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Steal this project | Ari Jóns | TEDxReykjavik


today I’m going to be telling you about

today I’m going to be telling you about a project that I’ve been working on for

a project that I’ve been working on for

a project that I’ve been working on for the last couple years it’s a project

the last couple years it’s a project

the last couple years it’s a project that’s supposed to address how we use

that’s supposed to address how we use

that’s supposed to address how we use plastic for one time purposes a lot like

plastic for one time purposes a lot like

plastic for one time purposes a lot like in packaging but actually before I tell

in packaging but actually before I tell

in packaging but actually before I tell you more about the project I want to

you more about the project I want to

you more about the project I want to tell you a little bit about myself

tell you a little bit about myself

tell you a little bit about myself because I’m just a father of two I’m 33

because I’m just a father of two I’m 33

because I’m just a father of two I’m 33 years old

years old

years old and actually my background in an

and actually my background in an

and actually my background in an educational background is in carpentry

educational background is in carpentry

educational background is in carpentry and it was only three years ago that I

and it was only three years ago that I

and it was only three years ago that I was working my tenth year in a

was working my tenth year in a

was working my tenth year in a kindergarten and I had to set my life up

kindergarten and I had to set my life up

kindergarten and I had to set my life up in a way where failing was almost

in a way where failing was almost

in a way where failing was almost impossible because if you don’t take any

impossible because if you don’t take any

impossible because if you don’t take any chances you know how are you gonna fail

chances you know how are you gonna fail

chances you know how are you gonna fail but I’m actually lucky enough to have

but I’m actually lucky enough to have

but I’m actually lucky enough to have some good people in my life that helped

some good people in my life that helped

some good people in my life that helped me to take a step out of my comfort zone

me to take a step out of my comfort zone

me to take a step out of my comfort zone which resulted in me applying for a

which resulted in me applying for a

which resulted in me applying for a product design program at the Atlantic

product design program at the Atlantic

product design program at the Atlantic Academy of the Arts so when I got

Academy of the Arts so when I got

Academy of the Arts so when I got accepted into the program I realized

accepted into the program I realized

accepted into the program I realized that it had changed drastically over the

that it had changed drastically over the

that it had changed drastically over the last five or ten years so it wasn’t

last five or ten years so it wasn’t

last five or ten years so it wasn’t exactly what I thought I was applying

exactly what I thought I was applying

exactly what I thought I was applying for so I had to make a decision do I

for so I had to make a decision do I

for so I had to make a decision do I just crawl back to my old job or do I

just crawl back to my old job or do I

just crawl back to my old job or do I want to be a part of this new and

want to be a part of this new and

want to be a part of this new and exciting program that is being developed

exciting program that is being developed

exciting program that is being developed here I decided to give it a go and only

here I decided to give it a go and only

here I decided to give it a go and only a few weeks later I found myself sitting

a few weeks later I found myself sitting

a few weeks later I found myself sitting in a room with nine other strangers

in a room with nine other strangers

in a room with nine other strangers looking at a teacher with this grin on

looking at a teacher with this grin on

looking at a teacher with this grin on his face giving us this extremely awake

his face giving us this extremely awake

his face giving us this extremely awake instruction on a project that we should

instruction on a project that we should

instruction on a project that we should post a hand in in only 24 hours so when

post a hand in in only 24 hours so when

post a hand in in only 24 hours so when he was finished talking we were left

he was finished talking we were left

he was finished talking we were left with more questions than answers and all

with more questions than answers and all

with more questions than answers and all he did was standing up and leaving the

he did was standing up and leaving the

he did was standing up and leaving the room so we had some light dialog and and

room so we had some light dialog and and

room so we had some light dialog and and some fairly panicking situation

some fairly panicking situation

some fairly panicking situation and and realized that all we knew was we

and and realized that all we knew was we

and and realized that all we knew was we were supposed to hand in a project the

