R. Project: Mindful Makers
Giao Nguyen's "R. Project" explores the intersection of sustainable furniture design and mindfulness practices in Nottingham, UK. The project name, "R.", is a play on the Vietnamese pronunciation of "touch," emphasizing the importance of tactile engagement with materials. The project consists of two main components: innovative furniture designs and a proposed series of community workshops called "Mindful Makers."
Nguyen's furniture concepts include the Mossy Chair and the Willowy Partition, both created from upcycled materials. The Mindful Makers workshop series, developed as the final proposal, aims to integrate furniture upcycling with mindfulness practices, leveraging Nottingham's existing creative infrastructure to promote sustainable consumption and community well-being.
Who is this for?
While distinct from the furniture designs, the proposed "Mindful Makers" workshops complement Nguyen's overall project vision.
These community-based sessions would guide participants through creating their own upcycled furniture pieces, integrating mindfulness practices throughout. The workshops aim to promote sustainable consumption, foster community connections, and provide accessible mindfulness options. Through Mindful Makers, Giao Nguyen offers a scalable model for promoting mindful consumption in urban environments. By combining practical skills development with mindfulness practices, the program contributes to a more sustainable and emotionally connected relationship between participants and their living spaces. As the project evolves, it has the potential to significantly impact Nottingham's approach to furniture waste, community well-being, and creative expression.
Process and Prototyping
The Future of this Product
Giao Nguyen's "R. Project" blends sustainable furniture design with mindfulness practices in Nottingham, UK. The project, named after the Vietnamese word for "touch," includes two key components: the Mossy Chair and Willowy Partition, made from upcycled materials, and a community workshop series called "Mindful Makers." These workshops teach participants how to create multifunctional furniture using reclaimed materials, while integrating mindfulness techniques. Nguyen's designs emphasize flexibility, biophilic elements, and circular economy principles, aiming to foster both sustainable consumption and emotional well-being within the community.