MATERIAL EXPLORATION
Over of furniture are disposed of in the US annually. Around 80% end up in landfills.
12 million tons
About 670 million florescent light bulbs are thrown out annually, potentially into the environment when improperly disposed.
releasing 2-4 tons of mercury
individual project
spring 2025
3 months
LUPA
A lamp kit that starts with sustainable materials you already have at home.
THE FINAL PRODUCT
that's cheap and low quality is often discarded quickly, not meant to be repaired or resold.
"Fast furniture"
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Many consumers want to improve their environmental impact, but find sustainably sourced products and
too expensive
largely inaccessible.
How might we bridge the gap between the desire to help the environment and the actual, practical choices we make as consumers on the furniture market?
PROPOSED SOLUTION / DESIGN CONCEPT
PAPER PROTOTYPES
SKETCHES & INITIAL CONCEPTS
WORKING ON THE MOLD…
COLOR, MATERIAL, FINISH
MAKING THE PHYSICAL MODEL
SHREDDED PAPER
ORANGE PEEL
PVA GLUE
PAPER PULP
Each LUPA lamp kit includes a hanging light cord, an LED bulb, paper pulp instructions, a cheesecloth, a bottle of PVA glue and a reusable 3D-printed mold—designed to create modular, stackable pieces that can form a variety of lamp styles.
Though sustainable products are growing in environmental impact, higher costs and concerns over greenwashing largely make them inaccessible to everyday consumers. LUPA offers a hands-on approach—a kit that allows you to create a customaizable, one-of-a-kind light fixture from recyclables you can collect right at home.
REIMAGINING ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN
THE POWER OF PULP
Using the paper pulp process, the possibilities are endless. Nearly any paper waste—receipts, egg cartons, packaging and even junk mail—can be transformed into a custom lamp. Simply tear, blend, press, mix, shape and dry. Mixing in natural additives such as dried orange peels, used tea bags or coffee grounds can also create a unique scent and texture as desired.
With LUPA, sustainable design isn't just about the final product—it's a tangible experience that sparks curiosity, invies exploration, and deepends your connection to the materials and processes behind what we buy on the market.
SENIOR CAPSTONE EXHIBITION
NEW BEGINNINGS & A NOTE OF GRATITUDE
On June 2025, I graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's in Industrial Design. My time as an undergrad has taught me a multitude of things, …..
A special thanks to Riley Huston and Katie Lim for being my mentors during this adventure. As well as Ahn Sangyun, Meichun Liu and Jason Germany — also known as the incredible group of ID professors at UW School of Design.
Exhibition photos by Christine Ngo