were supposed to hand in a project the

were supposed to hand in a project the next day that had to be an object that

next day that had to be an object that

next day that had to be an object that could only be made out of two materials

could only be made out of two materials

could only be made out of two materials and be at least 25 centimeter high I

and be at least 25 centimeter high I

and be at least 25 centimeter high I decided to go with the first thing that

decided to go with the first thing that

decided to go with the first thing that I thought of it strangely happened to be

I thought of it strangely happened to be

I thought of it strangely happened to be jelly so I went to a store and I put

jelly so I went to a store and I put

jelly so I went to a store and I put some gelatin and went home and started

some gelatin and went home and started

some gelatin and went home and started to try to make my jelly object and then

to try to make my jelly object and then

to try to make my jelly object and then the next day I found myself sitting at

the next day I found myself sitting at

the next day I found myself sitting at my desk at the studio having failed

my desk at the studio having failed

my desk at the studio having failed miserably

miserably

miserably I said they’re looking at this giant

I said they’re looking at this giant

I said they’re looking at this giant jelly mess that could maybe a month to

jelly mess that could maybe a month to

jelly mess that could maybe a month to like one centimeter in height and you

like one centimeter in height and you

like one centimeter in height and you know I became really scared of failing

know I became really scared of failing

know I became really scared of failing my first project so I panicked and I

my first project so I panicked and I

my first project so I panicked and I went out and got some free lock and I’m

went out and got some free lock and I’m

went out and got some free lock and I’m and some other stuff and I made

and some other stuff and I made

and some other stuff and I made something that at least was 25

something that at least was 25

something that at least was 25 centimeter high so when I had the

centimeter high so when I had the

centimeter high so when I had the darién I realized another the big

darién I realized another the big

darién I realized another the big lesson already that like an interesting

lesson already that like an interesting

lesson already that like an interesting failure it’s always going to be way more

failure it’s always going to be way more

failure it’s always going to be way more exciting and way more valued than a

exciting and way more valued than a

exciting and way more valued than a boring success is ever going to be at

boring success is ever going to be at

boring success is ever going to be at that point

that point

that point we’re told that our object didn’t really

we’re told that our object didn’t really

we’re told that our object didn’t really matter at all

matter at all

matter at all we were only picking our two materials

we were only picking our two materials

we were only picking our two materials to work with for the rest of semester I

to work with for the rest of semester I

to work with for the rest of semester I was lucky enough to be allowed to go

was lucky enough to be allowed to go

was lucky enough to be allowed to go back to my desk and use Miceli as

back to my desk and use Miceli as

back to my desk and use Miceli as materials so when I stood there and

materials so when I stood there and

materials so when I stood there and looking at my mess I thought yeah this

looking at my mess I thought yeah this

looking at my mess I thought yeah this could actually just be a lot of fun but

could actually just be a lot of fun but

could actually just be a lot of fun but if I would tell you that working with

if I would tell you that working with

if I would tell you that working with jelly every single day for three months

jelly every single day for three months

jelly every single day for three months is always fun then I would be lying to

is always fun then I would be lying to

is always fun then I would be lying to you job and I started out looking at the

you job and I started out looking at the

you job and I started out looking at the materials and and what they really

materials and and what they really

materials and and what they really learned through this whole process was

learned through this whole process was

learned through this whole process was it didn’t really matter what materials

it didn’t really matter what materials

it didn’t really matter what materials we started out with you know it was just

we started out with you know it was just

we started out with you know it was just we needed to learn how to

we needed to learn how to

we needed to learn how to trust the process and listen to the

trust the process and listen to the

trust the process and listen to the materials that we had in front of us and

materials that we had in front of us and

materials that we had in front of us and to whatever it took to make make it make

