Post 2- 2025 : What is your Upcycling project? What is the aesthetic and why?

Upcycled Rust?

The Beauty of Rust: Exploring the Aesthetic of Rusted Industrial Materials in Art Installations When we think about art, we often picture pristine sculptures or sleek modern designs. But thereโ€™s an entirely different, raw beauty that lies in the materials we often overlook or discard. Rusted industrial materialsโ€”pieces of metal, steel, and iron that haveโ€ฆ

The psychology of design โ€“ how to embody an aesthetic with no visual consistencies

As discussed in my previous post, neuroaesthetic is a design aesthetic which uses colors, shapes, textures, sounds, and even smells, in a very strategic manner to elicit a desired human behavioral response. As such, the neuroaesthetics is held at the subconscious and personal level, rather than purely at the visual; in this sense, there isโ€ฆ

Japanese Stationery Aesthetic in Tool Design: Watchmakerโ€™s Screwdriver Stand

  For my project, Iโ€™ve chosen to create something Iโ€™ve long wanted to make: a watchmakerโ€™s screwdriver stand. This project finally gives me the perfect excuse to invest time into not only making it highly functional but also aesthetically refined. Recently, Iโ€™ve picked up the hobby of watchmaking, which involves the repair and servicing ofโ€ฆ

Upcycled Cacao Pod-Inspired Chocolate Packaging

The aesthetic that I will base my project on is Wabi-Sabiโ€”a natural and minimalistic philosophy that captures the essence of what I want to communicate. For this project, I want to design packaging for a luxury chocolate brand that embodies authenticity, imperfection, and deep respect for nature. My inspiration for this project came from anโ€ฆ

Upcycled Mirror Project

My upcycle project is a set of powered vehicle fender mirrors, designed with inspiration from the sleek, classic aesthetics of the 1960s and 1970s. These decades were known for their distinct automotive styling, where form and function blended seamlessly into striking designs. I want to capture that same essence while integrating modern functionality through poweredโ€ฆ

Upcycled Project โ€“ spinning cat toy

Spinning Cat Toy I will make a spinning cat toy that will be an interactive and enriching play structure designed with a modern abstract aesthetic. Unlike traditional cat toys that mimic real-world objects, this design will embrace geometric and minimalistic elements. It is intended to provide both mental and physical stimulation for my cat whileโ€ฆ

Shou Sugi Ban and the Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic โ€“ Wall Decor

For an upcycling project, I decided to go with a Japanese Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic by using the Shou Sugi Ban wood-burning technique. Wabi-Sabi is the Japanese art of impermanence. โ€œWabi,โ€ meaning less is more, and โ€œSabiโ€ meaning attentive melancholy, describes an emphasis on nature and the awareness of pleasure in things that are not permanent. Inโ€ฆ

Upcycle Project Aesthetic โ€“ Earthcore/Recycling/Granola

For my upcycle project I have decided to try and repurpose waste produced by many people every day including me, empty cans. I plan to take empty soda, tea and beer cans and repurpose them into planters for small plants such as succulents or cacti. The granola or earth core aesthetic will be the guidingโ€ฆ

Upcycle Lighthouse

For my Upcycle project, Iโ€™ve chosen to explore the nautical aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the ocean, maritime structures, and coastal architecture. This aesthetic is often defined by a combination of weathered textures, deep blues, crisp whites, natural wood, and metal accents, all of which evoke the feeling of being near the sea. From old fishingโ€ฆ

Recycled Terrarium Project

  [1] https://www.shaverscreek.org/2020/04/08/create-your-own-mini-ecosystem-at-home/For my Upcycle project, I have chosen an earth core aesthetic, but am looking into โ€œsolarpunkโ€ which draws inspiration from the natural world and its ability to reclaim human-made objects over time. I believe this aesthetic aligns perfectly with the use of recycled materials and complements the vision I have for my project.โ€ฆ

Disposable Water Bottle Lantern: Club/Rave Aesthetic

The upcycling project that I will be constructing is โ€œlanternsโ€ made out of plastic disposable water bottles and different colored lights to follow the club or rave aesthetic. The club aesthetic that will be achieved through this project makes people feel high energy and party vibes through itsโ€™ bold contrasts, different colors of lights, andโ€ฆ

