The Salvage Method

“We practice a sustainable design process that inverts the traditional creative pipeline. Instead of designing from a blank slate, we begin with the discarded. We listen to the material; its flaws become our features; its history, our narrative; its limitations, our most powerful source of innovation. The result is not just a product, but a document of transformation where sustainability and unique beauty are inseparable.”

Salvage Vs. Upcycling: “Upcycling is an action; The Salvage Method is a philosophy. It’s a rigorous, constraint-based design thinking process applied to the practice of upcycling.”

Salvage Vs. Recycling: “Recycling breaks down materials to be remade as the same thing (like plastic bottles). Salvage Design elevates materials to become something of higher value and uniqueness.”

Salvage Vs. Vintage: “We don’t just curate old items; we actively deconstruct and re-engineer them through a modern design lens.

The Key Principles of the Salvage Method

1. Material-First Inversion:

· Standard Process: Start with a sketch → source new materials.

· Salvage Process: Start with the salvaged material → let its properties (size, texture, damage, history) inspire the design. The material is the brief.

2. Narrative Integration:

· The object’s past life is not erased but is treated as a design asset. Scratches, fading, and former functions are seen as a “patina of use” that adds depth and story, creating an emotional connection that new products lack.

3. Constraint-Driven Innovation:

· Limitations (a fixed amount of fabric, a broken chair leg, a specific panel size) are not obstacles but the catalysts for creativity. This forces truly unique solutions that would never emerge from a blank-slate design process.

4. Regenerative Imperative:

· The primary goal is to add value to what already exists. The success metric is not just aesthetic or functional, but also the net reduction of waste and the extension of an object’s lifespan.

5. Hybrid Craft:

· The process is inherently cross-disciplinary, often combining traditional repair techniques (e.g., darning, joinery) with modern design and fabrication methods (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting) to solve the specific problems presented by the salvage.

—