Ideals, showmanship and crazy

It has been nearly a year since I felt the pressure cooker known as thesis,
aka Ecopala. Different facets of this project have been posted - they can be viewed here. I was recently chatting with my buddy Erik, from Mexico city.
We were talking about systems and ideals and materials, how design can
be dictated by these things. We are creative people, and he felt that not
many understand what he is aiming to accomplish with the business which
he intends to start. It was a good chat.

I thought of the ideal Hawaiian product cycle I proposed for my thesis. An attempt for a closed loop cycle which hopes to eliminate or lessen shipping
of Hawaii's waste to different compost sites around the world. Instead, finding
ways to turn waste materials into new products.



I received tremendous information from the City Recycling Coordinator of Honolulu. Her willingness to help really helped the outcome of my thesis. But evidently, when I emailed her my final project, her reply seemed to carry the tone of disappointment with how I seem to have been able to simplify Hawaii's waste stream problems with a couple of illustrations. She must have felt that I took a more businesslike, selling approach to a problem that is constant and very real to her.


Beach noodles and old surf boards

I am a dreamer. A designer. Selling my ideas is part of the showmanship.


Chimes and marker holder from military gun shell casings

So during the end of a substantial chat session with Erik, the word "dreamer" had been used countless times. He then said something which tickled my socks...he told me to re-read some of my chat logs and for every time I see
the word dreamer, change it to "crazy person."

Could I be?...ummphhh I think...therefore I am?.....CRAZY!! hahaha.

Wow I didn't realize that "crazy person" is 100% synonymous with "dreamer." Nevertheless, I'll continue to be a designer. The only way to be sane is to be
a dreamer. As long as I don't become a hazard to myself, I don't mind "crazy."


Rubber tires, beach mats, beach noodle and old boogie board

I quoted Bob Marley and said "don't give up the fight," to which Erik replied,
"I'd rather die than to give up the fight." Ha. gotta love being a "dreamer!!"

Sustainable Sandals

As part of my design thesis, Ecopala, the following are renders of footwear which re-uses materials that are derived from Hawaii's local waste stream.


Waikiki Loafers

Maui Kicks

Shaka Sandals

Waikiki Loafers II

Hale'iwa Lights

Unfortunate things can be turned into product opportunities. Marine debris impact ocean ecology in negative ways. Fishing nets abandoned at sea will eventually find its way to marine inhabitants, destroying corals and animals. 

It is cheaper for fishermen to discard broken fishing nets than to repair them.

Photos found via google images

If you're just joining, Ecopala is a series of Hawaiian inspired products which
are made from waste opportunities. Ecopala proposes exchange partnerships
by giving incentives to those willing to trade used refurbish-able goods. Ideally, this might help lessen the amount of debris left out at sea. One example of a product opportunity from used fishing nets is the Hale'iwa Lights.


Photo by Katherine Villamin

Inspired by the historic town on the north shore of Oahu, The Hale'iwa Lights additionally integrates discarded coconut shells in its design. More photos of
the Hale'iwa Lights here.

I wanna Illustator you, everyday and everynight.

Ha. Sorta listening to Bob Marley as I write. Is this Illustrator I am feeling?
Yes indeed I believe, Ecopala brought this outta me and adobe. And Bob.

The following are sketch renders from my recent design thesis. They be hot!


If you're just joining, Ecopala is a series of Hawaiian inspired products that
are made from waste opportunities. Opala is the Hawaiian word for trash.


The materials rendered on these sketches varies from used fishing nets,
surfboards, old beach mats, noodle floats, all re-usable trash in between.


Kinda got lazy with the next one, I forgot to change the bulbs ;p


Bob Marley is cool, and so as illustrator. See more sketch renders here.

The Garden of Sustainable Delights

Some sketches to ponder. The compositions kinda remind me of Bosch's
famous painting. But instead of earthly pleasures and contempt, the main
focus is sustainability. Gotta embrace the inner responsible designer!

If you're just joining, Ecopala is a series of Hawaiian inspired products that
are made from waste opportunities. Opala is the Hawaiian word for trash.

The sketches below conceptually uses materials such as used fishing nets,
coconut shells, rubber tires, flotation noodles, beach mats, etc. I had fun
coming up with these drawings, so best enjoy yourself while you look.

Ecopala Table

The main reason for starting this blog is to showcase some of my creations.
Editing my portfolio is proving to be difficult; this is a proactive attempt to have
a place for my work excesses. This blog will serve as a less constricted, more
narrative showcase venue for my works.



I recently designed a line of products from waste stream opportunities, inspired
and researched from my recent trips to Hawaii, it's called Ecopala. The photo
above is the finished prototype of a table which re-uses damaged propane tanks
for its legs and refurbished wood for its table surface.

Form studies from Rhino models.



Render of corner tables with varying propane heights. Looking so yummy.



Another view, my damn sexy table gives this living room so much charm.



More Ecopala coming. Look here for the rest of the table photos.