Upcycling Project โ€“ Post 2

The fruit bowl I want to create for my upcycling project is a blend of organic fluidity and playful modernity,  incorporating unique curves, spirals, bubbly shapes, and wavy shapes to create a design that feels natural and futuristic. Inspired by multiple aesthetics like Blobjects, Memphis design, and Retro-Futurisim, the bowl will have a flowing sculpturalโ€ฆ

Upcycle Project: Futuristic Beer Bottle

The Idea Imagine this, itโ€™s the year 2800, and you have just gotten off a long day at work. Having recently receiving a promotion, you decide to go to the bar with your friends. You are on a tight budget, so you make your way to a sleazy bar on the outskirts of town. Atโ€ฆ

Upcycling 3D Printer Scraps

For this assignment, I would like to upcycle 3D printer scraps. In the 3D printing hobby, prints donโ€™t always come out perfectly. Many objects fail during printing, resulting in an excess amount of scrap. Additionally, I often encounter excess filament being pushed out of the nozzle when loading new filament. To prevent clogging, I haveโ€ฆ

Upcycled Project: 3D Printer Filament Spool Shelf

Material Choice At the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory (ITLL) makerspace here at CU, students are able to access our 3D printers (and filament) for free!  This gives them an affordable opportunity to grow skills and bring creative visions to life โ€“ but this unlimited access makes our program churn through PLA filament spools atโ€ฆ

Upcycle Design Project โ€“ Recycled Wood Cutting Board

Overview For my upcycle project, Iโ€™ve decided to create a functional piece of kitchen ware, a cutting board out of a piece of scrap wood I found in a dumpster on campus. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to not only make something functional, but also to experiment with my woodworking skills and create aโ€ฆ

Cyberpunk Meets Sustainability: Upcycling to Create a Futuristic Looking Chairless Chair

For my upcycling project, I will create a cyberpunk-inspired โ€œchairless chairโ€ using only freely available materials. A chairless chair is an exoskeleton-like device that straps to the userโ€™s lower body, allowing them to sit anywhere. When not in use, it remains attached to the waist, enabling free movement. The concept of a chairless chair wasโ€ฆ

Plastic Trees

Upcycling project plan For my upcycling project, I am interested in turning 3D printing organic โ€˜treeโ€™ supports into a forest / mountain diorama. These tree supports resemble roots or branches and normally start from a central โ€˜trunkโ€™ point. These tree supports are almost always thrown in the trash, contributing to plastic waste. I believe theyโ€ฆ

Deco Trick (โ€œAssassinโ€™sโ€) Teapot

For my upcycle project, I will be making a dual-chamber teapot, inspired by the historic โ€œassassinโ€™s teapotโ€ design, using acrylic and paint. I aim to create this teapot with a decopunk aesthetic while adhering to the projectโ€™s requirement of using discarded or otherwise unused materials. As mentioned in class, the primary goal of this projectโ€ฆ

Blending Rustic Charm with Modern Functionality: A Reclaimed Wooden Knife Block

For my upcycling project, I have chosen to create a magnetic knife block made from recycled wood. This design draws inspiration from the rustic charm of old reclaimed barn-style wood, combined with the sleek functionality of modern kitchen accessories. The aim is to highlight the character and imperfections of weathered wood, while crafting a practicalโ€ฆ

Upcycle Project: Looney Tunes Backgrounds

Looney Tunes Aesthetic Project Iโ€™ve always admired the aesthetic of the backgrounds that take up a lot of the space of Looney Tunes cartoons. There actually used to be an Instagram account dedicated to showcasing these backgrounds, but I believe it got taken down due to copyright issues. This takedown was probably justified, but itโ€ฆ

The Accidental Scandi: How a Dusty Lamp Turned Me into an Interior Design Enthusiast!

