The 'Colores del Rio' by Melissa Ortiz is Made from Red Cabbage
Michael Hemsworth — August 23, 2023 — Art & Design
References: meliortiz & yankodesign
The 'Colores del Rio' has been designed by Melissa Ortiz as a water quality test solution that would help communities to get a better idea of their watershed quality and more.
The tool is crafted out of red cabbage to give it an organic design and will change color to indicate the water quality when exposed to water. The handheld, disk-shaped tool will turn a pinkish-red when it comes into contact with acidic water or a yellowish-green when if the water is alkaline. The was developed with the help of local high school students and had its materials sourced from a local waste stream.
The 'Colores del Rio' is the winner of the Biodesign Challenge 2023 and was spoken on by Ortiz who said, "This community engagement tool is Biodesign-activism in response to local systemic issues involving the monoculture industry, the Salinas River watershed, and impacted communities. Colores del Rio combines community engagement and a human-environment relationship through citizen science."
The tool is crafted out of red cabbage to give it an organic design and will change color to indicate the water quality when exposed to water. The handheld, disk-shaped tool will turn a pinkish-red when it comes into contact with acidic water or a yellowish-green when if the water is alkaline. The was developed with the help of local high school students and had its materials sourced from a local waste stream.
The 'Colores del Rio' is the winner of the Biodesign Challenge 2023 and was spoken on by Ortiz who said, "This community engagement tool is Biodesign-activism in response to local systemic issues involving the monoculture industry, the Salinas River watershed, and impacted communities. Colores del Rio combines community engagement and a human-environment relationship through citizen science."
Trend Themes
1. Organic Water Quality Testing - Using organic materials like red cabbage to create water quality testers creates opportunities for sustainable and eco-friendly testing solutions.
2. Community Engagement Tools - Tools like the 'Colores del Rio' foster community engagement and citizen science to address systemic issues in various communities.
3. Biodesign Activism - The 'Colores del Rio' exemplifies the growing trend of biodesign activism, which combines design and activism to address environmental challenges.
Industry Implications
1. Environmental Testing - The use of organic water quality testers can disrupt the environmental testing industry by offering a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach.
2. Community Development - Community engagement tools like the 'Colores del Rio' can find applications in community development projects and initiatives.
3. Sustainable Design - Biodesign activism, as demonstrated by the 'Colores del Rio', is an emerging trend in the sustainable design industry that aims to address environmental issues through innovative solutions.
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