The Source

 

Context:

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Mary Mattingly's multi-faceted work considers a future where resource availability is no longer a given, and self-sustaining and cooperative ways of living are necessary. Her research is both experiential and investigative. She creates and inhabits structures built and designed from raw, reclaimed and recycled materials. And then she tests them out, living in them. 

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Part of her research into creating these structures is to understand the raw materials that make up our everyday items. In other words...all this stuff we use, eat, wear, apply, drive.... 

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Her work has inspired this assignment:

 

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Choose an everyday item and trace its material contents to their sources.

 

This project will be composed of an essay and a visual representation.

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Considerations for the essay:

 

What ingredients/raw materials is the item composed of?

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Where does each material come from?

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How is each material grown, manufactured, mined, etc.?

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Who is responsible for the growing, manufacturing, etc. of each material?

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Is the way in which material obtained socially and economically just?

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Is the material rare or endangered?

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What is the environmental impact of obtaining this material?

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How does the material get transported?

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Does the material come directly here or does it go elsewhere first?

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Is the material combined with and assembled elsewhere before arriving here?

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Where is it assembled and by whom? Under what circumstances?

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Considerations for the graphic: (you can create this in any program, including Wix)

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How can you show a clear path from raw material(s) to product?

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Should you combine photography and text?

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How much text is necessary?

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Can you use color, font, or scale for emphasis?

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