I am someone who gets bored of things way too fast.Seriously, if my attention span were a person, it would be that friend who leaves a party after 15 minutes. For my last aesthetic exploration, I went all in on Kolam Aestheticโ€”introducing something new to people here through my blog. But now?!Moving on. Sticking toโ€ฆ

Wearable Pop Art โ€“ Modern fashion meets bold aesthetic

Featured Image: Andy Warhol, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964)   To give a brief overview: This upcycled project will focus on using recycled, eco-friendly fabric swatches to make a collage style wearable or accessory in the Pop Art aesthetic. This will be a fun and interesting project that blends current fashion trends with the boldโ€ฆ

Organic Patchwork Wood Aesthetic

For this semesterโ€™s Upcycle Project, I am drawing from the organic patchwork wood aesthetic to make a small set of tableware. This aesthetic is particularly enticing to me as a woodworker because I thoroughly enjoy blending different wood grain textures and directions to enhance a piece of furniture or art. Similarly, I also feel stronglyโ€ฆ

Upcycled Plastic Pointilism

For my upcycling project I will be creating a piece using Pointillism, a technique that is a part of the broader Neo-impressionist movement and aesthetic. Neo-Impressionism was a movement in French painting during the late 19th century that reacted against the empirical realism of impressionism, relying on scientific theories of color to achieve visual effectsโ€ฆ

Upcycle Project โ€“ Baroque Introduction

Arguably one of the most famous classical aesthetics, Baroque is a famous music and art style that grew popular in Western Europe from 1600 -1750. Baroque has many defining characteristics, often depicting dramatic and tense scenes. Baroque art is commonly described as a mixture of classicism and naturalism. Annibale Carracci and Caravaggio are among someโ€ฆ

Upcycle Project โ€“ Steampunk Introduction

To get this project going, I started with brainstorming and had three main parts I took into consideration:  What Aesthetic I wanted to have my project embody What I wanted to make  What resources I had at my disposal realized  I have always loved the look of Steampunk. I loved the metallic, darkish colors, andโ€ฆ

Upcycle Project: โ€œSki Bumโ€ Hat

โ€œSki Bumโ€ is a term that typically evokes a specific image in peopleโ€™s heads. A caricature of someone who makes skiing their number one priority, sometimes over jobs, homes, or clothes. โ€œSki bumsโ€ are known for being resourceful and making ends meet in order to spend as much time on the slopes. The aesthetic aroundโ€ฆ

Upcycling Liquor Bottles into Industrial Vintage Drinkware

For my upcycle project, I want to transform discarded liquor bottles into a set of unique, vintage-inspired cups and pitchers. Rather than stripping away the original branding, Iโ€™m embracing the logos, embossed glass, and worn labels as part of the design. This approach aligns with the Industrial Vintage aestheticโ€”an aesthetic that highlights raw materials, historicalโ€ฆ

Vintage technology/Retro Apple aesthetic โ€“ Ethernet Key Door Holder Rack

In terms of the scope for this upcycling project, I wanted the item I created to serve a functional purpose in my day-to-day life. I looked around my room and tried to find something that needed an item or fixture serving a secondary purpose, aside from its original design. In my case, I often hungโ€ฆ

Vintage Americana Chalk Bag Made from Reworked Leviโ€™s

What is Vintage Americana? Red, white, blue, and denim: the color pallet of vintage americana. Inspired by the feminine styles of the 1950s and 1960s throughout the United States (Living Vintage, 2023), vintage americana looks like coca cola advertisements and diners. Fig 1. Double Conveys Diner in New York in 1941 Vintage americana is notโ€ฆ

Cyberpunk Stereoscope Ideation

After exploring stereograms in my aesthetic exploration last week, I decided to create a rendition of a stereoscope as my upcycle project. Stereoscopes are devices with which to view stereograms, and an example Holmes Stereoscope is depicted above [1]. There are several key components that compose a Holmes stereoscope. On the viewing side there areโ€ฆ

Rattan Peacock Chair out of Tires

For the upcycling project, I am taking inspiration from the Rattan Peacock Chair aesthetic. This iconic chair has a very interesting history, which is well explained in this video by Vox. The short history is that rattan chairs became popular as โ€˜photography chairsโ€™ in the late 1800s because they were lightweight, beautiful, and stayed coolโ€ฆ

