If I were an archeologist

Exploring the concept of circularity by inventing new functions and giving new meanings to objects, learning about highlighting your engagement for your environment when you communicate about your artworks.

Participants gain skills in storytelling, design thinking, designing upcycled objects and communicate about them.

Collect everyday objects such as pieces of furniture, wood or any other waste material, old electronic devices, office equipment items, household waste such as plastic bottles or organic waste such as leaves, branches, etc.
Ask each particiant to bring one object with them to the workshop. Prepare a template handout with guiding questions for the analysis of the objects.

This activity can be used to improve skills in design thinking and upcycling objects, either as an independent exercise or as an introductory activity to a creative workshop where the objects will be transformed into something else. You can find examples at https://cotaassociation.wixsite.com/learing/recycling-stories

• Step 1: Introduction
  Arrange the objects on a table and explain the activity to the participants. Tell them they are archaeologists living in the 23rd century, who have discovered precious objects from the 21st century at an archaeological dig. They need to describe these objects scientifically in front of a committee composed of scientists, archaeologists, historians, and curators. Guide the participants to form pairs.
• Step 2: Scientific Research and Consultation
  Participants work in pairs and discuss the object in detail. They should take notes to answer the following questions:
  • Identify the material, size, shape and weight of the object. Is it new or used? Be as precise as possible.
  • What might have been the object’s function or functions?
  • Are there any specific circumstances of the object’s use?
  • What does the object tell about its user(s) and owner(s), such as sex, age, economic, cultural, or ethnic background?
  • What does the object tell about the society, the era, or the geographical zone in which it had been used?
  • If the object is a remaining piece of a bigger or more complex object, or if its physical appearance might have been different 200 years ago, imagine how it used to be. Participants can also make drawings for the presentation, imagine legends around it, add humorous or ironic elements, etc.
• Step 3: Archeologists’ Assembly (Presentation)
  Gather the participants around the table and set up the scene of the ‘Archeologists’ assembly’. Participants form a scientific committee. Provide short guidance to the participant about their presentation, for example, how to be convincing, precise, appealing, etc. Then, participants present their projects one by one to the committee (to each other). The committee members ask questions and at the end assess if the thesis presented seemed plausible or not.
• Step 4: Evaluation and discussion
  Raise questions for a plenary discussion: Was this exercise useful? Could you use this technique to design new objects and tools in the framework of your creative activity?

To illustate how to put in practice the activities results: https://cotaassociation.wixsite.com/learing/recycling-stories