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Phase: Review

ArtWall interior surfaces for design studios & art classrooms

Learning facilities and schools around the world can benefit from sustainable interior finish materials that make art studios affordable

Photo of Chuck D
22 8

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All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted

NEED
Our school system receives less government funding today than a decade ago. Budget cuts have targeted specialized programs including arts, sports & electives. Learning facilities and schools across the US and around the world can benefit from building & interior finish materials that make art programs more affordable & sustainable. 

(Source: https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/a-punishing-decade-for-school-funding)


OPPORTUNITY
ArtWall brings multipurpose Regrind interior finish materials to art studios & classrooms, with a proactive circular material economy of Repeated Reclamation & Repurposing.

This helps offset cuts to education funding and preserve quality of student life through art & electives.

ArtWall draws on principles of Minimalist Architecture, Circular Material Economy, and Human-Centered Design.

(Source: California compression-molding vendor)


ArtWall advances non-sports uses for compression molded regrind materials:

  • User-driven design and flexible redesign for studios & art classrooms.
  • Multipurpose surfaces for reduced need of creation & display equipment.
  • Compression molded regrind rubber materials for durability.



ArtWall brings more regrind material to more non-sports use cases with second- and third-life opportunities. 

Studios & classrooms fitted with ArtWall become part of the user experience, from user-driven empathic ArtWall design through the lifecycle of an installation. 

Mosaic wall panels present a range of design options, from the default regrind aggregate to single color mosaic panels for abstract patterns, pixelated shapes, or laid out as pixelated monospace lettering as pictured in the “NIKE" wall image here.


USER EXPERIENCE
ArtWall transforms studios and art classrooms with multipurpose work surfaces made from regrind in compression molded panels & flooring:
• Circular reclamation & user-driven design make the room itself a dynamic user project.
• Work surfaces: Countertop & tackboard walls become stain-resistant surfaces for design teams & art classes to produce their creations.
• Display surfaces: User-designed mosaic of tackboard ArtWall surfaces for project reviews & displaying creations.
• Flooring: Durable, stain-resistant, adhesive-bonded regrind flooring perfect for high-traffic school environments and art creation.

BENEFIT
ArtWall advances use of compression molded regrind with:
• More opportunities to use & re-use more Nike Grind in a circular economy in venues currently not benefiting reclaimable & reusable interior finish materials.
• Savings over single-life materials for user organizations.
• More feasibility of high-end studios & art classrooms for most schools & recreational learning facilities currently doing without for budget reasons.

CONFIGURATIONS
ArtWall installations move large amounts of regrind from the Waste column to interior finish decor of professional  studios & high-end art classrooms in a variety of configurations:
• Standalone ArtWall: A single wall in a classroom, studio, or display space.
• Creative Corner: 2-3 adjoining walls & the adjacent flooring.
• Full Studio: 360-degree ArtWall mosaic, flooring & optional work table surfaces.


ArtWall advances regrind surface use cases with a sustainable, regenerative, non-sports application to expand viability of existing compression molded materials & techniques. ArtWall brings opportunity in every community & many creative professions to reduce waste. ArtWall is built green for a circular economy of Repeated Reclamation & Repurposing. 


Which Nike Grind materials will your idea utilize?

  • Rubber Outsoles
  • Rubber Flashings
  • Rubber Granulate
  • EVA Foam Injection Scraps
  • EVA Foam Flashings
  • EVA Foam Sheets & Blocks
  • EVA Foam Components
  • Laminated EVA Foam
  • Laminated PU Foam

How specifically will these materials be incorporated into your solution?

(Source: Interview with California compression-molding vendor) (Source: Interview with California compression-molding vendor)
(Source: Interview with California compression-molding vendor) (Source: Interview with California compression-molding vendor)
ArtWall compression molded finish materials bring large quantities of regrind flooring, work surfaces & wall panels to creative arts classrooms and professional studios. From the outset, Artwall departs from the conventional single-lifecycle product mindset. ArtWall starts with the circular economy NIKE GRIND strives for. LIFECYCLE EXAMPLE • 2018 NIKE GRIND becomes 2019 ArtWall surface • 2019 ArtWall year-end reclamation becomes regrind & earns credit toward 2020 ArtWall • Design of 2020 ArtWall surface is the final project for the users of 2019 ArtWall PARTNERS • Supply: NIKE GRIND materials • Manufacturing: Existing compression molding finish surface vendors • Design: User-driven design for studios & classrooms that work • Installation: Existing compression molded surface installers & approved adhesives • Users: From students to professional designers & creators PRODUCTION • Regrind transferred to compression molding site (More NIKE GRIND reused) • Flooring & wall panel surfaces compression molded (More business for vendors) • Molded surface materials to installation site (More business for installers) • User-designed custom installation lifecycle (Empathic design = stronger UX) • Material reclamation to regrind for next lifecycle (Expanding circular economy) ArtWall surfaces expand the market for existing flooring & mosaic panel materials made of compression-molded regrind. From the waste column to school & creative industries infrastructure, scaling with increasing operating leverage.

