Play and Reuse in Material-Led Design by Katie May Boyd, Co-Founder of Studio TIP

​This talk will explore the necessity of play when working with reused materials and how it can shape a responsive design approach.

​Working with waste and reused materials goes against the linear systems and infrastructures that the traditional design industry is built upon. It calls for a radically different approach than we’ve been taught as designers, as well as adjusted expectations from clients around project stages, timings and outcomes.

​The talk will consider how to navigate these relationships, why collaboration is central to the process, and how play forms the basis of Studio TIP’s design approach. By relinquishing control and engaging directly with materials, designers can develop a hands-on understanding of their properties, possibilities and potential.

​About Studio TIP

​Studio TIP is a creative practice run by Katie May Boyd, exploring materiality for circular design. Working with undervalued and secondary raw materials from local communities, institutions and manufacturing industries, TIP uses a playful making approach to create public art, bespoke commissions, hands-on Free-Play workshops and research-led projects.