The creation of Brellum was derived from the inspiration of the structure of paper lanterns. Their simple and sturdy frames fueled the rest of the design, allowing me to create a way for opening a covering void of traditional hinged steel ribs that are often the first thing to be broken on an umbrella. By using a simple curve as the frame the breaking points no longer exist, extending the life of the umbrella. It also reduced the number of parts that are required to make one work. The daunting number of small, and often unnecessary parts is reduced from over 100 pieces to about 12. Repeating a certain visual language also allows for fewer molds to be made for the manufacturing process, as the topper and stopper are identical parts, connecting by it's male-female orientation, as well as having 6 identical flexible ribs. In terms of material, polypropylene is being considered the best idea to cater to the cradle to cradle sensibility. By using polypropylene, one can not only discard the umbrella, but recycle it like any other polypropylene product to make things such as bottles or more Brellums. Unlike traditional umbrellas, fabric will not be a concern when it comes to valuable wasted material. Being polypropylene, the rigidity of its properties is a structural cover that need not be fastened by anything other than the cap. The cover is also to be transparent, so as not to take away from the understated beauty of its simple, painless motion of the ribs. Fortunately, only using one material also unifies the umbrella aesthetically. The ribs, when moved upward serves to hold up the cover to protect from rain. Brellum also requires no chemical bonding, with ribs that snap into the given holes of the top and stopper. This notion can, in the future allude to the idea of the Brellum being a kit of parts that people can assemble and replace broken parts, if need be. The design of this umbrella is simply to be simple. To bring a new life to umbrellas and a healthier earth.

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