Ecological grief is a term that has recently begun popping up in design and art circles. The idea ties to the notion of the dying planet and the mourning of the loss of many unique natural formations -- the Great Barrier Rief was one that gained quite a bit of press.
Dutch designer Xandra van der Eijk and her team explore ecological grief with another example. The creatives used a 3D-scanner to record the surface of a glacier located in the Swiss Alps. She then transfers the collected data and uses it to build "three large structures from a thin sheet of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic."
The ecological grief is an intended response of the installation -- which is dubbed 'Retreat,' and is intended to raise awareness about climate change.
Scanned Glacier Installations
Ecological Grief Figures as a Sole Motivator for Xandra Van Der Eijk
Trend Themes
1. Ecological Grief - Opportunity for businesses to address the emotional impact of climate change through design and art.
2. 3D Scanning - Innovation potential in using 3D scanning technology to record and preserve natural formations.
3. Bioplastics - Disruptive potential in the use of bioplastic materials for sustainable construction and design.
Industry Implications
1. Design - Design industry can harness ecological grief to create impactful experiences that raise awareness about climate change.
2. Art - Art industry can explore ecological grief as a theme to evoke emotions and foster dialogue about the environment.
3. Sustainable Construction - Sustainable construction industry can leverage bioplastics to create eco-friendly structures inspired by natural formations.