Swell Future Friendly Design features eco-friendly works

New public exhibit at Pendulum Gallery April 23 to May 12
showcases stylish sustainable designs from around the world

VANCOUVER, CANADA, April 18, 2007 — Imagine a future where everything is recycled when no longer useful, energy is virtually free, and toxic substances are replaced with healthy materials that are edible. What would it take to achieve such a future? These ideas and more will be manifested through Swell Future Friendly Design 2007, Western Canada’s first major eco-design exhibition taking place April 23 – May 12, 2007, Mondays through Saturdays at the Pendulum Gallery located in the HSBC Building at 885 W. Georgia Street in Vancouver.

Swell is 30 Days of Sustainability’s second annual exhibition of sustainable designs showcasing the best sustainable design creations of consumer products from around the world. This year’s exhibit will display over 30 environmentally conscious works including furniture, fashion, home accessories, and other gadgets that are eco-friendly, practical and aesthetically pleasing.

“Swell 2007 demonstrates new approaches emerging internationally in the area of sustainable design and exposes the public to creative examples of these strategies at work in everyday consumer products,” said Toby Barratt, the exhibit’s co-curator.

“The path to a sustainable future demands that society considers every aspect of how the objects we buy are made: who makes them, from what materials, under what conditions, how long will they last, and what happens to them when we are done with them. The exhibition explores diverse approaches to creating products that are not at odds with nature but act in concert with it.”

Barratt said this year’s line-up promises to be a bigger and better show than last year. “This year we will display thoughtful and innovative designs that are energy efficient, biodegradable, chemical-free, handcrafted, recycled and locally made. At the same time, they are beautiful, functional, and cost slightly more or as much as conventional products.”

Products featured include: Creepers Modular Space Dividing LED Lights made by a revolutionary rapid prototyping method; gDiapers, the world’s first flushable, compostable baby diaper; Quintara Fish Surfboard, a surfboard made of recyclable and sustainable materials such as cork and sustainably harvested wood; KASTd Shoulder Bag made from re-purposed automotive inner tubes; and Sun Jar Solar Lamp made with high tech lighting and a mason jar.

In addition to featuring a curated collection from forward-thinking designers, artists, architects, craftspeople, and artisans from B.C. and abroad, Swell honours the work of emerging and established designers that have risen to the challenge and embraced sustainable strategies wholeheartedly in their design.

To recognize their contributions, an inaugural Swell Future Friendly Design Award will be given to the artist whose product best embodies the spirit of sustainable design. The first place prize is $5,000 and will be announced on May 10th.

To learn more about Swell Future-Friendly Design 2007, visit www.swellfuture.com. To learn more about other 30 Days of Sustainability events, visit www.30daysofsustainability.com.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• A press preview of the exhibition is scheduled for Thursday, April 26, 2008, at 6pm. For more information or to RSVP, please call 604.682 6665 or email info@swellfuture.com.
• High resolution images of products featured in Swell 2007 are available upon request. Please email maria@epicpr.ca

About Propellor Design Studio
Propellor Design Studio designed and curated the exhibition. Propellor is a multidisciplinary design studio based in Vancouver, Canada that specializes in the custom design of lighting, furniture and interiors. The company also designs and curates exhibitions and provides graphic design services.

About 30 Days of Sustainabilty Society
The annual celebration called 30 Days of Sustainability is organized and produced under the stewardship of 30 Days of Sustainability Society. The Society strives to achieve its vision by fostering dialogue among diverse constituents; creating opportunities to integrate sustainable living principles and practices; encouraging individual and collective action; and developing tools to monitor our community’s progress toward long-term sustainability.

Media Contact:
Maria LoScerbo
Epic Public Relations Inc.
604 732 6221
maria@epicpr.ca