Among the focused components of the 2012...

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Your daily source of inspiration for creative reuse and mindful consumption.

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[Background on, & press coverage of, Unconsumption can be found here and here.]

Consumption is a word used to describe acts of acquisition – generally, the acquisition of things, in exchange for money.

Unconsumption is a word used to describe everything that happens after an act of acquisition.

Unconsumption is an invisible badge.

Unconsumption means the accomplishment of properly recycling your old cellphone, rather than the guilt of letting it sit in a drawer.

Unconsumption means the thrill of finding a new use for something that you were about to throw away.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a service like Freecycle (or Craigslist, Goodwill, or Salvation Army) to find a new home for the functioning DVD player you just replaced, rather than throwing it in the garbage.

Unconsumption means enjoying the things you own to the fullest – not just at the moment of acquisition.

Unconsumption means the pleasure of using a pair of sneakers until they are truly worn out – as opposed to the nagging feeling of defeat when they simply go out of style.

Unconsumption means feeling good about the simple act of turning off the lights when you leave the room.

Unconsumption is not about the rejection of things, or the demonization of things. It’s not a bunch of rules.

Unconsumption is an idea, a set of behaviors, a way of thinking about consumption itself from a new perspective.

Unconsumption is free.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Founder & Editor: Rob Walker, journalist, Savannah, GA

Editorial & Community Manager: Molly Block, marketing and business development geek, Houston, TX

Brian W. Jones, designer & writer, Göteborg, Sweden

Kashvi Kumar, Environmental Studies and Economics major at New York University

Deirdre Nelson, ever threading artist, Glasgow, Scotland

Shanna Trenholm, writer. catalyst. force of nature. San Diego, CA

* * *

Alumnus & Unconsumption logo creator: Clifton Burt, graphic designer, Portland, OR

Further information about Unconsumption can be found here.

1:06 pm - Sun, May 27, 2012: 34 notes

Among the focused components of the 2012 WantedDesign event calendar, 12x12 stood out as an inspiring exhibition of upcycling and repurposing. The idea was simple—supply 12 designers with timber from 12 demolished New York City buildings to create a piece of furniture. While the work presented by a juried group of Big Apple-based designers made for an impressive collection, there were four that resonated strongly for us.

Pictured: Water Tower Chair.

As the name implies Bellboy’s Water Tower Chair takes its shape from planks salvaged from a 10,000-gallon rooftop water tank that once stood atop a Park Avenue co-op. The 40-year-old California Redwood lends its beautiful color and rich grain perfectly. Each 8’ plank has been chopped down and consecutively laid to accentuate the lounge chair’s flowing, mid-century inspired silhouette.

More on Coolhunting.com: 12x12

High-Res

Among the focused components of the 2012 WantedDesign event calendar, 12x12 stood out as an inspiring exhibition of upcycling and repurposing. The idea was simple—supply 12 designers with timber from 12 demolished New York City buildings to create a piece of furniture. While the work presented by a juried group of Big Apple-based designers made for an impressive collection, there were four that resonated strongly for us.

Pictured: Water Tower Chair.

As the name implies Bellboy’s Water Tower Chair takes its shape from planks salvaged from a 10,000-gallon rooftop water tank that once stood atop a Park Avenue co-op. The 40-year-old California Redwood lends its beautiful color and rich grain perfectly. Each 8’ plank has been chopped down and consecutively laid to accentuate the lounge chair’s flowing, mid-century inspired silhouette.