Zoe Rae left Cirencester College in 2012, achieving A-Levels in Fine Art, 3D Design, and Biology. Zoe is now a Designer-Maker, and part-time Arborologist. Her work is largely based on opening up conversation on social and environmental issues.
Zoe’s recent project: ‘Hunter Gatherer in the Anthropocene’, has been featured in recent publication A Labour Of Love by world famous Trend Forecasters Lidewij Edelkoort & Philip Fimmano. A book highlighting the most-forward thinking makers in contemporary design, previewing a future of responsible production and ethical craftsmanship.
The Hunter Gatherer Project reintroduces the mindset of resourcefulness and encourages people to re-engage with the planet. When speaking to Lidewij at this year’s global World Hope Forum, Zoe admitted to taking inspiration from ‘Humans no longer having involvement in the process of making the things we own’, and therefore became the hunter gatherer character herself.
Set in the style of a National Geographic article, this project follows the hunter gatherer living alongside consumers and utilising their waste streams. Zoe sourced waste materials from her local surroundings to fashion a series of artefacts, without disregarding anything. These materials included 300 plastic milk bottles, coffee packaging, flour bags, sycamore, and rubber from bike tyres.
‘These materials may be new but the mindset I was going to apply to them was about 2.5 million years old’ Zoe told Lidewij.
Using sycamore and plastic, Zoe constructed a kayak and paddle. As well as trousers, and a waterproof coat from the flour bags and coffee packaging.
After stating that she was left ‘speechless and emotional’, by the project, Lidewij told Zoe she is a ‘World Hope Forum hero’. Such praise from someone as established as Lidewij is a remarkable achievement and will undoubtedly open up many opportunities for Zoe and her career.
One of Zoe’s college lecturers Ken Jones said:
“Zoe was a brilliant student of 3D design and achieved an A*. She had excellent command of materials and processes but also showed a desire to use design as medium to explore difficult issues not just make products for the mass market. I’m not surprised that she has developed into the deeply thoughtful and philosophical designer that she has.”
To find out more about 3D Design A-level at Cirencester College please click through to the course here: Design – 3D Design – Cirencester College
