Waste Not, Want Not: A participatory action research project exploring how we can champion material circularity, reduce waste, and encourage the responsible use of materials within our studio community. 

This research will involve student participants engaging actively in a co-design project to collaboratively design and make an intervention within our studio space with the intention of improving the sustainable use of the space and materials used in the studio.

Methodology

I will be asking students to be active participants in a PAR, that looks to explore how we use materials within our studio through observation, analysis and intervention. This project will take place through three 2-hour workshops held in our studio space. 

Through these co-design workshops we will explore how we can work through the design process without buying, discarding or wasting any materials to understand how we can embed what we teach/learn into our modes of practice. 

As primary researcher, I have created a structure for this project, however I will be involving the participants in what methods we will use to record and analyse the data produced from this project. I will be both an active participant and project lead at different stages of this project, I will make clear to participants both their and my roles throughout the 3 workshops.  

Workshop Summary:

Workshop	Date	Time	Objectives
Workshop 1	Wednesday  1st Nov	2-4pm	Introduction to project + development of brief
Workshop 2	Wednesday  22nd Nov	2-4pm	Design Workshop
Workshop 3	Wednesday  6th Dec	2-6pm	Build Workshop

Background + Context

 I am a lecturer in Construction Technology, Live Build and Making Projects on the BA Interior and Spatial Design course at Camberwell. This role involves establishing live projects with community partners, embedding more technical and making skills into the BA curriculum. I also

My background is in architecture working on live, collaborative projects. In addition to teaching I work as a programme manager for an award-winning social enterprise, MATT+FIONA, and as a lecturer in construction, making, and live projects on the BA Interior and Spatial Design Course at UAL. These experiences have solidified my belief in the transformative power of live build and making as tools for learning, engagement, and empowerment.

While trying to establish the area of my research question, I reflected on my core values and interests which are;

• Live Projects
• Collaboration
• Material Sustainability

The research question I have chosen combines all three of these areas into one project.