Harley Goldman

I am in my third year of studying mechanical engineering and industrial design at RMIT. I come from a maths and science background, having never studied design until I began university. But I've always had this unorthodox creativity within me. I'm not a good artist, but to me creativity stems far beyond drawing and painting. I have recently undertaken a bio-materials design studio as part of my degree, a perfect blend of science and design. I became fully engrossed within this world and plan to continue exploring it. I've always been passionate about textile waste and recycling. My personal practice is entrenched in sewing, and I have a huge passion for creating garments from unwanted textiles. I love the maths behind pattern making and understanding how each seam can be altered to achieve a specific fit/shape. I later discovered that some of my late relatives were dress makers and tailors, seeking refuge in Australia with just a sewing machine after WW2. Their passion skipped my parents generation and has accumulated in me (according to my parents). This passion for textiles, and specifically sustainable solutions in this industry directed me into the bio-textiles world. During this 14 week studio, I initially discovered the world of kelp leather. Through almost 200 experiments, I found kelp to be an incredibly versatile material, and continued to explore its characteristics further. Not only does kelp have incredible materiality, but also the potential to save our planet and solve the climate crisis we are currently faced with. The entire plant is photosynthetic, growing at a rate similar to bamboo, ultimately allowing it to sequester carbon at an unprecedent rate. This 14 week project quickly grew beyond kelp as a material now. Instead, kelp as a future material in all our lives, from cutlery to lampshades to adhesives. If kelp can become a greater part of our lives, it will incentivise the kelp farming industry and bring us closer to the 9% Tim Flannery speaks about in his 2019 TED talk. 9% of the ocean to be kelp farms, mathematically this will sequester over 50 gigatons of carbon per annum, the amount we as a species emit. KELP CAN SAVE OUR PLANET!