Innovative Upcycling: The Creative Potential of Collaborating with Degraded Materials

Abstract

This research explores the detailed methods of upcycling, contrasting them with traditional linear design processes through autoethnographic documentation. By centering on a material-oriented view of reuse, the study uncovers how upcycling actively interacts with a material’s past, encompassing human imprints, temporality, fragmentation, and signs of aging. While commonly acknowledged as reuse of worn garments, upcycling can entail intricate interactions with historical remnants and weathered materials, including the challenges posed by aged material patina and its transient nature. The research challenges the prevailing upcycling literature’s limited dialogue of the nuanced complexities associated with working with aging materials, which instead often prioritizes consumer-driven goals within a circular remanufacturing context. Through practices like upcycling, which center on physical making and materials, we uncover insights and opportunities for impactful change often overlooked in traditional material processes, design planning, and manufacturing processes.

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