Hannah Dykgraaf
Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Art Education
The Tea Cosy, 2012
The Tea Cosy is inspired by 1 Million Women, an organisation committed to raising awareness about climate change and sustainability. They aim to encourage women to change everyday behaviours and patterns of consumption. The Tea Cosy focuses on the ritual of tea and in particular, the tendency to waste electricity when boiling the kettle, either by forgetting and walking away, or by heating more water than needed. Making individual changes to these habits can collectively reduce unnecessary waste of resources. The project features a designed experience in the form of a sustainable afternoon tea. Suggestions for organising the event are included in the hostess guide. The afternoon tea is complemented by The Tea Cosy kit, a fundraising prototype containing a tea towel, tea tags, mug warmers and a magnet. These products remind individuals to make sustainable choices both during and after the event. The Tea Cosy is about women coming together over a cup of tea to share ideas and find solutions to reduce our carbon footprint. It allows for consideration of the small decisions we make everyday and their impact on future generations.