CU Boulder Design Students Upcycle Diverted Material into New Products at Firefly Handmade Market Pop-Up Shop

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BOULDER, November 6, 2024 — CU Boulder | Environmental Product Design

They are transforming diverted waste into innovative products to be showcased and sold at the Firefly Handmade Holiday Market on Pearl Street Mall in their experimental pop-up shop on November 23rd, 10am-4pm. These students will construct a store which they designed and built, and sell their original designs, each crafted from upcycled materials into truly one-of-a-kind gifts. These products tell a powerful story of sustainability and emphasize the role of design in addressing the global climate crisis.

The student-designed products, many of which quickly sold out last year, are not your typical gifts. They are primarily crafted from diverted materials and repurposed into functional and beautifully designed items. Each product is accompanied by a story and process video, offering insight into how waste was diverted from landfills and transformed into market-ready products. The EPOP Shop not only provides the public with an opportunity to support sustainable design, but also sparks conversations about waste reduction and the environmental impact of everyday choices.

This initiative allows students to experience the entire design process — from sketch to sale — through the real-world application of designing, producing, and selling at an in-person market. This year’s 38 students represent the next generation of designers, innovating to create meaningful change, starting with how we manage waste.

For more information on future events, markets, and exhibitions, and to see how CU Boulder’s Environmental Product Design students are driving sustainability through creative reuse and upcycling, visit them on Instagram (which they manage too!): @cuboulderEPOP and https://www.cuboulderepop.com/.