Dara Benno
Ready Made, Made Ready
Everyday objects for everyday emergency
What does it mean to adapt to a changing world?
Climate change is altering the world as we know it. We live in a chronic state of emergency. It’s easy to slip into a downward spiral of despair or ignore what we know to be true in order to carry on with our day-to-day responsibilities. By facilitating a complete recognition and heightened awareness of the common threats brought on by the climate crisis, we can begin to make the mental shift toward living in a new normal.
Ready Made, Made Ready rejects a dissociative attitude and seeks to shift exceptionalist feelings of entitlement to a focus on building resilience for the future. By merging mundane objects with emergency capabilities in a lifestyle collection entitled ICOE (In Case of Emergency), this work questions how to integrate elements of preparedness into our everyday lives and how to increase a sense of agency in a world where we lack control.
ICOE Shower Curtain to Garment
Creative direction and design by Dara Benno
Cinematography by Matthew Watson
2022
Through a collection of lifestyle objects entitled ICOE (In Case of Emergency), the everyday and familiar items we surround ourselves with are transformed to help us feel a sense of agency in a world where we lack control. Something as mundane as a shower curtain can convert into an inflatable flood garment in the event of a sudden natural disaster, helping not only the individual feel prepared but also empowered to take action in the moment of crisis. Tear-away panels that convert into flotation bands and tubes for others in need offer elements of community resilience, embodying a shift away from an individualist mindset. Instructional icons on the curtain itself allow for a mental rehearsal of steps to take in an emergency flood scenario, adding to feelings of preparedness and easing sentiments of anxiety and despair.
ICOE Statement Garment
Creative direction and design by Dara Benno
Cinematography by Matthew Watson
2022
In the moment that the shower curtain is torn down and the garment is removed, a state of emergency is declared by the individual. By removing the coat and waist wrap on a “regular” day and choosing to wear them, the ICOE object becomes a statement garment, using fashion and self expression as a public mode of not only sparking dialogue surrounding the climate crisis but also acting as a reminder of accountability and community resilience.
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ICOE Shower Curtain
EVA (100% BPA & PVC free), waterproof TPU coated nylon, valves, heavy duty snaps, grommets
Special thanks to Quiet Town Home for donating shower curtain samples.
72”x72”
2022
By combining elements of climate crisis preparedness with a stylized design, ICOE allows for easy integration into an existing lifestyle. Illustrations depicting transformational pieces and use scenarios encourage a mental rehearsal of preparatory actions in the event of a flood.
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ICOE Garment
EVA (100% BPA & PVC free), waterproof TPU coated nylon, valves, heavy duty snaps, grommets
2022
The ICOE garment incorporates a functioning inflatable collar for the individual wearing the garment as well as inflatable, tear-off panels to hand out to those in need of help.
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- Architecture
- Ceramics
- Design Engineering
- Digital + Media
- Furniture Design
- Global Arts and Cultures
- Glass
- Graphic Design
- Industrial Design
- Interior Architecture
- Jewelry + Metalsmithing
- Landscape Architecture
- Nature-Culture-Sustainability Studies
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- TLAD
- Textiles
