Further Education Sustainability Award 2021 Winner

'A Better Footprint'

"The sole of a trainer could last 1000 years in a landfill. So why are we not using our trainers to their full potential? I aimed to explore ways in which I can encourage young adults to consider their impact on the environment from their contribution to the trainer industry. I looked at ways in which I could design and brand an eco trainer in a more exciting way for younger people so they don’t feel pressured by the sustainability aspect.

Furthermore, I wanted it to match with current trends to engage a wider audience. Another aim I had was to inspire people to consider using their trainers for as long as they can before moving on to another pair and making conscious decisions on what will last when purchasing a pair. I wanted to produce a piece of work that was engaging casually so the audience felt comfortable and not pressured by information on sustainability. I wanted the people watching to feel inspired to begin considering their impact rather than demotivated for not noticing the need for change sooner as I think we all could benefit from ‘A Better Footprint’."

Undergraduate Sustainability Award 2021 Runner Up

'If I Owned A Tower-Tall Ladder'

"This illustrated children’s book presents an idealistic character who envisions the changes she’d be able to contribute to the world if she were in possession of a tower-tall ladder. Inspired by the nonsense poetry of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, it too adopts colourful and playful rhymes to touch upon heavier themes such as the ongoing refugee crisis and the reluctance of world leaders to address it, the predominant market system that shortsightedly measures ‘growth’ and ‘development’ using bare numerics (GDP), the politicisation of international environmental agreements, and the war and violence that occur between a small few but which causes suffering for all of its citizens.

In a time where there is already a great amount of heated dialogue surrounding these issues, the book opts for a very soft tone to avoid creating any more resentment to any particular party, allowing itself to be heard in its own light while offering a different perspective to that of an adult. In doing so, it additionally highlights the importance of openness, kindness, and having mutual respect for each other’s right to live (including plants and animals!) in order to address all of these issues."

Click here to view the full book

Undergraduate Sustainability Award 2021 Runner Up

'Investigation into the Relationship between the Anthropocene and Sustainability'

"This zine compiles the findings of research I undertook, looking at how living in a man-made world (the anthropocene) has had an effect on the environment and planet, also looking at if it is possible to live sustainably in the society we live in. Looking at ideas of sustainability discussed by ecology philosophers Timothy Morton and Arnes Naess, as well as early ecological socialist ideas by artist and designer William Morris as discussed in his novel News From Nowhere. The purpose of the zine is to help show the impacts that our way of living has had of the planet, helping to raise awareness and making people evaluate their way of living and how sustainable it is.

Visuals were created by looking at patterns in the world around me as well as damages done to the unseen world, such as selection of micro cultures due to modern farming techniques. Seeing how nature interacts with the man-made world, the way plants have grown around concrete and how we have sculpted the natural landscape to suit our needs. Collecting, photographing and scanning these interactions, found objects and patterns allowed me to develop unique patterns highlighting the impact of our way of living. Displayed in circular motifs to represent a microscopic lens, representing how I am trying to bring awareness to the unobserved damages to nature caused by the anthropocene."

Click here to view the full zine

Further Education Sustainability Award 2021 Runner Up

'Letters Of A Lifetime'

"I chose to address the issue of adult illiteracy which is a social issue affecting at least 9 million adults in the UK alone. I felt it was important to raise awareness about this issue as it is incredibly isolating for those it affects due to the stigma surrounding it. Moreover, it is an issue that is also affected by gender inequality with ⅔ of the global illiterate population being women; meaning that illiteracy can also be a factor in the oppression of women who may not be able to access education and information.

I hoped that my work could influence new thinking by raising awareness of loneliness caused by illiteracy by providing a story that represents those living with reading differences, rather than hiding them. I arrived at a solution which I hope is accessible, raises awareness and creates a conversation that promotes de-stigmatisation by creating an illustrated short story. This was achieved through narrative illustrations and a short audio clip which allowed the work to be accessible and open to interpretation for any level of reading skill. The work addresses social sustainability specifically as it aims to provide an enjoyable reading experience despite a person’s reading abilities and therefore providing an equal opportunity for everyone to access a story. Moreover, by raising awareness of adult illiteracy the work addresses social sustainability to hopefully create a more accepting and supportive place for those who may have reading differences."

Click here to view the full book