Research, Product Design | 2020
forest
Rethinking death in the 21st century with a biodegradable shroud
the need for designing for death
In our current day and age, every aspect of our lives is being rethought to fit our modern lifestyle. Everything is being updated with the technology that we currently have. In our fast paced lives, we rarely think about what happens after life itself. This is despite the fact that developed countries are facing a silver tide as people live for longer. On top of this, a rising trend of agnosticism, atheism and non-affiliation with religion causes rituals, artefacts and meaning tied with religion no longer provide emotional solace. From a more practical perspective, modern burial practices are not the most environmentally friendly. Besides assessing their spiritual and culture needs, individuals are increasingly assessing the environmental impact of their and loved one’s burial. All these factors make way for the opportunity to rethink death in all aspects.
Forest is a product and service that approaches death by putting well-being and the Earth first. The product, is a mycelium-infused burial garment. The mycelium, being natural decomposers, in the garment will help the person lost return back to the Earth. Loved ones can take a piece of the shroud to plant in memory of the person lost. The seed paper within the garment can grow a plant of their choice. Thus, connecting the person lost to nature and the circle of life.
Forest was created so then loved ones can dress the person they have lost one last time with an item they have created. It gives loved ones the time and space to reflect and grief together.
burial garment
Dressing a person with the garment is designed to be easy and straightforward. Everything is secured with ties so the person who has passed need not be lifted to wear the garment. The simplicity of the garment is intentional. Loved ones are already grieving, the act of dressing their person should not add to their cognitive load.
The veil can cover the face during viewing, then closed for burial. This prototype features a translucent veil as the burial garment is to be used with a biodegradable casket, which is still popular to use in Natural Burials. So, the face would be fully concealed for burial. For burials without a casket, an opaque veil can be used instead to fully cover the face.
The mycelium in the burial garment is an important piece. Mycelium, is the “roots” of fungi and has been applied to many biofabrication techniques and products. Fungi possesses the ability to degrade harmful waste via secretion of a variety of enzymes. This technique is already currently in use for waste in industry, such as agricultural and nuclear waste. The same technique can be applied to the human body, as living in modern times we absorb many harmful toxins - both knowingly and unknowingly. These toxins can be released upon death.
All the materials in the garment are fully biodegradable.
communicating the product: balancing sensitivity + commercialisation
The product is only one-half of the project, the other half is how the product can be communicated. Death is a very personal matter, but a commercialised product is part of a business. Thus communications must balance between being sensitive and commercialisation. Fungi also have a negative connotation and needed to be repackaged as something desirable not undesirable.
To give a better picture of how the product would be communicated a logo, packaging and mock website was created.
Logo and Name
Forest was chosen as the brand name – not only does it reference woodland burials and a pleasant image but the word play “for rest” is subtly emphasised in the logo.
Forest was chosen as the brand name – not only does it reference woodland burials and a pleasant image but the word play “for rest” is subtly emphasised in the logo.
The Narrative
The overarching narrative conveyed is how the burial garment can help the person return to the Earth. Death is not the centre of the narrative. However, it is not ignored either. A way that death could be more easily emotionally understood and accepted is by seeing how nature is a part of this process. Though mycelium is the unique selling proposition, unlike other mycelium-based products, it is not the centre of the narrative either. The well-being and wishes of the person dying is the focus. You can see this in on the way the product is communicated on the website.
The overarching narrative conveyed is how the burial garment can help the person return to the Earth. Death is not the centre of the narrative. However, it is not ignored either. A way that death could be more easily emotionally understood and accepted is by seeing how nature is a part of this process. Though mycelium is the unique selling proposition, unlike other mycelium-based products, it is not the centre of the narrative either. The well-being and wishes of the person dying is the focus. You can see this in on the way the product is communicated on the website.
