Wikis to the Changing Society

As a group, we have been investigating various topics considering our changing society and environments. Now, we are becoming more aware of issues worldwide and at doorstep due to the media, political changes and people around us. We are being encouraged to make changes to the way we go about our everyday lives, wether it be recycling our cereal boxes, turning off your bedroom light or buying fair-trade coffee. We are investigating specific topics and how these have affected design in the past, and therefore how they will affect design in the future.

Mind mapping ideas.

'Resourcing, Social Networking and Environmental Sustainability'

Through this brainstorming process it emerged how wether the topic be Social Networking or Fair-Trade they are had similarities in problem and solution. One of the main issues that arose was Sustainability and the Environmental issues which are becoming worse. The question I ask is; are they actually becoming worse or are we just more exposed to them today through advertising, design and networking? Whatever the reasons are, society are now embracing change. This change is not just about helping 'save the planet' but also how we are no longer a world who yearns for international globalisation but more of this idea of creating sustainable living where you live. Like the idea of borrowing your neighbour a bag of sugar. As communities we should take advantage of what others around us have to offer, and the things we have that don't need. Ironic as it might seem, we can take inspiration from how we lived in the 1910s-70s, before industry and ecomony overtook peoples' lives , and get to know our neighbour. Changes in society may be small, but these issues are connected and little changes go a long way.

Environmental Sustainability and Design

Although there is no definition as such of Environmental Sustainability and Design as yet, it is one of the most important aspects to designing today. Politicians, engineers, biologists, designers and many of society are thinking about environmental sustainability and trying to incorporate into their everyday lives.

Research into Environmental Sustainability and how it affects design today proved how important it is and that each designer today has to consider such a thing whether it be designing a boutique hotel or a tub of Nutella. Through this research I created a Mindmap to understand the broad topic 'Environment' suggests, and how evident it is in society.

(click to view full size)

Beginning to investigate designs for environmental sustainability opened my eyes to the new ideas and technologies that exist and are being incorporated into simple designs of everyday objects and places. Simply look around your room and without knowing, you are sure to have/or using something, designed to try to save the planet..

Every little helps!

Jar of Nutella chocolate spread that can be used as a glass.

Youview - broadcasting plus broadband.. what could this mean?

Furthermore, I came across Youview (formally Project Canvas). Youview is concerned with creating internet-connected television. We have internet on our mobile phones, we watch TV on our phones, so why do we not have internet access on our TV?

Youview want to develop a set of standards open for industry that enables us to have things such as apps, conversations, choice of what we want to watch when we want to watch, aswell as internet access and with potential for more.

Thinking about this, I believe this potential is endless. It could mean sharing stories, teaching, communicating with the rest of the world at the switch of a button. Even more we could become stars of our own TV drama and brilliant quality streaming live potentially for the rest of the world to watch at that time, or any time they want.

Alongside entertainment, this new idea of combining broadcasting and broadband has the oppertunity to chance social spaces and the communication of people throughout the world. More importantly it could enable people to learn and teach where they may not be able to before. For example, someone who is ill, busy with children etc that cannot leave the house, would be able to turn on their TV and stream a programme teaching a specific task, were it be boiling an egg or sewing a hole in a new skirt. This point of being able to teach and learn opens up new choices for many people which could potentially improve their lives and wellbeing.

Take the elderly for example. They are blessed with wisdom and have alot to teach younger generations, although not blessed with the oppertunity to share these skills. Imagine an elderly person who is unable to leave their house, but has fantastic talent in cake decorating. Then imagine mothers who want to create their child the best birthday cake specifically for their child. With a click of the remote control these people can 'meet online on TV' whilst streaming, and the elderly person can show and teach others how to do what they do without leaving their home. Everyone wins - they have an improve self-esteem for sharing something useful, the parents have learnt something new and others can enjoy watching this interactive cooking show. Not to mention the child has a fantastic birthday cake!

If you are interested in YouView;

http://www.youview.com/

Boathouse Performance Cafe Design

Designing a cafe in a boatshed based on the works by Romeo Castellucci and his theatre company. An interesting but difficult concept to grasp and come up with something that could justify and compliment his ideas whilst making it a space somewhere functional that people would actually enjoy to come and have a cup of coffee in. 

What could I extract from this controversial, over-the-top man who puts a baby on a stage and leaves it to cry in front of the audience. And dogs attacking him on stage. And dropping cars onto the stage. And breaking the back wall of the theatre to expose the street behind. What an intriguing, thought-provoking and extraordinary experience to be remembered for life.

But how can I use this in a cafe built into the confinements of one 5metre wide boatshed? Castellucci creates a sense of reality vs unreality, which is misconceiving and evoking this confusion and interest. The audience are forced to interact with the performance through material, or the set designed in such a way it overtakes the whole theatre, therefore the audience too.

