SELECTS04
Eunhye Ko
Product designer‘I wanted to propose a poetic reimagining for our relationship with physical matter,’ says Eunhye Ko, a recent graduate from the MA Material Futures course at Central Saint Martins. As part of her final collection, the product designer reinvented the classic household hairdryer and vacuum cleaner by ditching their plastic components and replacing them with beautifully handcrafted ceramic and willow woven bodies. Even the internal wires within the prototype vacuum are covered with soft leather and instead of a vacuum bag, Ko has fitted the hoover with a glass jar to collect the dust.

Ko’s creative vision to reimagine typical household items sparked from her stance as a craftswoman, favouring handwork over machine work and holding an admiration for natural materials and resources. Korean born Ko practised traditional crafts including weaving, pottery and Asian lacquer, before recognising her fascination with product design and seeking solutions on how to turn typical plastic designs into ones that use natural materials, such as wood, leather, glass and clay. ‘I am against the disposal of plastics. Throw-away culture, driven by mass production and overconsumption is changing the way we think about how we produce and consume,’ says Ko. ‘I hope my project can remind people that household appliances have scope to be used for a long time and with care.’

The ceramic hairdryer was exhibited at Milan Design Week’s Ventura Future in April this year, where considerable interest was expressed for seeking ways in which to upscale the product. However, Ko regards her designs as something she’d like to create as bespoke electronics and work closely with talented craftspeople and electricians.

Not only are Ko’s designs finished to an incredibly fine standard, the intricate detailing, such as leather coverings on the wires, push you to appreciate and admire their physical and technical beauty further. Thus proving that natural resources and the creativity of craftspeople have the power to compete with plastic and machines.
@ko.eunhye.ko WORDS FLORIE HARDING | PHOTOGRAPHS EDD HORDER