The Lakeshore Collective

With The Lakeshore Collective, I aim to merge environmental responsibility with community engagement, creating a space that invites people to connect with the Great Lakes while confronting the impact of pollution firsthand. By repurposing beach litter into functional, thought-provoking design elements, this project transforms waste into a catalyst for awareness and action.

2023

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Great Lakes face critical threats from pollution, overuse, and climate change. To address this, I will design an outdoor community space using recycled materials, like chairs made from litter and upcycled containers, to provoke reflection on environmental stewardship. By leveraging discursive design principles, this space will encourage meaningful conversations about human impact on the environment. Targeting residents and visitors, it merges functionality with sustainability, inspiring sustainable habits and fostering accountability for protecting the Great Lakes and their ecosystems.

Initial ideation

The project began with a single question: How can design encourage people to think differently about their relationship with the Great Lakes? I drew inspiration from my time in Copenhagen, where community-focused spaces like Reffen transform public areas into vibrant, sustainable hubs. This sparked the idea of creating an interactive lakeshore experience grounded in both function and environmental storytelling.

Since I started with Problem and not Product, my initial ideation involved a lot of “random” ideas— trying to determine what might fix my chosen issue. I started with a matrix of sorts, dissecting how people interact with water, and where I might be able to intervene.

RESEARCH

I dove into environmental reports, behavioral psychology studies, and interviews with locals and city officials to better understand the complexities of shoreline pollution. I focused on three core insights:

  1. Pollution is highly visible but normalized.

  2. People care—but don't always act.

  3. Design can bridge this gap by encouraging small, tangible actions.

DESIGN CONCEPT

The Lakeshore Collective is more than a public space. It’s a system of modular, sustainable interventions— like seating made from litter, educational signage, and intentional landscaping— that ask users to reflect on their environmental impact while simply enjoying the beach. Each element functions practically and narratively, sparking curiosity and conversation.

PROTOTYPING

To bring the concept to life, I designed and prototyped a chair made entirely from locally sourced shoreline waste. The chair's form subtly echoes waves and erosion—inviting users to sit, rest, and reflect. The process involved collecting litter, experimenting with casting techniques, and considering both comfort and meaning in form.

DELIVERABLES

  • Prototype Chair: A functional seat made from real waste materials, blending ergonomic design with environmental messaging.

  • Environmental Signage & Materials: Educational posters and interactive print pieces about Great Lakes pollution, design choices, and calls to action.

  • Space Renderings: Visualizations of the proposed beach space, including fire pits, upcycled seating, sun shelters made from old shipping containers, and custom-designed waste bins.

  • Design Proposal: A comprehensive pitch to city governments outlining the project’s vision, feasibility, and positive community impact.