# Junkyard-Inspired Art Projects ÉCAL and Philippe Malouin Unveil the Junkyard Diving Project By Amy Duong | Published 2023-05-16 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/junkyard-diving References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/05/15/philippe-malouin-takes-students-junkyard-diving-for-ecal-workshop/)  The students from the Swiss design school [ÉCAL](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sponge-furniture) work together with Philippe Malouin to create the new [Junkyard](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knoll-chairs) Diving project. It is made up of furniture designs hat are constructed using metal objects that are collected from the scrapheap. The project features household items as well and the workshop runs for four days long and is run by Malouin to highlight his own salvaging practice. Malouin talks about the project to Dezeen, stating that "It's all about picking. It's going to junkyards and not being scared. Working with steel, people think it's really daunting and scary. I just wanted them to be instinctive and not think too much in front of a computer and just let the function and the materials dictate what they were creating." Image Credit: ÉCAL ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 31% | Activity: 4% | Freshness: 15% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Upcycling Furniture:** The Junkyard Diving project highlights the trend of creating furniture designs from discarded metal objects and household items. - **Salvaging Practice:** Philippe Malouin's salvaging practice inspires a trend of using unconventional materials to create new designs. - **Instinctive Design:** The Junkyard Diving project promotes a trend of relying on instinct and letting function and materials dictate the design process. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Furniture Design:** The Junkyard Diving project creates opportunities for furniture designers to explore unconventional materials and reimagining discarded objects. - **Sustainable Design:** The upcycling trend showcased in the Junkyard Diving project can inspire innovative sustainable design practices in various industries. - **Art and Design Education:** The Junkyard Diving project demonstrates a unique and creative approach to art and design education which could be incorporated in other institutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Broken Bike Lock Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/people-and-places.md) - [Found Objects-Formed Art Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aldgate-gold.md) - [Kid-Designed Sculptural Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/galerie-philia.md) - [Recycled Lighting Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nytt-lys-collection.md) - [Upcycled Plastic Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crafting-plastic.md) - [Repurposed Electric Scooter Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emetabolism-collection.md) - [Upcycled Metal Sheet Cabinets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upcycled-metal-sheet.md) - [Upcycled Object Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nendo-and-daniel-arsham.md) - [Archival Furniture Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grain-pile.md)