An industrial design student at RMIT is this year’s Australian winner of the James Dyson Award for an initiative to tackle one of Australia’s growing environmental issues —textile waste.
Sze Tjin Yek created a sustainable acoustic panel, called Sorbet, that repurposes discarded textiles into a visually striking and functional product.
In setting out to innovate a practical solution, Yek created the panel which is crucial for managing noise pollution in both domestic and commercial environments.
Unlike conventional acoustic panels made from open-cell polyurethane foam, which are challenging to recycle, Sorbet panels offer a more sustainable alternative. By using nearly 100 per cent textile waste, all material can be retrieved and reused in an energy-efficient way.
Yek said her vision is to make Sorbet accessible to everyone by allowing households to create their own acoustic panels from textile waste using everyday tools.
“By integrating Sorbet into our homes, I hope to raise awareness about consumption habits and reduce the impact of textile waste,” she said.
Yek added that as a designer she aspires to see more artistic approaches in the design engineering field where traditional and contemporary art methods can transform common materials into valuable, sustainable innovations.
“Seeing my concept implemented in places like my father’s hometown in Sarawak, Malaysia, where textile waste was used as wall insulation, reinforces my belief in the power of creative solutions to address global challenges.”
The James Dyson Award is an international student design award in the fields of product design, industrial design and engineering.
This year’s Australian entries were judged by Jared Lynch, Technology Editor at The Australian, David Swan, Technology Editor at Sydney Morning Herald, and Dr Anita Vandyke, a medical doctor and qualified rocket scientist.
Vindekye said Sorbet was a standout winner because it was turning what was previously considered waste into something that can be used widely.
“This is truly embracing the zero-waste ethos,” she said.
Sorbet will progress to the next stage of the James Dyson Award. The international top 20 shortlist will be announced on Wednesday 16 October, and the global winners on 13 November.
For more information, https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-US/2024/project/sorbet
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