A bold, early vision for how we discuss sustainability
The Secret Life of Things series was born in 2009 and completed in 2011 with three animated videos. The first animation, Life Psycle-ology, came to life thanks to the support of the British Council. It takes on e-waste through humorous storytelling and won a Melbourne Design Award in 2010.
The project continued with the support of the Design and Technology Teachers Association (DATTA), which commissioned the development of a new animation specifically for high school design and technology students covering the core curriculum topic area. The second video, This is Your Life Cycle, puts an entertaining spin on the scientific process of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).It’s the Little Things is the third and final video, exploring the planned obsolescence of everyday products and sharing sustainability design tips.
This project promotes life cycle thinking and environmentally responsible decision-making in design and product development. The resources draw on interactive environmental education and present a solutions-based approach to integrating tools that consider environmental impacts. Combined, the animations have been viewed well over 100,000 times and are being used as teaching resources in schools and universities around Australia, Europe, and the United States.
The animations are supported by an eco-design resource pack, which includes a selection of educational materials for design educators and businesses wanting to explore life cycle thinking and eco-design.
“How do you engage people with sustainability without making it all doom and gloom? How do you inspire people to think about the hidden lives of all the things that they own? And to then consider what part they can play in making a difference? How do you get design students to stop and think about the role that they play in the environmental footprint of their products?
These are the motivating questions that lead to the development of The Secret Life of Things project.”
Storytelling the Lives of Everyday Products: What we did
Humorous and engaging, these previously untold stories make sustainability concepts accessible and provide actionable tips to make change.
Video
Life Psychol-olgy
The first video, Life Psychol-ology, examines the life story of an unhappy mobile phone seeking therapy after its owner dumps it in favor of a new model.
Video
This is Your Life Cycle
This is Your Life Cycle is a humorous, tongue-in-cheek nod to popular reality TV makeover shows in which everyday products compete for a sorely needed eco-design makeover.
Video
It’s the Little Things
The final video, It’s the Little Things, gives voice to everyday products, revealing their struggles and urging us to rethink design decisions, eliminate waste and practice sustainable ownership.
Featured in Melbourne Now at the NGV
“Importantly, Melbourne Design Now will challenge us to think about issues of sustainability in design, manufacture and consumption. Leyla Acaroglu, educator and design sustainability provocateur, is creative director of the award winning sustainability education project ‘The Secret Life of Things‘, and creator of the ‘Design Play Cards‘. Called the ‘fun way to Eco design’, the cards explore the opportunities for change through designing for sustainability. These award winning projects will be presented as another exemplary design project.”
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