dagny

bloom

My name is Dagny and...


With seven years of dedicated education and professional experience, I have cultivated a specialization in the outdoor recreation industry, particularly in the design and development of sustainable products tailored to this market. My expertise is firmly grounded in a deep understanding of the dynamics and nuances of the outdoor recreation sector.


Armed with a Master's degree in Design for Sustainability and a solid foundation in Business and Outdoor Recreation Marketing from my undergraduate studies, I offer a distinctive combination of theoretical insights and hands-on skills in my approach to every project. Fueled by a profound passion for this field, I am driven to continually push the boundaries of innovation, creating solutions that not only elevate outdoor experiences but also uphold a commitment to environmental stewardship.


“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.”

Product DESIGN & Development

Strategic Outdoor Marketing

Sustainable Product Innovation

WORK EXPERIENCE

BAGS AND TRAIL RUNNING VESTS DESIGN +

SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP

PRODUCT LINE ​MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP

MOTORSPORT APPAREL

FREELANCE DESIGNER

France
Germany
usa flag

design projects

Education

2024

Master of Fine Arts| August 2021- May 2024

Savannah College of Art and Design - Savannah, GA

-Three Year Master of Fine Arts Program

-Varsity cyclist racing road, mountain bikes, and cyclocross.

-Racing three national events per year.


Major:

Design for Sustainability

Concentration in Design Management


Noteworthy Curriculum:

  • Sustainable Materials
  • Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • Service Design: A Systemic Perspective
  • Futurecasting: Trends and Foresight
  • Industrial Design Studio I: Discovery to Design Solutions


2021

Bachelor of Arts | August 2017 - May 2021

Lees-McRae College - Banner Elk, NC


-Founder and President of the Lees-McRae Sustainability Initiative.

-Developed and implemented a business plan to make recycling and composting campus wide.

-Varsity cyclist racing road, mountain bikes, and cyclocross.


Major:

Business Management, Outdoor Recreation Market Concentration


Noteworthy Curriculum:

  • Marketing Research
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Data Analytics
  • International Business



mielo

100% Biodegradable Bandage

The Problem:

  • The pressure sensitive adhesive used in bandaids is made from plastic, usually acrylic .
  • Plastic bandages are made of PVC, polyethylene ,or polyurethane.

Our Solution:

  • My team sought to design a new sustainable bandage that used locally-sourced materials, stopped bleeding, and was biodegradable and non-toxic.
  • Countless late night meetings focused on perfecting our ideas brought us to the creation of Mielo: A fully compostable bandaid.
Vector Image

Yarrow

Marigold

Orange Marigold Flower Png Botanical Illustration

Material Composition:

  • Mielo “bandages” used a pressure sensitive adhesive made of honey and brown algae (specifically sodium alginate).
  • Algaes' benefits include hydration, tissue renewal through the diffusion of amino acids, and natural anti-inflammatory properties.
  • The adhesive itself also includes a blend of medicinal plants such as yarrow oil (treats pain and inflammation, and repairs damaged tissues), marigold oil (anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial), echinacea oil (typically used to treat burns), nettle oil (accelerates healing process), and beeswax (anti-bacterial, anti-viral, aromatic).
  • The fabric we chose to lay over the adhesive was knitted hemp to allow for stretch.
  • Not only is hemp biodegradable but growing hemp gives back to the environment by returning nutrients to the soil and promotes carbon sequestration.


Echinacea

Detailed Illustrated Coneflowers
Common Nettle Plant

Nettle

Watercolor Honeycomb Illustration
watercolor honey dripping hand-drawing

Beeswax

watercolor honey dripping hand-drawing

Sancasa

Sustainably Made hurricane proof coastal housing

Overview

The assignment was to develop a fully realized and creative solution that ranks high on Biomimicry's Life Principles, clearly articulates the mechanism and function of a biological strategy of choice, and constitutes an overall improvement to the existing solutions for our desired context.

As a team we decided to look at 20+ organisms to study their form, process, and systems to best address our current human issues surrounding the global climate crisis. After weeks of research we fell in love with the often overlooked Sand Dollar.

