From sheep to product: a design exploration into the benefit of collective creativity in upcycling waste and generating value

Abstract

The National Wool Campaign, also known as HERD, was initiated by the FABlab to regenerate the local wool industry in Namibia. Hundreds of tons of wool are discarded annually due to a lack of perceived value and application. The campaign aims to harness collective creativity across a multi-helix platform, with the aim of adding value and creating a need for the waste. The HERD exhibition area at the 13th Participatory Design Conference (PDC) will form part of the campaign, by exploring participants' interaction with recycled wool.