Modification
I began my modification project with the bin in my bedroom, looking to modify it in order to improve its functionality by closing the gaps in it so that smaller items, such as pencil shavings, could be put in the bin. I wanted to avoid using the bin liners that were in my house as they were all single use plastic bags, through modifying the bin I could find a sustainable solution.
I soon realised that this modification would be impossible with the materials available to me. I then shifted my focus to another solution. Modifying a reusable supermarket bag into a reusable bin bag. The bag had been left unused in the garage for a long time so it was clear that its functionality could be improved simply by being used as a bin bag that would be needed daily. The bag's longevity could also be increased as instead of being thrown away from lack of use it would become a useful element of my room.
The sketches showcase the planning process deciding how to create the bag. The making process began by calculating the circumference of the base and top of the bin. I decided the best way to modify the bag was to cut it into three separate pieces. Those being the circular base of the bin bag and the two side panels that were to be sewn together. The size of the base piece was gaged through tracing the outline of the bin onto the bag. The side panels that would make up the conical shape of the edges of the bin bag were somewhat more complicated to plan. The circumference of both the bottom and top of the bin were taken and halved due to the fact that there were two pieces.
Two 30cm by 41cm sheets of the bag were then cut out. The height of the bin at 30cm and the 41cm radius of the top of the bin. The shape of the bag panels was to be a trapezium. Therefore the bottom of the panel was made to match the radius of the bottom of the bin, at 28.5cm rather than 41. So I marked back 6.25cm on each side and created a diagonal line from that point to the corner to make the shape of the trapezium.
The three pieces cut from the original bag
Sewing the two side panels together
These three pieces were then sewn together with a sewing machine to create the shape of the bag. The two side panels were sewn with seams down the side. The base was attached, and then the top of the conical shape was folded down and sewn to itself to create the top of the bag.
I believe my design has successfully modified an out of use supermarket bag into a reusable, functional bin bag, where both the objects functionality and longevity have been improved. The object has remained a bag but has had its functionality modified from a supermarket bag to a bin bag. Additionally, I believe it highlights contemporary design practice as a sustainable solution to a problem where the alternatives available to me were all non-sustainable.
