Redesigning products that have already satisfied users' needs for centuries is one of the most challenging tasks in design. When a product has been tested and proven, there is often minimal room for improvement. Eyewear is a prime example, it's efficient and functions well for the user. So, what comes next?
Currently, the eyewear industry is focused on creating more sustainable and efficient production methods, utilizing environmentally safer materials. In an industry saturated with various types of resins, plastics, and other harmful materials that come with high production costs, my goal is to create a holistically sustainable product- one that is not only environmentally friendly but also easy and inexpensive to produce.
"EcoGaze," a pair of eyeglasses designed with sustainability in mind. Made from cork, this concept demonstrates the potential for everyday products to be crafted from eco-friendly materials. Cork is lightweight, anti-bacterial, durable, and well-suited for eyewear production. Its earthy, raw aesthetic, combined with its adaptability for laser cutting and simple, low-cost manufacturing methods, makes it an ideal material for this purpose.
EcoGaze
I started by analyzing how different eyewear silhouettes complement the face, focusing on how the visual attributes reflect various shapes and weights. I sketched both existing and new designs to get a feel for how each frame would look and interact with the face. After exploring a few ideas for temple designs and frame combinations, I finalized the design I wanted to move forward with.
The concept primarily focuses on creating holistically sustainable and adaptable daily-use products. EcoGaze is a proof of concept that tries to represent different possibilities to delegate sustainability in daily life, by reducing any use of plastic or enviournmentally harmful products. A product that can be produced and consumed conciously
Cork is one of the most lightweight materials that can be used to make sustainable eyewear. It is naturally hypoallergic and can be manufactured easily using methods like CNC cutting which is already used in eyewear industries. The front frame is designed to be cut from a single straight sheet of cork and then wrapped over on the brass or metal frame to provide structural integrity to it. The temples are designed with a curved angle that compliments the circular frame with brass hinges.
and, all the great people wear round spectatles