Sometimes it seems too easy to disregard the number of sheets of paper we, as designers, go through in just one day. What becomes of those designs that didn’t work out for their first intended purpose? For my thesis project, I am gathering these discarded papers out of the recycling bins at Maine College of Art and seeking to turn those pages into new reusable objects and experiences that highlight how the meaning of the design changes when printed on a page that has already been used.
I gave myself the challenge of producing no waste. I created new paper from ground up recycled paper to make posters and book covers, and printed my designs on the reverse side of the tossed sheets. As designers we are constantly moving through concepts, forgetting that past designs are what inspire us to make new ones. By collecting paper that had been discarded, I was able to use the printed side to inspire new designs, while also allowing the viewer to make connections with the books when flipping through the pages and seeing what has been previously printed.

Posters: 18in x 24in
Books: 5.5in x 6.5in
Floor Plans: 5.5in x 6.5in