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Student Winner

Furniture & Lighting Award

Core77 Design Awards 2024

Polycycle Illumination: Lamps Crafted from Upcycled Plastic Bags for Ocean Conservation

Polycycle Illumination is a collection of table lamps crafted from upcycled Polyethylene (PE) plastic bags, dedicated to promoting a safer ocean for marine life. Annually, approximately 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used globally, with an estimated 1% to 3% of them eventually entering the ocean. Due to their translucent film texture, discarded plastic bags drifting in the ocean resemble jellyfish, deceiving sea turtles and other marine animals into ingesting them. This ingestion can result in blockages, digestive issues, and death among marine animals. Polycycle Illumination addresses this threat by harnessing the flexibility, translucency, and thermoplasticity of discarded PE plastic bags. Through upcycling, layers of discarded plastic bags are fused via heat pressing into flexible, translucent plastic sheets. These sheets are then fabricated into elegant, jellyfish-shaped table lamps. Polycycle Illumination aims to extend the lifespan of plastic materials, reduce oceanic plastic waste, and foster a healthier marine ecological environment.

Polycycle Illumination I
The upcycling and fabrication process of Polycycle Illumination
Polycycle Illumination Collection
Texture details of Polycycle Illumination
Pollycycle Illumination II
Polycycle Illumiantion III
Upcycling disgarded PE plastic bags into sheets through heat-press fusing
Cutting units out of sheets with the CNC machine
Assembling units into surface, then connecting surfaces into a lampshade
Polycycle Illumination - lamps crafted from upcycled plastic bags for ocean conservation

By repurposing discarded Polyethylene (PE) plastic bags into jellyfish-shaped table lamps, Polycycle Illumination pioneers a novel method of upcycling plastic waste to promote environmental sustainability.

The critical problem Polycycle Illumination tackles is the detrimental impact of plastic waste on marine life, particularly the ingestion of plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish, by sea turtles and other marine animals. Through its innovative design, Polycycle Illumination offers a solution by transforming discarded plastic bags into functional and visually appealing lamps, thereby extending the lifespan of plastic bags, improving the material value, and reducing the amount of plastic waste in the ocean.

By harnessing the unique properties of discarded PE plastic bags, including flexibility and translucency, Polycycle Illumination showcases the potential for upcycling to not only mitigate plastic pollution but also create desirable products with tangible benefits for both consumers and the environment.

The jellyfish-inspired silhouette of Polycycle Illumination serves a dual purpose: it pays homage to the ocean and acts as a visual reminder of the design's mission to protect marine life from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.

Moreover, the parametric design principles allow for a high level of customization and adaptability in the design of Polycycle Illumination. By utilizing digital fabrication methods, each lamp can be precisely tailored to suit the specific needs and preferences of the intended environment.
Through its thoughtful design and material choices, Polycycle Illumination not only illuminates spaces but also fosters a deeper connection to nature and a commitment to protecting the ocean.

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  • Honoree

    Xuanhao Li

  • School

    Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Project Team

    Xuanhao Li / Designer

    HyunJoo Oh / Advisor

    Yaling Liu / Advisor

    Lisa Marks / Advisor

  • Category

    Furniture & Lighting

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