deconstruction of an olive
on-going
“Deconstruction of an Olive” is an ongoing material research project exploring olive pomace—the by-product of olive oil production—and its potential for designing objects. Situated in Cartoceto, a small village in the Marche region of Italy, the project aims to propose less extractive design practices by connecting local knowledge, small-scale farms, mills, and research. Local production thrives through family-run businesses, renowned for their high-quality extra-virgin olive oil.
The pomace is collected, divided into skin, pulp, and stones, and transformed into three potential materials with varying textures, colors, and features. Through an auto-ethnographic approach, the research examines the relationship between food systems, agricultural waste, and design practices. The project’s geographic context highlights scalability constraints and emphasizes the crucial link between fair trade socio-ecological by-products and traceable raw materials.
Migrant workers, who often face severe underpayment and exploitation, form the backbone of Europe's agricultural sector. By sourcing olive pomace from a village with a closely-knit community, the project ensures fair treatment of these workers, countering exploitative practices. However, as the project scales, tracing the origins of the olives and ensuring fair treatment of the workers becomes increasingly complex.
Additionally, working with organic matter raises questions about embracing its dynamic nature, such as fermentation, oxidation, and odors, while also considering the efficiency of the material and its production. This tension between sustainable practices and efficiency compels a reflection on the values that shape the design approach, encouraging a balance between ethical considerations and practical demands.
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on-going
“Deconstruction of an Olive” is an ongoing material research project exploring olive pomace—the by-product of olive oil production—and its potential for designing objects. Situated in Cartoceto, a small village in the Marche region of Italy, the project aims to propose less extractive design practices by connecting local knowledge, small-scale farms, mills, and research. Local production thrives through family-run businesses, renowned for their high-quality extra-virgin olive oil.
The pomace is collected, divided into skin, pulp, and stones, and transformed into three potential materials with varying textures, colors, and features. Through an auto-ethnographic approach, the research examines the relationship between food systems, agricultural waste, and design practices. The project’s geographic context highlights scalability constraints and emphasizes the crucial link between fair trade socio-ecological by-products and traceable raw materials.
Migrant workers, who often face severe underpayment and exploitation, form the backbone of Europe's agricultural sector. By sourcing olive pomace from a village with a closely-knit community, the project ensures fair treatment of these workers, countering exploitative practices. However, as the project scales, tracing the origins of the olives and ensuring fair treatment of the workers becomes increasingly complex.
Additionally, working with organic matter raises questions about embracing its dynamic nature, such as fermentation, oxidation, and odors, while also considering the efficiency of the material and its production. This tension between sustainable practices and efficiency compels a reflection on the values that shape the design approach, encouraging a balance between ethical considerations and practical demands.
