Projects

Product Ideas

Because of the labor cost of collecting the bags and the limited production runs possible on the Kingston Press most designs developed at RISD aim for a higher price point. To date, there have been two main initiatives to design ideas: the student-run competition Its In the Bag, and an Industrial Design Studio entitled Waste For Life taught by David Zitnick.

W4L Wallet, Will Wells ID’11

Image Credit: Mark Johnston

These bi-fold wallets were selected as the first product to test in Buenos Aires. A limited edition of the wallets is available at Bodega, Boston.

The Metro Bag, Stephanie Retz ID’10

Image Credit: Stephanie Retz

A messenger-style bag made from 100 recycled newspaper bags and a single second hand t-shirt. The Metro Bag won the HSBC International Design Award at Made in Brunel.

C1 Sling Chair, Diau Hall ID’10

Image Credit: Mark Johnston

The C1 Sling Chair is a flat-packing chair made with a ½” steel rod frame and a sling made from low density polyethylene (ldpe) impregnated fabric. The C1 Sling Chair was the winner in the cartonero category of the Its In The Bag competition.

PLASTICBAGWOVENS, Kayla Mattes TX’12

Image Credit: Mark Johnston

PLASTICBAGWOVENS is an exploration of hand weaving and heating plastic bags. The final application of these techniques could include interior uses for furniture and wall applications. PLASTICBAGWOVENS was the winner in the open category of the Its In The Bag competition.

Riverzedge Lamp, Katryna Carter MID’10

Image Credit: Katryna Carter

These lamps are a result of a co-design project with teens in a Rhode Island-based after school program. The Riverzedge Lamp was a finalist in the cartonero category of the Its In The Bag competition. The lamps were exhibited at Made in Brunel and featured at Inhabitat.com.

Rain Boots, Louis Rigano ID ‘10

Image Credit: Mark Johnston

Slip on rain boots that take advantage of the inherent waterproof quality of the plastic bags. The rain boots were a finalist in the cartonero category of the Its In The Bag competition and have been widely covered in design blogs.

Watch Band, Erin Knowlton ID’10

Image Credit: Mark Johnston

These patterned watch bands are made of pressed plastic bags, cut into strips and formed together. The watch band design was a finalist in the cartonero category of the Its In The Bag competition.

Untitled Dress, Mary Kahle AP ‘12

Image Credit: Mark Johnston

This garment is constructed from turquoise, white and black grocery spun into thread-like strands woven using gil-netting techniques. The dress was a finalist in the open category of the Its In The Bag competition.