How We Make Stuff

Ellen MacArthur was so concerned about the fragility of the Earth’s resources she gave up ocean racing to concentrate on educating the next generation to rethink the way we design things.  The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has worked with Templar to create this wonderfully unstuffy guide to everyday things, how they are made and most importantly how they use the world’s resources.

Following on from Christiane Dorion’s previous pop-up guides, the book uses paper engineering in imaginative ways.  A line of factory buildings for example pops up to show how the explosion of inventions in the Industrial Revolution changed our way of making things for ever, while a flap allows you to open the door of a fridge revealing six different kinds of plastic container that each need sorting separately in order to recycle the waste.  Then there is the conundrum of a whole range of ‘disposable’ items, from milk cartons to cans, plastic bags to nappies, that are designed to be thrown away yet are made from materials that will last forever. The book ends with the hope that we can perhaps learn from nature, from our fellow creatures that build amazing structures from abalone shells to coral reefs without creating waste and without polluting the planet.  Attractive and full of interest, the book packs a powerful punch, carrying an important message and backed by a wealth of resources online.  An   accompanying website includes downloadable activities for teachers and more information about the vision of a circular economy and new ways to completely rethink concepts of design.