Is it necessary for humans to continue to consume milk-related products?

Stacie Woolsey decided to Make her Own Masters when she realised she was priced out of postgraduate education. She contacted a number of designers, including Ma-tt-er, to set her a brief in her pursuit of a personalised postgraduate design education.

We asked Stacie to consider the social, historical and political aspects of milk as a material. By looking at the behavioural changes caused by the consumption of milk it was possible to understand how this has and can lead to different quotidian rituals and systems.

Recognising that milk is consumed due to compliance and comfort, Stacie asked how it would be possible to reduce the consumption of milk whilst keeping its fundamental values intact?
The resultant project considered the timeline of milk of a person and how this could act as a system of comfort across three periods of life - infant, adult and elderly.

Stacie made three milk bottles for each stage of progression and a community system which would enable easy and localised access to milk. The forms were redesigned to work for those who require its comfort. The proposed idea enables society to adopt new behaviours whilst catering to a community, the environment and the future health of the planet and the people.

Stacie’s work and the Make Your Own Masters curriculum was exhibited at Somerset House in Summer 2019. The five briefs she responded to were on show and accompanied by a series of events. Ma-tt-er took part in a panel that discussed the future of design education, Stacie is currently trying to make this personalised, affordable system accessible to more people.

Credits: Photography, Illustration and Curation by Stacie Woolsey