In a recent TED Talk, Jae Sik Choi, CEO of Lowlit Collective, shared his vision of sustainable design and the importance of 'Repurposing'. Choi pointed out the environmental impact of modern society's consumer culture and proposed a way to create a symbiotic relationship between the earth and humans through the concept of repurposing, which gives new value to waste materials.

"Lowlit Collective collects small plastics that are difficult to recycle and creates objects that can stay with you for a long time," Choi said, explaining how their products, such as the Vent-age Chandelier and Taisan Bench, have been transformed from waste into works of art. "Our core philosophy is to give new purpose to resources that would otherwise be thrown away," he said, referring to the Taisan bench, which Lowlit Collective 3D printed from agricultural byproducts.

Jae Sik Choi pointed out the problems with modern consumer society and emphasized the need to restore the values we have forgotten in order to have a sustainable future. "The biggest obstacle to changing our lifestyles is the powerlessness and hassle of taking action," he said, adding that the first step is to create a gap in our consumption-filled lives.

Mr. Choi also talked about how consumption patterns have changed since the invention of plastic and the three values that have been lost in the process. "Having lost bonding, epicness, and uniqueness, we have lost important values not only in our objects but also in our lives," he said. To regain them, he argued, we need refurbishment that gives objects and lives a new purpose.

"We need to shift from a life centered on consumption to a life that seeks maturity," Choi concluded, emphasizing that "through refurbishing, we can restore the values we have lost and find a way to create a symbiotic relationship with the earth and the next generation."

The TED talk was an important step in bringing the Lowlit Collective's philosophy and vision to the global stage, and has sparked a new awareness of the importance of sustainable design. Mr. Choi's message has deeply inspired the design industry and the public, and is expected to lead the sustainable design trend in the future.

Mr. Choi has launched an architectural living brand called Kollage in 2024 .  Based on the philosophy of "Gleaning the Unseen," Kollage is set to rediscover and reinterpret these small heritages into artistic pieces.

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