bulk of things sold in the world today.

Craft

Before the rise of factories in the late 18th century, all human-created objects existed as craft and as the result of craft traditions. Representing the utilization of special knowledge and special skills, craft always involves the use of one's hands in the making of something, whether it is a woven basket, a knitted sweater or piece of pottery.

Mass Production

Tied to the rise of industrialization, mass production refers to the making of multiple copies of the same thing. Characterized by exact standards of measurement and sameness, the mass produced object is the most important dimension of capitalism and consumerism.


Sustainable Design

Sustainable design addresses the 'triple bottom line' (economy, society and environment). Sustainable design is said to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable design can also be defined as the art of producing objects and built environments using only renewable resources, and which themselves, in operation, deplete only renewable resources using integrated design approaches in order to reduce our ecological footprint.


DESIGNER

Patty Johnson (Toronto, Ontario)

Patty Johnson is a furniture designer whose work had been produced by such Canadian companies as Keilhauer, Nienkamper and Speke/Klein. An active member of the design community, Johnson has organized international exhibitions of Canadian design in New York and London. She teaches at Sheridan College (Oakville, Ontario) and the Ontario College of Art and Design (Toronto, Ontario). She is completing a Masters degree in furniture design at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design (London, England).

Johnson's work represents both craft and mass-production.  Her knowledge of working with small and large manufacturers in Canada is valuable in developing countries. She is currently consulting on projects in Guyana, South America and Botswana, Africa.



DESIGN CHALLENGE


The governments of Guyana and the United States of America are working together to help Guyanese industries become more competitive internationally. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds this program.

Furniture was identified as an area that Guyana could develop into a successful export industry. They were already producing furniture for their local markets and Guyana grows a variety of high quality forest materials. However, competing internationally requires more than selling furniture at a lower cost than other countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Guyanese manufacturers needed to develop lines of products that were better quality and offered something new. Design was the missing ingredient that would help them to gain international attention.

First, the Guyanese companies needed to improve their local products, their plant design, efficiency and staff expertise. They solicited the help of an experienced designer who understands manufacturing processes, materials, distribution (how to sell and ship the furniture), the international furniture market, consumer demands and trends around the world. Once their products were almost ready, they could start promoting their new furniture with better marketing materials and by showing their work at international trade shows.

Throughout this process, issues of sustainability were considered. Wood products from the rainforests of South America are popular internationally for furniture and building projects, and are often exploited with little regard for the local economy, labour force and the impact on the environment. In Guyana, vast rainforests are protected, but at the same time, the country's workforce needs sustainable employment.



CLIENT AND USERS

• Guyana: The Guyanese forestry and furniture industries, and their employees would benefit from improved operations, access to international markets with a competitive product, and hopefully increased sales at higher prices

• Guyana: Citizens, including the indigenous tribes that depend on the forests, would benefit from more control of their natural resources, better working conditions, reduced impact on the environment, and a stronger economy

• Internationally: Furniture distributors, home stores and interior designers sourcing furniture for their clients • Internationally: Individual consumers, hotels and restaurants around the world purchasing the furniture

DESIGN SOLUTION

The Guyanese and American governments decided to invest in a one-year program that would result in a new line of products to be launched in May, 2006, at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City. They hired Patty Johnson to consult with the furniture industry. Further to this initial work, Johnson collaborated with Liana Cane, Precision Woodworking, and the Wai Wai Community on developing market-ready design products. She visited factories and proposed changes that would allow improvements to prototype development, factory design, manufacturing methods and efficiency while reducing costs. She helped firms to adapt the look of their furniture for the international market, to create promotional materials and to prepare for the trade show in New York.

Based on her professional experience and using Canadian companies as examples, Johnson delivered a seminar that covered issues such as:

• trends in wooden furniture
• ergonomics
• manufacturing techniques
• use of materials and power tools
• factory set-up
• companies outside Guyana interested in furniture and accessories made in the southern hemisphere
  

Two companies joined together to create an entirely new product. Precision Woodworking will manufacture hardwood components while Liana Cane will contribute the liana vine (similar to rattan and bamboo) found in local rainforests. This partnership may convince other Guyanese firms to collaborate, and take advantage of each other's skills and resources to become more competitive internationally.


In 2004, Patty Johnson partnered with Canadian designer Terence Cooke, Canadian manufacturer Pure Design and Liana Cane to create the Par furniture series. They used local materials and manufacturing techniques to create a collection of chairs and tables. The legs were made of tubular steel produced by Pure Design in Edmonton. The furniture won a Best of Canada award from Canadian Interiors Magazine.

Patty Johnson is now working in Africa through the Botswana Program for Export. She is collaborating with the Etsha Weavers Group and the Mogomotsi Enterprises Furniture Company. Mogomotsi will expand their product offering to include Mabeo, a new line of furniture for export. Johnson looks forward to similar initiatives in India and Vietnam.