to whatever it took to make make it make

to whatever it took to make make it make sense for ourselves so after some

sense for ourselves so after some

sense for ourselves so after some experiments I decided to change that the

experiments I decided to change that the

experiments I decided to change that the TLT and starting to work with another

TLT and starting to work with another

TLT and starting to work with another material that is called occur it’s made

material that is called occur it’s made

material that is called occur it’s made of red okay and when it’s mixed with

of red okay and when it’s mixed with

of red okay and when it’s mixed with water it will make a gel-like substance

water it will make a gel-like substance

water it will make a gel-like substance but and at some point through the

but and at some point through the

but and at some point through the process I decided that I want to try to

process I decided that I want to try to

process I decided that I want to try to make a water bottle that would be made

make a water bottle that would be made

make a water bottle that would be made out of water so in the end of the

out of water so in the end of the

out of water so in the end of the semester I handed in a project that was

semester I handed in a project that was

semester I handed in a project that was a water bottle that could hold water and

a water bottle that could hold water and

a water bottle that could hold water and it could be you could drink from it and

it could be you could drink from it and

it could be you could drink from it and it wouldn’t fall apart but that isn’t

it wouldn’t fall apart but that isn’t

it wouldn’t fall apart but that isn’t really something special because we have

really something special because we have

really something special because we have a lot of that already but what made it

a lot of that already but what made it

a lot of that already but what made it interesting was the fact that it only

interesting was the fact that it only

interesting was the fact that it only lived as long as it served the purpose

lived as long as it served the purpose

lived as long as it served the purpose that means if if it’s filled with water

that means if if it’s filled with water

that means if if it’s filled with water it will keep shape and as soon as you

it will keep shape and as soon as you

it will keep shape and as soon as you drink from it and it’s empties out you

drink from it and it’s empties out you

drink from it and it’s empties out you know it will begin to decompose rather

know it will begin to decompose rather

know it will begin to decompose rather quickly like you can see in this picture

quickly like you can see in this picture

quickly like you can see in this picture this is what happens in one week as your

this is what happens in one week as your

this is what happens in one week as your kitchen table with an empty bottle and

kitchen table with an empty bottle and

kitchen table with an empty bottle and if you don’t really want to wait for

if you don’t really want to wait for

if you don’t really want to wait for that you could also just eat it but when

that you could also just eat it but when

that you could also just eat it but when I had it in the project I didn’t really

I had it in the project I didn’t really

I had it in the project I didn’t really realize what this project was or what it

realize what this project was or what it

realize what this project was or what it could become

could become

could become and it wasn’t until I showed her that an

and it wasn’t until I showed her that an

and it wasn’t until I showed her that an exhibition at design much the next year

exhibition at design much the next year

exhibition at design much the next year that I realized that could be something

that I realized that could be something

that I realized that could be something more it was when people that hadn’t been

more it was when people that hadn’t been

more it was when people that hadn’t been around it through the whole process came

around it through the whole process came

around it through the whole process came and saw it that we realized they saw way

and saw it that we realized they saw way

and saw it that we realized they saw way more potential in it than I ever did and

more potential in it than I ever did and

more potential in it than I ever did and what happens when people see something

what happens when people see something

what happens when people see something interesting nowadays is that they want

interesting nowadays is that they want

interesting nowadays is that they want to tell somebody about it and how do I

to tell somebody about it and how do I

to tell somebody about it and how do I tell people about it

tell people about it

tell people about it they go to Internet what happens when

they go to Internet what happens when

they go to Internet what happens when somebody’s talking about your project on

somebody’s talking about your project on

somebody’s talking about your project on the Internet is you lose control

the Internet is you lose control

the Internet is you lose control and everything begins to move extremely

and everything begins to move extremely

and everything begins to move extremely fast you know what happened to me was

fast you know what happened to me was

fast you know what happened to me was only a few was few months later I had

only a few was few months later I had

only a few was few months later I had met a TV crew from Norway which flew

met a TV crew from Norway which flew

met a TV crew from Norway which flew over here to make a TV programme about

over here to make a TV programme about

over here to make a TV programme about the project Monti Saturday morning my

the project Monti Saturday morning my

the project Monti Saturday morning my apartment was filled with Japanese TV

apartment was filled with Japanese TV

apartment was filled with Japanese TV crew and now my name is written an

crew and now my name is written an

crew and now my name is written an educational book for children in South

educational book for children in South

educational book for children in South America this is crazy but awesome but

America this is crazy but awesome but

America this is crazy but awesome but another thing happens when you lose

another thing happens when you lose

another thing happens when you lose control of how people talk about your

control of how people talk about your

control of how people talk about your project and I didn’t really realize this

project and I didn’t really realize this

project and I didn’t really realize this until I was asked to do this talk but

until I was asked to do this talk but

until I was asked to do this talk but then because everything happened so fast

then because everything happened so fast

then because everything happened so fast and I finally like when I was asked to

and I finally like when I was asked to

and I finally like when I was asked to do is talk I finally got the opportunity

do is talk I finally got the opportunity

do is talk I finally got the opportunity to sit down and look back and reflect on

to sit down and look back and reflect on

to sit down and look back and reflect on what had actually happened and I

what had actually happened and I

what had actually happened and I realized that after reading all these

realized that after reading all these

realized that after reading all these headlines of this athletic design

headlines of this athletic design

headlines of this athletic design student that I was saving the world from

student that I was saving the world from

student that I was saving the world from plastic pollution you know it really

plastic pollution you know it really

plastic pollution you know it really gets to you you you begin to become

gets to you you you begin to become

gets to you you you begin to become afraid of failing these people you feel

afraid of failing these people you feel

afraid of failing these people you feel like I have to do what they are saying

like I have to do what they are saying

like I have to do what they are saying and I have to make this project into

and I have to make this project into

and I have to make this project into what they say it is you know who am I to

what they say it is you know who am I to

what they say it is you know who am I to make all these reporters look like Liars

