Geek of the Week: Taryn Zychal (Recycling Zychal)

What do recycling broken umbrellas, puppies in raincoats and a serious self-starter all have in common? Well, you’re about to find out in today’s Geek of the Week, a weekly column on some of the finest folks in Philly up to some crazy/awesome things.

This week we talk to Taryn Zychal, product designer, recycler and out-spoken entrepreneur.

Let’s hear it, Taryn. Tell me about yourself. What do you do?

I’m a 26-year old eco-minded product designer originally from Scranton, PA. I came here in 2004 to pursue a degree in Industrial Design. Since graduating, I’ve done a plethora of different things such as extensive marketing work for some of the country’s most recognizable brands to heading a graphic design department literally Photoshopping models’ imperfections for 8 hours a day.

However, the job that essentially changed my life was a brief stint I did at Terracycle, designing a laptop carriers from reclaimed billboard material and pet products from cardboard. I was hired as a fulltime employee and eventually got pushed down to freelance after the huge economic crisis hit.

I think Recycling Zychal is what stands out to me the most about you. I’ve gotta admit though, I’ve only been vaguely following what you’ve been doing with it for the past few years. Why did you start it? Where do you get your inspiration from?

Well, it all started back at Terracycle. I loved that job so much, but I could see some flaws. For example, I like to keep things to a clean design aesthetic and smaller scale (which in turn makes it more eco-friendly), so after Terracycle phased out the freelancers, I wrote down all the things I would have changed about them and started Recycling Zychal, which is my company that specializes in the rescue and repurpose of broken umbrellas.

I had the idea to upcycle broken umbrellas long before Terracycle, I just had no idea how to run a business of turning trash into treasure. A few months in, orders came pouring in and now two years later, the company has grown so much that it’s almost overwhelming. What went from me and a few friends drinking a few beers and scouring the streets of Philadelphia for broken umbrellas after storms, has now become the biggest undertaking of my life with orders and broken umbrella donations pouring in on a daily basis; I honestly couldn’t be more proud or more excited to be a part of it. I hope I can eventually change peoples’ idea of broken umbrellas.

Side note: I also love pugs.

A few weeks ago I spotted you on the cover of The Daily News. Later on, I read the feature on Philly.com regarding student debts and [crappy schools]. How did you end up in that piece? And how was the general reaction from friends, family, etc.?

That article happened because the author, Will Bunch was interested in getting different opinions on how the education situation was at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, the school in which I attended. Since he contacted me through my portfolio website and seemed impressed by the magnitude of my work, I think he was expecting me to talk about how great AiPh was.

That was clearly not the case and my opinions were very much the opposite. I also gave him a few contacts, whom I’d also graduated with, all carrying what I’d call a worthless degree. He was so interested in my business and was so impressed by my work, that he sent a photographer over to take photos of the products I make. I honestly had NO IDEA I was going to end up on the cover of the newspaper.

The reaction from strangers and other people in the same situation around the city who read the article was what surprised me the most. Many of them asked if there was a class action lawsuit we could get into, but after years of legal research, the Art Institutes have their stuff covered. There’s nothing anyone can do. Family and friends were all supportive and excited to see me on the cover, especially because it helped bring in about $5k worth of sales. One of my friends, Philadelphia’s very own Andrew Dyer, had me autograph his copy. (I thought that was cute.)

As per usual, the school did nothing. They didn’t contact me and I refuse to talk to them, unless they decide to offer me a teaching position for a class on how to run a product design business with absolutely no overheard. I think I would be the best fit for a class like that.

Awesome, thanks for your time, Taryn.

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Note to the readers: I too am a graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia. The opinion of the interviewee do not necessarily dictate the opinion of the interviewer, but he also will not deny disagreeing too much.

To see some of her work, check out RecyclingZychal.com