daisuke yamamoto explores circular design with FLOW exhibition

flow: minimizing waste through design

Japanese designer Daisuke Yamamoto has unveiled a new furniture collection called ‘FLOW’ at Milan Design Week 2023. This collection is based on the concept of creating a fluid material life cycle that minimizes industrial waste, beginning with the realization that everyday recycled construction materials are often disposed of when new construction begins, a process known as ‘scrap and build.’

To tackle this issue, Yamamoto focused on LGS (Lightweight Gauge Steel), a commonly used and disposed of building material used in framing systems. He designed and constructed space with the assumption that it would one day be deconstructed, utilizing and designing with a material and process that holds the highest purity. Post-demolition building materials are then reused and reclaimed to construct new furniture with a minimum number of components. designboom visited the exhibition at Dropcity during its opening in Milan to meet with the team and observe its creation process.

image © Takumi Ota | @takumiota

daisuke yamamoto’s fluid material cycle

With the FLOW collection, on view at Dropcity, Daisuke Yamamoto challenges the traditional linear design process of ‘think, build, waste’ and instead takes a circular approach of ‘waste, think, re-create.’ With this approach, the designer envisions a new circulation of resources and empowers creative thinking toward consideration for future generations.

In this way, the FLOW collection not only considers its design aesthetic, but also addresses the issue of industrial waste disposal. It acts as a reminder to activate discussions around the mechanism of how we deal with disposed materials in our society. The collection encourages individuals to reimagine and question whether these materials really need to be disposed of or if they can be brought back to life with new meaning.

image © Takumi Ota

the ‘future landfill’

The FLOW collection showcases the possibilities of reusing materials to create something new and unique while minimizing the impact on the environment. The designer proposes a ‘Future Landfill’ as a place where the architect and craftsmen work to create anew what was once destined to be thrown away — a process of disassembling to reassemble.

Overall, the FLOW collection by Daisuke Yamamoto is a reflection of the designer’s commitment to sustainable design practices. The collection provides a new approach to the design process, emphasizing the importance of considering the life cycle of materials and challenging the traditional linear design process. It is a reminder of our responsibility to create a sustainable future and a call to action for individuals and industries to rethink their approach to waste and recycling.

image © designboom
image © designboomimage © Takumi Ota