Question

Imagine five distinct uses of discarded Compact Discs (CDs).
The CDs can be cut, bent, pasted, or used in multiples to execute your ideas.
Represent your ideas with five neat sketches along with brief notes (if necessary) in the space provided below.

Hint:

When repurposing discarded CDs, think creatively about their shape, reflectiveness, and durability. Use cutting, layering, or hanging techniques to transform them into functional or decorative items—like coasters, mobiles, bird deterrents, clocks, or garden markers. Let the material’s unique qualities (like shine and rigidity) guide your design, and keep your sketches simple and clear to communicate each idea effectively.

Answer 1

Idea 1: 

Notes: Mosaic Art/Coasters
Reasoning
The image depicts a holographic or iridescent coaster design embedded in resin. Through its use of light interaction, layered texture, and depth, the piece conveys a high-end, artisanal aesthetic.
Shimmering Effect 
The most striking feature is the intense, multi-colored shimmer. As light hits the irregular surfaces, it diffracts into a spectrum of colors, creating a rainbow or holographic effect. 
This visual phenomenon results from the interaction between light and the angled facets of the embedded pieces, much like a diffraction grating. 
Irregular Texture 
The coaster surface is composed of small, irregularly shaped fragments, giving it a rich mosaic-like appearance. 
Despite the irregularity beneath, the surface appears sealed under a smooth layer—likely resin—which enhances clarity while preserving the texture visually. 
Dimensionality 
The small gaps between the embedded fragments, combined with the transparency and thickness of the resin, create a sense of visual depth. 
This layered appearance contributes to a feeling of dimensionality and luxury, making the object look handcrafted and premium. 
Conclusion
The piece achieves its artisanal and high-end look by combining iridescent, light-reactive materials with a layered, sealed composition. The interplay of shimmer, texture, and depth successfully communicates a crafted and expensive visual experience. 
Idea 2: 

Notes: Decorative Mobile/Wind Chime
Reasoning
The hanging mobile constructed from old CDs and decorative beads serves multiple aesthetic and functional purposes. Its interaction with light, wind, and space makes it both visually engaging and practically useful.
Aesthetic Decoration 
The mobile creates a captivating visual display, especially in sunlight. The reflective surfaces of the CDs—rendered in warm gold and bronze hues due to backlighting—scatter flashes of light across the surrounding space. 
Colored beads interspersed throughout the structure contribute additional visual interest, adding bursts of color and variety. 
Kinetic Element 
The lightweight nature of the materials allows the mobile to move with the slightest breeze. 
This motion—spinning, swaying, and turning—is integral to its decorative appeal, constantly altering the angles of reflection and creating dynamic visual effects. 
Acoustic Element (Wind Chime) 
While the primary focus is visual, if the CDs or connecting beads are hung close enough to make contact, they can produce a soft, tinkling sound. 
This adds a subtle auditory layer to the experience, echoing the qualities of a wind chime. 
Practical Use (Bird Deterrent) 
The bright, shifting flashes of reflected light created by the spinning CDs serve a secondary, functional purpose. 
These flashes are a known and effective, non-harmful method for deterring birds from gardens, balconies, patios, or fruit-bearing trees. 
Conclusion This mobile is a multi-functional decorative object that blends beauty, movement, sound, and utility. It not only creates a visually stimulating and colorful installation but also leverages light and motion for a practical outcome—deterring birds—demonstrating how upcycled materials can be both artistic and effective. 
Idea 3:

Notes: Bird Deterrent
Reasoning
The use of old CDs as bird deterrents relies on simple principles of light reflection, motion, and visual perception. This sustainable and cost-effective method is both humane and effective for protecting outdoor areas such as gardens or orchards.
Light Reflection 
The primary mechanism is the reflection of sunlight from the CDs' curved, mirrored surfaces. 
As the sun strikes the CDs, the light is scattered into bright, flashing bursts that move unpredictably due to the CDs' rotation. 
These dazzling flashes are intensified by the curvature and highly reflective coating of the CD surface. 
Visual Disturbance 
Birds, which rely heavily on sharp visual perception, find the sudden and random light bursts disorienting and stressful. 
The unpredictability of the flashes creates the illusion of a dangerous or unstable environment. 
This non-harmful disturbance encourages birds to avoid the area without injuring or trapping them. 
Movement 
CDs are lightweight and easily swayed by even gentle breezes. 
This constant motion keeps the reflective effect dynamic, maintaining the element of surprise necessary to effectively deter birds. 
Low Cost / Sustainable 
This technique repurposes waste materials, such as old or damaged CDs, reducing landfill contributions. 
It is an accessible, inexpensive alternative to commercial bird deterrents, making it especially practical for small-scale gardeners or eco-conscious users. 
Conclusion Using CDs as bird deterrents demonstrates an elegant intersection of sustainability and functionality. By leveraging light, motion, and animal behavior, this method provides a humane and eco-friendly solution to crop protection, using everyday materials in an innovative way. 
Idea 4: 

Notes: DIY Clock Face
Reasoning
This wall clock design repurposes a CD as its primary visual and structural element. Through its minimalist approach and interaction with light, it combines utility with visual interest and modern aesthetic sensibilities.
Minimalism 
The design embraces minimalism by using the CD’s inherent circular form as the clock face, without adding unnecessary embellishments. 
The clock mechanism and hands are the only functional additions, maintaining focus on the object’s core function—timekeeping. 
This simplicity allows the CD itself to become the visual centerpiece. 
Reflective Display 
The CD’s reflective surface interacts with ambient light to produce a rainbow spectrum effect. 
As lighting conditions change, the CD reflects dynamic colors, turning the clock into a shifting visual display. 
This use of natural light adds movement and interest, giving the piece a sense of life beyond its static shape. 
Modern Aesthetic 
The design incorporates an element of recycled technology, transforming an obsolete object (a CD) into a functional and artistic item. 
The aesthetic is both modern and retro-futuristic, reflecting current trends in upcycled and tech-inspired home decor. 
The piece fits well within minimalist, craft-focused, or contemporary interior styles. 
Conclusion
This CD clock balances form and function by transforming a simple, familiar object into a piece of minimalist wall art. The reflective quality adds visual dynamism, while the recycled nature supports sustainability and modern design values. 
Idea 5: 

Notes: Garden Edging/Path Markers
Reasoning
This creative landscaping idea transforms old CDs into a reflective garden border, blending visual appeal with functional benefits. The use of recycled materials emphasizes sustainability while adding a unique decorative element.
Concept 
The core concept involves repurposing whole CDs by placing them vertically into the soil to line a garden path or flower bed. 
This approach turns discarded materials into a structured, artistic edging solution. 
Technique 
CDs are inserted halfway into the soil along the desired edge—either straight or curved—forming a continuous border. 
Their uniform circular shape ensures consistency, while the reflective surface adds dynamic visual interest. 
Visual / Functional Effect 
Reflective Display: The CDs reflect sunlight at various angles, creating a shimmering, eye-catching effect that changes throughout the day. 
Path Definition: The shiny border clearly demarcates the path or flower bed, helping to guide foot traffic and highlight planting areas. 
Pest Deterrent: The flashing light and motion (from slight vibrations or breeze) may help deter small animals or birds from entering delicate planting areas. 
Decorative Accent: The reflective and slightly retro-futuristic aesthetic adds a unique and playful element to the garden space. 
Conclusion
Using CDs as garden edging is a clever, low-cost landscaping solution that combines recycled materials with decorative function. It enhances path visibility, reflects light for added beauty, and can even contribute to mild pest deterrence—making it both eco-friendly and visually striking.