make all these reporters look like Liars

make all these reporters look like Liars but I don’t think that’s really

but I don’t think that’s really

but I don’t think that’s really realistic and I don’t really believe

realistic and I don’t really believe

realistic and I don’t really believe that this what this problem project is

that this what this problem project is

that this what this problem project is or what it needs so what do I believe

or what it needs so what do I believe

or what it needs so what do I believe this project needs maybe it’s just need

this project needs maybe it’s just need

this project needs maybe it’s just need to be stolen because what makes it

to be stolen because what makes it

to be stolen because what makes it special is that we can realize that you

special is that we can realize that you

special is that we can realize that you don’t need to be an engineer or a

don’t need to be an engineer or a

don’t need to be an engineer or a scientist to do this kind of stuff you

scientist to do this kind of stuff you

scientist to do this kind of stuff you can be just an eight-year-old kid making

can be just an eight-year-old kid making

can be just an eight-year-old kid making your own water bottle in your kitchen

your own water bottle in your kitchen

your own water bottle in your kitchen and you know it could take you only five

and you know it could take you only five

and you know it could take you only five minutes to make it and in these five

minutes to make it and in these five

minutes to make it and in these five minutes you might actually discover

minutes you might actually discover

minutes you might actually discover something that makes it much much better

something that makes it much much better

something that makes it much much better than it already is

than it already is

than it already is and it is something that I would maybe

and it is something that I would maybe

and it is something that I would maybe never have thought of

never have thought of

never have thought of so for me the best-case scenario for

so for me the best-case scenario for

so for me the best-case scenario for this project would be that everybody

this project would be that everybody

this project would be that everybody would try it like everyone steals this

would try it like everyone steals this

would try it like everyone steals this project and go home and they try to make

project and go home and they try to make

project and go home and they try to make their own water bottle maybe you just

their own water bottle maybe you just

their own water bottle maybe you just copy the project like it is or maybe you

copy the project like it is or maybe you

copy the project like it is or maybe you take something from it and add something

take something from it and add something

take something from it and add something else to it or maybe you just decide to

else to it or maybe you just decide to

else to it or maybe you just decide to pick the two craziest materials that you

pick the two craziest materials that you

pick the two craziest materials that you can think of and try to make something

can think of and try to make something

can think of and try to make something completely different maybe you want to

completely different maybe you want to

completely different maybe you want to make a fork or a cup or a plastic bag

make a fork or a cup or a plastic bag

make a fork or a cup or a plastic bag you know it doesn’t really matter and

you know it doesn’t really matter and

you know it doesn’t really matter and when you manage to make something that’s

when you manage to make something that’s

when you manage to make something that’s really interesting then go and tell your

really interesting then go and tell your

really interesting then go and tell your friends about it and like tell us time

friends about it and like tell us time

friends about it and like tell us time to do it better than you did and

to do it better than you did and

to do it better than you did and actually when they do steal their

actually when they do steal their

actually when they do steal their project and make it better relate it

then

then worst case scenario would maybe be that

worst case scenario would maybe be that

worst case scenario would maybe be that nobody tries it we all just wait for

nobody tries it we all just wait for

nobody tries it we all just wait for somebody else to do it for us but then

somebody else to do it for us but then

somebody else to do it for us but then at least few people including myself got

at least few people including myself got

at least few people including myself got more aware of the problem that plastic

more aware of the problem that plastic

more aware of the problem that plastic pollution is causing this world and

pollution is causing this world and

pollution is causing this world and maybe they change their daily routines

maybe they change their daily routines

maybe they change their daily routines just a tiny little bit to try to make it

just a tiny little bit to try to make it

just a tiny little bit to try to make it better but best-case scenario worst-case

better but best-case scenario worst-case

better but best-case scenario worst-case scenario or even just something in

scenario or even just something in

scenario or even just something in between it doesn’t really matter at

between it doesn’t really matter at

between it doesn’t really matter at least I will never see this project as a

least I will never see this project as a

least I will never see this project as a failure I will only see it as one or two

failure I will only see it as one or two

failure I will only see it as one or two steps in the right direction

”

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