My umbrella is not dead

This hands-on workshop invites participants to question the very idea of waste by transforming discarded objects into something new and functional. Each person arrives with two items from home, a broken umbrella and an old sports bag, and, through a guided process of dismantling, analysis, and making, leaves with a single reimagined object built from both. Inspired by natural systems of absorption and regeneration, the workshop reframes discarded materials not as endpoints, but as active beginnings within a continuous material cycle.

Facilitated by C-USINARTE and hosted in a fablab environment, the session introduces the concept of 'phantom waste': the hidden material value embedded in objects once they lose their original function. Participants are guided through a structured journey that moves from observation to making, combining tactile exploration with systemic thinking and collaborative design.

The workshop unfolds in 4 phases and a closing section:

• Introduction to C-USINARTE and the concept of phantom waste. Participants present the objects they brought. The challenge is introduced: what will be built today?
• Manual dismantling of the umbrella and sports bag. Materials are identified through touch, weight and resistance. Understanding why each material was chosen and what remains when the object no longer functions. Note: dismantling a standard umbrella takes approximately 5 minutes.
• Guided ideation on what new function the materials can serve together. Participants map material properties against possible uses. Group discussion on design decisions and circular logic.
• Hands-on construction of a new functional object from the combined waste streams. Facilitated making with VIVA FabLab tools. Each participant or group produces a tangible result.
• Collective presentation of creations. Structured reflection on phantom waste flows and the maker as an agent of circular change. Resources and next steps are shared with participants.

Open to all, no prior experience required. The workshop welcomes a broad audience including families, students (design, engineering, management), makers and fablab communities, educators, social workers, and entrepreneurs working in sustainability and innovation.

This workshop aims to

• shift perception of waste as resource rather than endpoint;
• develop systemic thinking on composite material lifecycles;
• demonstrate functional upcycling without heavy infrastructure;
• connect individual action to collective responsibility; and
• inspire the maker mindset as a driver of circular economy.