Molet
Easy to Assemble, Sustainable Furniture Line
Product Development, Market Research, UX Design
Design Opportunity:
Ideate a line of costly accesible, easy to assemble design products for home decoration and accessories, made out of recycled wood
Background
In the whole world, wood pallets are produced and then trashed. Tons of pallets used for shipments around the globe are discarded after their shipping days are done, consuming a vast part of our planet’s hardwood harvest. Nearly 2 billion wooden pallets are currently in circulation in the US alone, with a majority of them replaced each year. This consumes an estimated 50 percent of the country’s annual hardwood harvest.
MOLET already offers the workshop experience, we wanted to broad the business by having design products that you could buy and make at home.
Challenge
How can we take a "disposable" object/material as it is a wooden pallet and transform it into a new affordable product that would be attractive to the public to have in their homes?
There is already a lot of content to find, mainly furniture. What we aim to achieve, unlike most of these products, is the ability to disassociate the pallet from the final object. Using design to create something unique, the goal is for the audience to not link it with an old recycled pallet upon seeing it,
Harnessing the beauty of wood.
My Role
I embarked on the task of transforming discarded pallets into functional and aesthetically pleasing pieces, my focus is on devising innovative joinery techniques and efficient production processes to overcome challenges while ensuring the final products are visually appealing and also user-friendly for at-home assembly, achieving a creator's experience grounded to the MOLET values. ensuring that each design would work perfect for their specific use, contributing to a conscious and stylish living space.
Collaborating closely with craftsmen, I guide the process to minimize waste and employ sustainable practices.
Ideation & Design
As an industrial designer, my role was essential in translating environmental consciousness into functional and aesthetically pleasing designs.
Beginning with a thorough understanding of the inherent qualities and limitations of recycled pallet wood. I conceptualized and created designs that could breathe new life into discarded materials while also showcasing the unique beauty and versatility of repurposed wood and how it can stand out by combining it with small details of other materials. I also led the creative direction for the photos, catalogues, packaging and assembly instructions.
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Prototyping
To guarantee the user-friendly assembly of our furniture collection in a home setting, I took a hands-on approach by personally constructing prototypes for the initial designs. I crafted comprehensive assembly instructions and packaging and distributed them among friends and close acquaintances for rigorous testing. This iterative process involved continuous prototyping, gathering valuable user feedback, and refining the designs based on the collected data. Through a series of tests and improvements, we fine-tuned the assembly process until achieving a level of perfection that ensured a seamless and straightforward experience for end-users.
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Production
To transform the production challenges into successful outcome, I organized a series of strategic actions. First, a meticulous sourcing strategy was developed, establishing partnerships for a consistent supply of recycled pallets while prioritizing sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. A crucial step involved seeking out skilled carpenters who already possessed expertise in working with pallets. Recognizing that the vast majority of traditional carpenters were hesitant to do the work due to potential risks to their tools.
By collaborating with these specialized carpenters, we tapped into their valuable experience and allowed us to develop and refine our production techniques, turning a challenge into an opportunity.
Outputs
- A Catalogue with 6 different conceptualized sustainable furniture designs for sale.
- Clear and user-friendly assembly instructions.
- Market and product Insights to inform design and marketing decisions.
- Maintaining the creative direction of the brand, through photos, design, service and experience.
- Material sourcing strategy ensuring a sustainable and reliable supply chain.
- Ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising design integrity.
