SEAD
Resilient gardening meets upcycled waste
SEAD is a collection of biodegradable products that facilitate the storage and cultivation of organic seeds. The SEAD Pod, Egg and Cup are all made of chitin, a polymer derived from the discarded shell byproducts of the seafood processing industry. The collection is made from 100% chitin using a binder-less forming process. As an organic polymer and nitrogen-rich bio-stimulant, chitin offers both mechanical and agricultural benefits to the at-home gardener. All SEAD products are designed to be planted along with the seed(s) they hold, giving new advantage and meaning to the growing process.
Company/Institution
Parsons School of Design at the New School
For more than a century, Parsons has been inspired by the transformative potential of design. Today, the school’s groundbreaking academic programs carry forward that mission. At the heart of a comprehensive university — The New School — Parsons draws on a range of academic fields to deliver a uniquely interdisciplinary education enriched by the resources of its home in New York City. Here, the next generation of creative leaders engage in real-world learning and develop as critical thinkers and makers grappling with the pressing issues of our time.
Country
United States
Designer(s)
Mara Zimmerman
Mara is a New York based industrial designer. She has an MFA in Industrial Design from the Parsons School of Constructed Environments. She is an avid maker with a background in building and commits her practice to the exploration and development of sustainable materials and their applications in an effort to amend wasteful and extractive practices.
Mara uses her knowledge of making along with research and iterative testing to get tangible results. Currently, she spends much of her energy pursuing waste-based material experimentation and product development.