Jamaal Tribune ’19 takes on sustainable consumption

Identity is the senior graphic design exhibition that showcases the intersection of creativity, ingenuity, and tenacity. The show is open now through February 22. We’re highlighting projects with a focus on sustainability issues.

Softwear_Domain_Urban_001
Jamaal Tribune ‘19

Tell us about Softwear_Domain_Urban_001.
It’s a modular clothing framework in which the modules can exist as posters but also be assembled into a garment and reconfigured into a utility bag. The name is simply a file naming convention. Assuming that I iterate on this idea, it’s a way for me to keep track of which version of Softwear I’m dealing with.

What inspired you to combine UX design and textiles?
I was inspired by the smartphone. When you want a new functionality or a new set of visual information on a phone, you simply swipe, press, or scroll. You don’t have to buy a new phone every time you need the screen to change, but when you want a new t-shirt design, you have to buy a completely new shirt. You don’t want the excess material, you just want the design.

What role does sustainability play in your project?
I wanted to create a clothing framework that would provide convenience to the conscious consumer but also implicitly moderate the consumption habits of the conspicuous consumer. Telling people to simply buy less seems counter-intuitive to popular culture, so I am seeking ways that may allow more people to participate in some degree of sustainability despite their consumption habits.

Why is sustainability important to you?
I grew up in Hawai’i. In Hawai’i, everyone is equaled by nature. We all have access to its beauty, to its resources, and its refuge. I’ve fostered a connection to it, and it pains me to think that we are eradicating the very thing that nurtures our existence.

Through February 22
IDENTITY: Senior graphic design exhibition
Fine Arts Gallery

For more information, contact:
Jamaal Tribune
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