TEACHING, ADVISING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT


RUBBER SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS

Over the past several decades USED RUBBER USA pioneered the use of reclaimed inner tube and eco textiles in craft, design, retail stores, wholesale, and online, but, it would take far too long for my own rubber design company’s manufacturing needs to make a dent in the tremendous amount of waste rubber that passes through our transportation systems. In order to promote regenerative efforts and after seeing a few dozen designers inspired by my work, I decided to take this rubber reclaim, reuse and recycling concept right back to the streets by teaching methods for reusing this alternative raw material. Since 2004, I have conducted rubber recraft workshops, classes and projects at colleges, universities, art schools, and conferences, as well as with kids at the elementary school level.

Education and communication have always been essential in promoting my USED RUBBER USA’s products, but I also discovered that the very concept itself—recrafting waste rubber from the transportation industry into stylish products for the fashion industry—provided an excellent vehicle for conveying broader ideas related to sustainability, recycling, reclaim and reuse. Issues of design, sourcing, contracting, fabrication, marketing, management, and communication all provide opportunities for sustainable thinking. I am pleased to be able to pass along the benefit of many years of experience in this area and with this specific material.

LENGTH OF WORKSHOPS: From 2 hours to 2 week intensives

MAIN MATERIAL: Reclaimed post consumer bicycle and motorcycle inner tuber rubber

DOWNLOADS: K - 5 Curriculum, University Level Industrial Design Bike Inner Tube and Cardboard Chair Project

Industrial Design Class, California College of the Arts, San Francisco

Mixed Media Rubber 2 week workshop, Haystack Mountain School of Craft, Maine

Interdisciplinary Studies Class, California College of the Arts (CCA), San Francisco

Kindergarten, French American International School, San Francisco

Sustainable Fashion Class, CCA, San Francisco

The primary goal for the rubber workshops is to change people’s perceptions about what defines a raw material and encourage individuals of all ages to explore new concepts for material life spans and positive cycles of reuse.