die Welle – Turn the Tide
A walk-in wave made of collected plastic waste that carries the issue of polluted oceans into public space.
- Year
- 2019
- Services
- Concept, Corporate design, Public space intervention, Print materials
- Context
- Developed at the Visual Textual Concept professorship, Bauhaus University Weimar
- Team
- Carmen Draxler, Anne Lutterberg
Task
The project addresses the issue of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. It began with the question of why this massive environmental problem often feels so distant and how design can help make it emotionally tangible.
Approach
In collaboration with Fridays For Future and the local community in Weimar, a walk-in plastic wave was created from collected plastic waste. Through public calls and flyers, people were invited to become part of the project and actively contribute to building the installation.
The wave consists of 14 modular elements and was designed as a lightweight, air-permeable, and portable structure using both mechanical and digital models. During the demonstrations, 30 participants brought the installation to life through movement.
Outcome
In June 2019, the plastic wave – 13 metres wide and 20 metres long – moved through the streets of Weimar and later through Berlin as part of further climate protests. Due to its scale and presence, the installation gained significant media attention and was featured in radio interviews and regional print media.
