Elizabeth Finley - Design for Change | Edinburgh College of Art Graduate Show 2022

Elizabeth Finley - Design for Change

"The city of Edinburgh and the University together have provided me with a once in a lifetime experience and helped me learn more about who I am and what I want from life. I believe I am leaving ECA a far better person than I entered it."

A table with a sign saying 'Birdfeed' and pictures of different birds on top.

What is the title of your graduate show work?

Freshened Waters: A localized experiment in freshwater regeneration via a designed social food system intravention.

What is the project about?

Feeding bread and other processed foods to waterfowl in Holyrood Park’s St. Margaret’s Loch causes the loch to see negative environmental effects, such as algae blooms.

These issues are a small, but clear, part of the global environmental crisis.

In this project, I sought to educate people on how to more consciously engage with freshwater ecosystems when feeding waterfowl. My intervention was a “food stall” located by the loch’s shores from which I shared eco-friendly bird feed I made and freshwater health information with community members.

How do you best like to work?

I enjoy speaking to people in context and working out in the field. If my project is set within a particular physical space, I gravitate to that space. Working in place is so key to truly understanding your subject matter.

Can you tell us about some of the things that inspire you and that have influenced you during your studies?

I am inspired by the larger environmental movement that is so apparent in the Edinburgh community.

The supportive atmosphere of the city is invigorating when tackling issues as intimidating as the environmental crisis.

In addition, I draw inspiration from my childhood and the tacit knowledge I acquired from my elders, such as crafting, baking and more. Finding connections between those and the works of scholars such as Victor Papanek and Daniel Wahl has been truly encouraging and inspiring.

A piece of paper with circular beetroot prints and a cut beetroot next to it.

What have been the highlights of your time at ECA and living in Edinburgh?

My time at the ECA has seen me do projects I never would have thought possible in a university setting.

From foraging for mud to building a makeshift oven to crafting paints from locally sourced produce, ECA has allowed me to experiment in ways I am so grateful for.

Edinburgh as a whole is a wonderful city for the curious soul who wishes to explore. From the calm beauty of Water of Leith to the plethora of museums, I’ve always felt so culturally enriched and at peace here.

Do you have any plans for after graduation?

After graduation, I am moving back to the USA and plan on settling in a flat there before intensifying the job search. I am hoping to obtain a research centric position that prioritizes positive social outcomes and multiple perspectives.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Moving to another country to attend university was a massive leap of faith and I had many nervous nights contemplating it in the months leading up. However, the nerves and leap have been absolutely worth it.

The city of Edinburgh and the University together have provided me with a once in a lifetime experience and helped me learn more about who I am and what I want from life. I believe I am leaving ECA a far better person than I entered it.

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