24 May 2013

Student worms his way to success

The 2013 Degree Show at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD) draws to a close this weekend, meaning visitors have one last chance to see innovative exhibits such as Richard Booth's design to help households cut down on food waste, reduce their carbon footprint and create their own compost - all by making friends with worms.

For some people, the thought of inviting the wriggly invertebrates into their home is enough to turn their stomach, but Richard's 'Flow Composting' system uses worms and microorganisms to turn what doesn't end up there into rich compost rather than generating vast quantities of the harmful greenhouse gas methane as it rots away in landfill.

The product comprises of a set of composting bins made from organic materials designed for use in urban environments and small enough to be easily stored in the home. Left-over food is put in the bins, where the worms and microorganisms break the biodegradable waste down. The boxes are handcrafted from clay and contain sheep's wool filters to prevent odours from escaping the system.

Each pot has a chalkboard on the front to enable the householder to monitor how long the bins have been in use and when the compost will be ready. Refill bags of worms, filters, and composting lime mix can be bought when required and added to the pots, which take up very little space and are easily transportable.

Richard (22), originally from Thornhill near Dumfries, hit upon the idea for Flow Composting for the final year project of his Product Design degree at DJCAD. He says he hopes to develop the product commercially and encourage more people to grow their own produce.

"I knew I wanted to design something environmentally friendly and I focused my research into the problems surrounding household waste," he explained. "Sixty per cent of solid waste that is sent to landfill is biodegradable. This is something that people might not think of as being an issue as they believe the waste will decompose naturally but this isn't the case.

"The waste takes considerably longer to decompose in landfill than if it is properly composted, in some cases taking years rather than days. Also when sent to landfill, the waste undergoes anaerobic decomposition because of the lack of oxygen and generates methane. When released into the atmosphere, methane is 20 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

"Flow Composting is aimed for an urban environment with little outdoor space. It allows people to compost their kitchen waste in the kitchen and it provides a platform for home grown windowsill plants. The target market is people that are keen on eco-friendly products.

"The most enjoyable part of the project was definitely making the prototypes. It was a real relief to move away from the computer screen and the sketchbooks and actually begin to produce models.

"I found myself in new fields of craft and in new areas of research all in a very short space of time. The final product is made out of red clay, a material I have never really used. Because of this, I spent many weeks in the pottery room producing warped and cracked boxes. However, I persevered and began to pick up the tricks and techniques of working with clay.

"I have grown as a designer throughout the project. Research and technology interest me and are important aspects of a design project but it is the prototyping and craftsmanship that I am most keen on."

Richard is just one of the 290 graduating students exhibiting at the DJCAD Degree Show 2013, which is open to the public until Sunday, May 26th. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm (Monday - Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday - Sunday).

Students from all 11 undergraduate programmes will exhibit the fruits of their labours across the two buildings and fourteen floors that comprise DJCAD, with every spare space exhibiting art and design.

Notes to editors:

DJCAD Degree Show 2013
18th - 25th May (Preview May 17th)

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
University of Dundee
13 Perth Road
Dundee DD1 4HT
T 01382 385330
E exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow/

Exhibition open:
Saturday, May 18th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 19th (10am-4pm)
Monday, May 20th (10am-8pm)
Tuesday, May 21st (10am-8pm)
Wednesday, May 22nd (10am-8pm)
Thursday, May 23rd (10am-8pm)
Friday, May 24th (10am-8pm)
Saturday, May 25th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 26th (10am-4pm)

Graduate work on display:

• Animation
• Art, Philosophy & Contemporary Practices
• Fine Art
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Interior Environmental Design
• Interactive Media Design
• Jewellery & Metal Design
• Product Design
• Textile Design
• Time Based Art & Digital Film

About DJCAD 125:
In 2013 DJCAD is celebrating 125 years of transforming lives through art and design education. That's both the lives of our students but also the lives of those that they go on to work with. The 2013 Degree Show is a moment of real celebration in the year when 290 new artists and designers join the professional world.

Across all our teaching, research and engagement activity, DJCAD is becoming recognised internationally as the art and design institution where students and staff work across disciplinary boundaries, developing new forms of creative practice and using creative practice to transform thinking in other areas.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277