Please include a visual (can be either 2D or 3D) representation/prototype of your concept. (required)

All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
MATERIALS • Wall Surfaces: Interlocking quarter-inch panels of compression molded regrind • Floor & Counter Surfaces: Sheets of half-inch compression molded regrind

What is the current stage of development of your idea?

  • Research & Early Testing
  • Prototyping

Describe your target market. Who will benefit from your product?

(Source: Interview with Oregon recreational learning non-profit Director) (Source: Interview with Oregon recreational learning non-profit Director)
(Source: Interview with Oregon recreational learning non-profit Director) (Source: Interview with Oregon recreational learning non-profit Director)
ArtWall surfaces are ideal interior finish materials for recreational learning facilities, professional studios, art classrooms, gallery spaces & display venues. ArtWall surfaces advance interior finish options for creative spaces, reducing waste by creating new demand for compression-molded regrind materials. Launch market targets recreational learning & school art programs. As of April 24, a non-profit proposed its art classroom for a pilot program ArtWall installation.

How will you scale your idea? Please describe in detail your plan to scale your concept.

The full aspiration of ArtWall surfaces is to present inspiring, sustainable, innovative, dynamic workspaces & display venues to every maker, creator, pro designer and finger-painting youngster. ArtWall has secured a preliminary agreement for a pilot program art classroom installation at an Oregon activity-based education non-profit. Target launch market scales to include professional design studios, art colleges, creative agencies, and creative arts programs. Leveraging an increasingly growing Regrind material economy and partnering with existing experts in manufacture & installation of compression-molded surfaces, ArtWall finish materials offer every art class & design team opportunities to make and remake the best studios & classrooms they can imagine. BENEFITS OF SCALE • More NIKE GRIND reused • More business for compression molding vendors • More business for compression molded material installers • Material reclamation for next lifecycle expands circular economy

How is your idea innovative?

ArtWall incentivized reclamation advances current regrind circularity, and levels-up the intent of existing reclamation efforts such as the Oregon “Bottle Bill” for beverage containers, or NIKE's used-shoe dropboxes. ArtWall advances green building with regrind by: • Reclaiming waste material for repurposing in second-life, third-life and beyond. • Reducing interior finish costs for art studios & classrooms. • Upholding safety & environmental standards for NIKE GRIND materials.

What inspired this idea?

• Asking: What new uses can deploy more Regrind? • Asking: What venues can replace virgin materials with Regrind? • Interview with recreational learning non-profit. • Nike-Doernbecher partnership. • Design experience in a university Architecture program. • The Nike Grind challenge to innovate.

Tell us about yourself and your team. What is your background and experience?

All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted All photos & diagrams © CDye 2018, unless otherwise noted
Design background includes 5 years in Architectural Design studios and university Architecture program. Project Manager with diverse brand & creative experience. Conversation with array of makers and educators to inform Regrind use cases.

In what city are you located?

Portland

In what country are you located?

US

What is your legal / organizational structure? (if applicable)

Sole Proprietor

Please describe how becoming a Top Idea will support the growth of your concept.

• Material kit for full-scale ArtWall prototype & pilot installation. • Additional guidance, resources & collaboration toward a pilot program ArtWall installation at a recreational learning facility. • Momentum toward launching a startup leveraging sustainable materials to offset cuts to education funding and preserve quality of student life through art & electives.

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Photo of Lauren Ito
Team

Hi Chuck Dye ,

A reminder that the ideas phase of this Challenge closes in less than one hour, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Please have your submission updated by this deadline with content to all proposal questions complete.

Excited to have you in the Challenge!

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Photo of Chuck D
Team

Thanks for the reminder Lauren Ito -- I believe we're good to go & all proposal questions complete. Any last-second questions or recommendations to share?

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