ditto
Thesis work/ Personal project
Ditto is a speculative think-tank which aims to help designers discover and create new biomaterials that mimic nature using local waste sources as as response to the damaging textile industry.
In a time where the need to change wasteful mindsets is imperative, Ditto aims to tap conscious minds into observing nature and using its dialogue and designs to build new sustainable materials. By intervening at a nascent stage, it hopes to eliminate problems faced at later stages of production which become hard to undo.
Bringing this ideology forward, the thesis book and swatch-book of materials uses environmentally friendly and minimal usage of paper for its outcome. The swatch-book also invites inquisitive minds to touch and feel the materials in-order to draw their own conclusions and inspirations.
The Thesis book reflects the philosophy of consciousness by using environmentally-friendly and carbon-free paper. The cover was embossed by using custom-made dieline of patterns reflecting nature. The layout was also created to be mindful of the ink used and hence a takes on a brutalist approach. The typeface Courier New, was also chosen to help conserve the quantity of ink used on paper.
In colloquial terms, the word Ditto is ‘used to indicate that something already said is applicable a second time.’ It is an informal take on the theories of biomimetics which the brand largely draws upon, without forming the usual clinical connotations associated with scientific approaches. It is also a nod to the ability of the experimental materials created to mimic other fabrics.
A swatch-book of biomaterials created for designers to feel, touch and get inspired. Each material was created to help replace the artificial materials existing in the market today. For example Sample No.6 is a biomaterial made out of Kombucha scoby, imitates the feel and quality of leather. These materials act as bases for the designers to improvise or use as is.
N0.1.
Pomegranate extract and
Agar composite
N0.2.
Beetroot extract
and Carrageenan iota composite
N0.4.
Coffee grounds
and Agar Alginate composite
N0.3.
Coffee grounds
and Gelatin composite
N0.7.
Chlorophyll
and Agar Gelatin composite
N0.8.
Coffee ground
and Agar Alginate composite
N0.5.
Activated Charcoal and Agar Gelatin composite
N0.6.
Kombucha Scoby
N0.9.
Simmered Agar and Gelatin composite
N0.10.
Activated Charcoal and Chitosan composite