Concentrating on questioning real space against 'unreal' space, I have experimented with light and rays of light that can create an interior space without being inside the lines of what 'interior' suggests. The concept influences the materials I have decided to use, for example using reflective materials including glass, and the water already situated at Oriental Bay Boathouses. Castellucci also uses copper from time to time in his performance designs to create distorted but beautiful images.

In the programme of a cafe/bar these ideas encouraged me to focus on the ritual of buying a coffee or cocktail and how we do this without paying much attention to the art of it, we simply question the moment after we take the first sip, quick enough to complain if it isn't up to our standard. In my cafe design, I intend to create this as a focal point, forcing the customer to survey how this ritual is performed, therefore creating a performance of the activity itself.

So far here are some concept ideas I intend to inhabit my space.

End to Design Movements?

After an exciting lecture from Katie Taylor from Greenspace, a graphic design based company based in London, I was not only inspired by the content and ideas expressed in the lecture, but also from a question asked at the end. 'Some of your new font is still Modernist in style, where do you think font style is going from now and in the future?'

Answer - interesting. Katie agreed with this statement and had an interesting answer. An ongoing project of Greenspace is for Zaha Hadid where the are creating a new typeface, including a website and book of projects they have done, but similatiniuosly expressing how the company works and more importantly them as individuals and their feelings. This inspired Greenspace to create not one particular font, but a variation of one main font that each employee has their own idioscincratic version, for each of their business cards. This font is made using a simple set of scrollers that you drag right and left to create maybe not a 'new style' but individual to you for you to be recognised by. An intriguing answer. And another question.. Is this where design is heading? That we no longer live through artist and design movements, our lives dictated by what they choose, that we are all designers? That everyones point of view is viable and can be listened to? Extreme idea but how far will this go? Our interaction with the digital world is growing constantly which encourages new activity and design in a different way.

The other side of Katie's answer was also that some designers were now going full cirle, embracing the Arts and Crafts, making one of truth to material ideas, carving new font etc.

Funnily enough, when I got home from the lecture I caught a glimpse of the news - a story of how Manola Blanik, the shoe designer, is creating shoes individual for everyone - online. You can go on, choose your specifics and have your perfect pair of heels... although it didn't mention how much it will cost you...

Eruption - all bad?

Eruption in Iceland freezes all air traffic over Britain to and from all countries. The largest disruption to air travel since 9/11. Initial thought - 'Oh no, this is not going to be nice!'... and yes, of course this isn't good. But how bad really is it?

People are stranded on holiday, on work trips away, or at home. I know of someone having to extend their holiday in Barbados, one in Frankfurt but best of all my fellow Scottish Exchange Student's boyfriend who is now stuck here for an extra week and a half, and consequently her 21st birthday! After not being able to spend the past four birthdays with him due to him being in the marines, this is like a small miracle for her!

Not that this makes this eruption a 'miracle'. But, we could look on the bright side.. I mean take a look at this video;

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F5D324185EE73FEC

This is the usual air space above Britain and now it is silent. The skies are clear just to stars (minus the ash thats littering it). Millions and millions of pounds this is costing but think how much it is doing for the environment, we are saving millions and millions of litres of gas, of dirt that destroys our ecosystems and causes global warming.

It seems to me like nature is fighting back to our greediness...

Image thanks to http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1719818-Volcanic_eruption_in_Vatnajokul_glacier-Iceland.jpg

Video thanks to the BBC

The middle of green.

As we know New Zealand is the youngest country in the entire world. And there are equivalent of 12 sheeps per person, remembering the population is small anyway. This population includes Mouri people, British (especially Scottish) settlers, many Asians and travellers, not forgetting these sheep and now almost as many cows (this is due to the Kiwis' new found love of dairy which they also call all of the grocery shops). 

'The one and only road'

Being separated from the North Island, the South Island of New Zealand is remote, silent and beautiful. The green of the Silver Ferns amongst palm trees and rolling mountains against the icy blue water that flows between these is a sight you cannot miss as you wind through them on the only road in the country.

Castle Hill - natural huge boulders cover the land.

After hours and hours of fresh air, fresh water and fresh greenery, you quickly forget that cities even exist. The biggest 'city' in the South Island of New Zealand is Christchurch, and actually as soon as we arrived there we instantly wanted to leave. Not because it is ugly or untraditional or any such like, it was just a city. And with that meant cars, busy roads, McDonalds... and no sheep. After a bowl of nachos we were out.

The stark beauty of the nature soothed and inspired me, glaring out of the car window for hours forgetting the icicles growing on my nose in the sharp wind. Such beauty that this country is graced with is unique and becoming so scarce throughout the world. The problem is is that it's virtually impossible to appreciate until you can experience such a place and feeling for yourself. Maybe if we could we would stop abusing this beauty and start loving the simple, natural things that 'should be' on our doorstep.

Abel Tasmain Natural Park