The Coralite
Jessica Ticchio
Bachelor of Design (Hons)

The Coralite
This project brief, created by the Ocean Agency, required students to develop a design activism approach aimed at encouraging change in regards to a specific ocean issue. Jessica Ticchio's approach was to construct a conversation piece to stimulate discussion about the issue of coral bleaching, specifically in the Great Barrier Reef. Her outcome is a three-piece light set, strategically harnessing the magnetism of beauty to allure viewers before revealing the grim truth behind coral bleaching. Upon first glance, the lights fluid organic curves and white diffusive glow appear pure and beautiful. However, the objects packaging reveals the shape of each form in the series reflecting the spiralling graph lines of coral decline in a different regions of the Great Barrier Reef. The product also demonstrates sustainable practices in every facet of its fabrication. In alignment with theorist Jonathan Chapmans theologies of value construction and object longevity, the probe has been meticulously handcrafted through the extremely time consuming process of refiguring HDPE (aka discarded milk bottles).