Design Map · Eindhoven
Open Sampling Trawl
Graduation project by Emil Rey Büchler at Design Academy Eindhoven, 2026. Shown during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven on Design Map, location F5.
Marine microplastics make up the vast majority of plastic pollution in the sea, yet they remain largely invisible. Emil Rey Büchler developed a set of tools that enables people to collect, observe and share data on these tiny plastic particles. The project includes a lightweight, packable aluminium trawl with adjustable wings that can be adapted for rivers, lakes and coastal waters, whether used while walking, paddling or sailing. Sample-organising tools and an online platform help users start collecting data, map their findings and contribute to a shared archive. Developed in conversation with marine scientists, the system aims to produce reliable data while keeping costs low, remaining accessible for workshops, schools and individual use. The tools reveal a form of pollution that usually goes unnoticed. By bringing observations together in a growing open-source archive, the project encourages people to contribute to a shared understanding of marine microplastics.