Bi-o-mim-ic-ry: is learning from and then emulating natural forms, processes, and ecosystems to create more sustainable designs.

(Biomimicry Resource Handbook)

FORM

The first level of biomimicry is the mimicking of natural form.

PROCESS

Mimicking of natural process, or how a thing is made.

SYSTEMS

The mimicking of natural ecosystems.


"After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned what works, what is appropriate, and what lasts here on Earth."

~ Janine Benyus


problem to opportun ity

The effects of both hurricane Irma and Maria led to destruction of critical infrastructure which resulted in cascading failures of the lifeline systems of energy, transportation, communications, water supply, and wastewater treatment and impeded response operations.


To address this my team sought out the creation of hurricane proof housing that mimics the evolutionary genus of the sand dollar.

CONCEPTUALIZATION/

EARLY SKETCHES

The structure is modeled after the sand dollar test which is dome shaped and made of interlocking cavities .

The sand dollar has a five-fold radial symmetry with interlocking polygonal plates that allows for high load bearing capacity. Inspired by the adaptability of the sand dollar, our team decided to mimic the plates into a modular system..

The lunules (holes) of the sand dollar act as pressure drainage channels. This morphological feature inspired us to create gaps in between each one of our housing units to minimize the pressure load on the house.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Private Restroom Stalls

POD 1

POD 2

POD 3

Integral Gutter System

Private Shower Stalls

COMMUNAL BUILDING

Rolling Storm Proof Door

Built-In Island and Storage/Serving Counter

3D Printed Concrete Structure

Communal Kitchenette

Communal Dining Space

Multi-tiered

Communal Garden

Built-In Balconette Seating

Built-In Multi-Functional Loft

SINGLE UNIT FLOOR PLAN N.T.S.

Specified Wind Turbine

Placements

Wind Swirl Icon
Wind Swirl Icon
Wind Swirl Icon

SINGLE UNIT LONGITUDINAL SECTION N.T.S.

MULTI FUNCTIONAL

COMMUNITY CENTER

Library Club

STORM

SHELTER

MODULARITY

Due to its 3D printing construction, Sancasa is designed to act as a modular system. Units can be replicated in proximity to maximize functions. This is a design feature that mimics the natural agglomeration that occurs amongst sand dollars.

Brushstroke Arrow Smooth Curve Down Small
Brushstroke Arrow Smooth Curve Down Small

The vents at the sides draw cool air in and the vents at the top let warm out. They are both at heights protected from rain, and help regulate temperatures in the pods naturally.

Good

drop of blood

Designing for Sustainable Behavior Change:

The Menstrual Cup Movement

1

Close to 20 billion sanitary napkins, tampons and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year.


2

500 million people lack access to menstrual products and hygiene facilities.


3

The plastic components of feminine products can take up to 500 years to break down.


PROJECT BRIEF

Design has an undeniable influence on people’s daily life. With proper research and application it can be used to positively change users behaviors towards more sustainable actions.


My team developed a heavily researched behavior change strategy that increases motivation and the ability for individuals to change their negative behavior (using single-use menstrual products) long-term.


Primary Research

57.9% of survey respondents said they prefer to use disposable products because they're more hygienic.

67.5% of survey respondents that currently use single-use products, said they would try a reusable menstrual cup.

Ideal Scenario

  1. Making the act of using a re-useable menstrual cup an unconscious habit.

How Might We ...

  1. Create behavior change amongst those who menstruate.
  2. Educate the masses about period products global environmental impact.
  3. Change the stigma around periods.
Flat Matisse Inspired Abstract Shape
Gradient that fades to transparency

Packaging

Flat Matisse Inspired Abstract Shape

One of the major intervention areas of this project is packaging and the importance it has over a consumers behavioral psychology. We wanted our consumers to react positively to the quality, color, and content.

Flat Matisse Inspired Abstract Shape

Product Line

green tea  leaf
green tea  leaf

Page Example

JUNE 2024

DAGGER BLOOM

Ivy

Let's bloom together!

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phone
Blooming Zinnias Illustration

+1 484.942.4854