임업 부산물의 업사이클링 디자인과 제품화에 관한 연구 -일본 무인양품 “산의 거대 쓰레기전” 사례를 중심으로-

Abstract

This study explores the multi-faceted roles and socio-economic value of design within resource circulation systems, focusing on upcycling design cases using forestry by-products generated from forest management and wood processing, centered around MUJI's exhibition. To achieve this, through field investigation and interviews with key stakeholders, major upcycling product cases were rigorously analyzed based on three key perspectives: aesthetics, functionality, and commercial potential. The findings demonstrate that design extends beyond mere aesthetic expression to act as a practical catalyst that integrates industrial by-products back into the loop of resource circulation. By leveraging Ginza, Tokyo—a major urban commercial hub—as a platform to raise public awareness about forest neglect and the effective use of domestic timber, the exhibition intuitively instilled the necessity of sustainable forest management in urban consumers. Furthermore, by reconfiguring the value chain connecting production sites with consumption centers, this study highlights the re-evaluation of forest resources and forestry labor in rural mountain areas, presenting a co-prosperous Circular Economy model to address rural population decline and economic stagnation. Ultimately, it is anticipated that the design-driven interventions and regional circulation models derived from this study will serve as practical insights and a sustainable benchmark for Korea's forestry and timber industries, which currently face challenges in utilizing unused forest biomass and creating high value-added products.