Planty – a gadget with an eco-friendly message

“It’s worthwhile to choose eco-friendly materials and process them sustainably. In the art world, the artist takes on the role of an educator, and it’s worth communicating the values we believe in,” says Anna Eliza Gwiazda, whose ‘plan[ty]’ project won first prize in the ‘eco-gadget’ section of the 7R Warehouse of Art’s ‘Young Art for the Planet’ competition.

The designer proposed a gadget made of biodegradable handmade paper containing plant seeds that sprout and gradually cause the gadget to disintegrate.

Biodegradable mini warehouse

The artist herself describes “plan[ty]” as taking the form of a miniature warehouse, with its paper design inspired by origami. The seeds used are a mix of Polish meadow plants, which may serve as an additional attraction for foreign clients. As a result of the interaction created, the gadget’s use is spread out over time and involves the recipient in the process of growing plants, thereby creating a bond between the user and the gadget. Three parties benefit from the use of the ‘plan[ty]’: the person receiving the gift, the person giving it, and the environment.

“I wanted to design an object that wouldn’t outlive the person who received it. I always wonder how well I have highlighted the environmental benefits of my projects,” says the first-prize winner.

In the environmental sphere

The eco-friendly design of this gadget is evident in every detail. The assembly instructions and care guidelines for the growing seeds are printed on the inside of the box, which is why a “plan[ty]” requires no additional packaging. They can also be flattened for transport and storage, resulting in a low carbon footprint during production.

“I chose paper for my ‘plan[ts]’ because it decomposes very quickly. Meanwhile, the germinating seeds and growing plants immediately reveal the process of change. Origami, in turn, is not just a part of Japanese culture; it appears in all the cultures of the world, and what’s more, it occurs in nature and is manifested through its mathematical precision,” the artist explains .

Educators to the point

In her view, designers have an important role to play in creating products that, over their lifecycles, impact both the user and the natural environment.

The artist is a member of the TakŁadnie collective and works professionally in the design of therapeutic items and toys, but she is seeking to expand into other areas of design.

“Recently, I designed an item for recording memories—something like a personal diary. I undertook this project while working with therapists and refugees. Recently, I tried my hand at designing some functional glassware, which was quite a challenge for me,” says the designer.

About Warehouse of Art

The 7R Warehouse of Art “Young Art for the Planet” competition was open to students and graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Its guiding motto was “Technology, Ecology, People, Coexistence.” The competition required participants to create a functional art project with an ecological theme in one of three categories: ergonomic seating, murals on the side of a fire hydrant, and an ecological 7R gadget. A total of 26 entries were submitted. The winning projects are available at 7rwarehouseofart.pl.