Bauhaus & De Stijl: Upcycling with Recycled Skateboard Decks

Aesthetic Inspiration For my upcycle project, I have chosen to blend the Bauhaus and De Stijl aesthetics. This decision was largely influenced by my choice of materialโ€”old skateboard decks. The colorful, laminated layers of wood in skateboard decks create linear patterns when cut, aligning with both design movements. I plan to repurpose these decks intoโ€ฆ

Natured inspired pencil holder made out of recycled PLA

What is your Upcycling project? For my upcycling project I will being using recycled PLA from the ITLL to make a nature inspired aesthetic pencil holder. I was recently doing research on wood-based PLA and thought this would be really interesting to do.     What is the aesthetic and why? The aesthetic is nature.โ€ฆ

Upcycling Progress: Magnetic Wooden Knife Block

For my upcycling project, I have decided to create a magnetic wooden knife block. My goal is to design a piece that seamlessly blends contemporary aesthetics with a rustic charm while ensuring that the magnets remain completely hidden from view. I want the final product to be both functional and visually appealing, making it aโ€ฆ

Upcycling aesthetic: French Gothic Stained Glass

For my upcycling project I decided to follow the aesthetic of Gothic Stained glass. Often seen in cathedrals and churches, these fixtures can be used to fill viewers with any sort of emotion. These stained glass windows are characterized by their use of vibrant colors (usually blues, reds, and greens), and their complex designs. Whileโ€ฆ

The Sports Bar Aesthetic: An Upcycled Bottle of Lebron James Hennessy

My upcycling project repurposes an old bottle of special edition LeBron James Hennessy to create a table lamp that follows a sports bar/athletic aesthetic. This project will be an exciting endeavor that creates a one-of-a-kind piece of functional decoration for my bedroom.   The sports bar aesthetic is commonly associated with local bars, which haveโ€ฆ

Beauty in Death: Strangler Fig Lampshade Concept

[2] Strangler Fig Growth Animation A strangler fig is a parasitic plant typically found in a dense, tropical environment. It evolved to adapt to the nutrient competitive environment by entrapping its victim with itโ€™s aerial roots, limiting growth and stealing itโ€™s nutrients. As the host tree dies and begins to rot away, the aerial rootsโ€ฆ

The Unexpected Red Theory: A Laser-Cut Tree Upcycle Project

For my up-cycle project, I have chosen to continue explore the Unexpected Red Theory aesthetic. If you are not familiar with it, this theory revolves around the idea of using red as an intentional, striking contrast in an otherwise neutral or natural setting. By incorporating an unexpected red element, the design gains a focal pointโ€ฆ

Suspended in Mid-Century

Mid-century modern design is defined by clean lines, organic forms, and an innovative approach to materials. Rooted in the post-war optimism of the 1950s and โ€™60s, this aesthetic thrives on the interplay between natural and industrial elements. My pieceโ€”a stone suspended in a web of delicate threads encased in translucent epoxyโ€”embodies stylized lines and organicโ€ฆ

Transforming 3D Print Scraps into Pixel Art

  My project transforms leftover 3D print scraps into colorful pixel art portraits. Over the past two years, I have been storing my PLA scraps in bins, waiting for the right opportunity to upcycle them. 3D printing often produces extra pieces, failed prints, and support structures that usually go to waste. Instead of discarding them,โ€ฆ

Artificial Nature: Bringing Discarded Circuitry Alive

For my Upcycle project, I have chosen the Artificial Nature aesthetic, an aesthetic which fuses organic lifeforms with mechanical and electronic elements and creates a vision of nature that has evolved through technology. This aesthetic blurs the line between the biological and the synthetic to present a fantasy in which machines take on the formโ€ฆ

LED Backlit Wall Decor: A Modern Aesthetic

For my upcycling project, Iโ€™m planning to create a wall decor piece with LED backlighting. The design will focus on a sleek and modern aesthetic, incorporating clean shapes and soft lighting to create an eye catching visual effect. The LEDs will provide a glowing backdrop, adding depth and contrast to the piece. (1) The aestheticโ€ฆ