This project addresses the issues of consumption and commodification through the lens of critical design and a little bit of healthy irony. By employing commercial design mechanisms this project portrays the near future in the form of a cautionary tale. As a result of extensive water shortage new business arose and consequently created an infrastructure of supporting products and services. This new business is urine – human waste, a commodity as any other, collected, branded and resold. In a world where everything and everyone is a commodity, how long will it take till we start consuming ourselves?

1. M A J A G R A K A L I C
r a f f i n é 2 0 1 5•

2. “For those who stubbornly seek freedom, there can be no more urgent task
than to come to understand the mechanisms and practices of indoctrination.
These are easy to perceive in totalitarian societies, much less so in the
system of ‘brainwashing under freedom’ to which we are subjected and
which all too often we serve as willing or unwitting instruments.”
N. Chomsky
RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University

3. PROGRAM: PEOPLE AS COMMODITIES
RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University

4. RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University
« http://undhimmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/
most-of-britains-supermarket-meat-isnow-halal.jpeg
“We live in an era of
“technological understanding
of being where “we deal with
things, and even sometimes
people, as resources to be
used until no longer needed”
Heidegger

5. RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University
http://undhimmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/
most-of-britains-supermarket-meat-isnow-halal.jpeg »
“We live in a system that
sustains it self through
the consumption of
commodities, and where
one’s being is represented
through things and
possessions, commonly
recognizable and
legible tokens”
Bauman

6. “In liquid life, the distinction
between the consumer and
object of consumption is
all too often momentary
and ephemeral, and always
conditional.”
Bauman
RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University
« “EXAMINED LIFE”; ASTRA TAYLOR; 2009, USA

7. “Waste is a staple and
arguably the most profuse
product of the liquid modern
society of consumerism;
among consumer society’s
industrial waste production
is the most massive and the
most immune to crisis”
Bauman
RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jan/29/
plastic-industry-recycling-learn-from-steel-circular-economy »

8. PROJECT: HUMAN WASTE AS COMMODITY
RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University

9. This project addresses the issues of consumption and
commodification through the lens of critical design and a little bit
of healthy irony. By employing commercial design mechanisms this
project portrays the near future in the form of a cautionary tale.
As a result of extensive water shortage new business arose and
consequently created an infrastructure of supporting products
and services. This new business is urine – human waste,
a commodity as any other, collected, branded and resold.
In a world where everything and everyone is a commodity,
how long will it take till we start consuming ourselves?
RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University

12. RAFFINE - The Story Behind The urine Business | MA Critical Design Practice 2012 | Goldsmiths University

14. RAFFINÉ
ORGANIC URINE
Top Quality Urine
Early Morning Mid Stream
raffiné Urine contains 97% sterile water
with added vitamins, rich in mineral supple-
ments, urea and ester melatonin for tranquility
and heightened visualizations. Every sample is
exclusively produced by one R-Maker, which is
specified on each label. To purify, buy a
non-catheter purifier model in our stores.
For additional information please visit www.raffine.com
BASIC
Made by Maya
Content:
97% Sterile Water
Vitamins
Minerals
Ester Melatonin
PINK
Made by Dawn
Content:
97% Sterile Water
Vitamins + beetrot
Minerals
Ester Melatonin
TIRQUOSE
Made by Nephron
Content:
97% Sterile Water
Vitamins + asparagus
Minerals
Ester Melatonin

16. RAFFINÉ
CATHETER URINE PURIFIER
SPRING/SUMMER 2053
Urine Purifier - Functional Luxury
raffiné Purifier
New exclusive model with Urine Analysis System (UAS)
This model is designed exclusively for catheter users.
New model features urine container, purified urine
container, detachable glass bottle, new filter model with
high-density filtration system, Urine analysis system and
high quality readings display and analysis readings
charts. For more information visit our stores or contact
your raffiné agent.
P
6
N
N
GL
0.3
K
N
GR
1.015
Urine Container
Catheter Tube
Glass Bottle
UAS
Water Container
Filter
Catheter
Tube
Belt
Display
Catheter Tube
Urine Analysis System (UAS) Normal Readings Guide
1.002-1.030
Gravity
0-8 mg/dL
Negative-Trace
Protein
N
Negative
Nitrites
0-0.8 mmol/l
Glucose
N
Negative
Ketones
• In case of “UAS” abnormal readings, please contact your GP.
Urine Analysis System (UAS) - RED numbers detect
Dehydration
Gravity
Pregnancy or
Kidney disease
Protein
Urinary Tract
Infection (UTI)
Nitrites
Diabetes
Glucose
Diabetic
ketoacidosis
Ketones
For additional information please visit www.raffine.com

18. RAFFINÉ
WAter for A Clean and Sustainable Future
raffiné Water Production
raffiné Purification System Service is a fresh
water system alternative. Our company has developed
highly sophisticated filter technology for urine
purification. Every household is equipped with
raffiné Urine toilets. Besides collecting, they
measure every household’s contribution. The toilets
are connected to Raffine Urine tanks. Every night
our PSS Collecting Unites collect the urine and deliver
it to raffiné Factory. Using highly
sophisticated filtration technology system, top
quality water is produced. The water is bottled
and distributed to the market.
Urine Composition
In order of decreasing concentration:
• 95% Water
• Urea 9.3 g/L
• Chloride 1.87 g/L
• Sodium 1.17 g/L
• Potassium 0.750 g/L
• Creatinine 0.670 g/L and other
• Dissolved ions
• Inorganic and organic compounds
raffiné Water Composition
In order of decreasing concentration:
• Calcium 80 mg/L
• Magnesium 26 mg/L
• Silica 15 mg/L
• Sulphates 12.6 mg/L
• Chlorides 6.8 mg/L
• Sodium 6.5 mg/L
• Nitrates 3.7 mg/L
• Potassium 1 mg/L
Thank you for your contribution,
raffiné – For a Clean and Sustainable Future
BESTQU
ALITY GUA
R
ANTED
Guaranted

24. t h a n k y o u