Unconventionally Unique!

While joyful clouds played in the sky, projecting patterns on the mountains beneath them to display their creative selves, I visited the beautiful vineyards of Marlborough while traveling around New Zealand last month. Cellar door after cellar door a lot was left to be desired in a realm where atmospheric propositions are waged on the pureness sense being that of taste. I was taken away by the vineyard Seresin Estate. Their 'all natural' approach to wine making, hand picked and only harvesting the wine in sync with the transition of the moon. Unconventionally, as beautiful as the wines were, to my surprise the sensual experience of taste quickly became that of 'touch'. In my hands was not another overly mass produced wine tasting glass, but a carefully crafted vestibule that reinforced the true direction and being of the wine on offer. Or so i thought...

My exploration, experiencing where marketing meets design was briskly halted by the 'ill purposeful' deformities of the product. Where the methodology and character behind the design creation has been lost and became a cloned byproduct of today's mass production techniques.

Design with a story IS a design with a purpose...

Movember 2009!

Unfortunately, Movember is over for another year and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have contributed either financially or have made sacrifices of the physical or even the 'romantic' kind for such a great cause. Raising $1080 in my first year as a Mo Bro, I have my work cut out for me to better that amount next year!!

Yes, it was damn itchy. Yes, it didn't match my eyebrows and yes my nick name for the month was "The Walrus" from my loving partner. But through all the negative experiences was a plethora of positives as a Mo Bro. The laughter, support and banter between mates, strangers and sponsors alike complemented this innovative and interactive fund-raising campaign. I have loved every bit of it. Bring on Movember 2010!

Garage Education 2.0!

                                             [Image: Carriage Works - Sydney]

We have grown up in a culture where your lifestyle or career 'status' is driven by your academic studies. It is now generally accepted that those who excel at scholarly activities go and work in an office and those who don't usually pick up a trade. So where did we gain this misconception that applying a more hands-on and physically demanding career path is less socially accepted as an integral role in today's society? In short it began at the very place that benefits the most, the secondary education system. Like all powerhouse marketing campaigns, the education system is up there with the likes of Microsoft and Apple. While less subtle you quickly find yourself becoming another chess piece to replace others before you. Brainwashed during the years of adolescence, their ability to influence your decisions even after you have seen your contract through does not become apparent until it is too late.

In truth, the focus on the 'how' and not the 'why' that enables these 'lesser beings' to bridge that gap between the non-tangible and physical realm of design.  Where tinkering laid the foundation for innovation. It is the collaboration of the tinkerers and academics that further evolves our future. Future Tense recently discussed the importance of how Australia has embraced tinkering and have become a country of tinkerers with Alex Pang - Futurist, Associate Fellow at Oxford University's Said Business School and Managing Editor at Encyclopedia Britannica.

Futurist Alex Pang believes the products, technology and designs of tomorrow are being discovered today by people who like 'tinkering'. Tinkering isn't just wasting time in the back shed, it's taking objects, or even ideas, and making them better. From open-sourced software to a hotted-up motor-mower, it's all tinkering according to Mr Pang.

So to conclude, I will take a leaf out of Bert Monroy's book and finish by telling you to sit there and play. Playing is the best way to learn. It shouldn’t be considered “work.” Work could never be that much fun.

Sculpture By The Sea 2009!!

The 13th Annual Sculpture By The Sea is underway between Bondi and Tamarama. This coastal walk has been transformed into an interactive sculpture park for free public viewing and consists of over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world. The beautiful blue sky, the warmth of the sun as it is dissolved by the coolness of the sea breeze and the variety in artistic expression satisfied the media hype leading up to the event and still, a lot of the sculptures lacked context compared to the other 'installations'. I understand that some may have been more site specific than others, but when you have the Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize winner May Barrie's - 'Time and Tide Granite Monolith II' situated amongst the sprawl and not proudly perched on a cliff face boldly expressing the importance of 'her' existence and the influence 'she' has over the surrounding elements is hard to swallow. I would have loved to see more contrast between sculpture and habitation.

        [Media Image: Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize winner May Barrie's - Time and Tide Granite Monolith II ].

After attending the event last year unprepared, this year was the perfect opportunity to take my new Canon 70-300mm for a spin before exploring southern New Zealand in a few weeks time. At times I felt that there was an eccentric disconnection to the sculptures through the longer focal length compared to my Canon 17-85mm. Other times I was delighted to find that these constraints placed on me as the photographer, while limiting, forced me to adapt and maximise photo real estate. Below are a selection of my favorite photos for the day from a series which you can find on my Flickr page.

 

 

 

 A lot of  inspirational photos can be found at the Flickr group Sculpture by the Sea so make sure you check them out.

My Veronica!

                                   [Image: Media Studio - University of Newcastle].

As a society of digital consumers you are in denial if you believe your lifestyle has not become more reliant on computers. The application of issuing names has evolved and is no longer applicable to just cars, boats, pets etc; They are now common in most electrical appliances, muscling the greatly accomplished automobile from the top of the food chain for being man's best toy. I have Larry (laptop), Penny (PSP) and Irene (Ipod) to name a few.

I spend all day around a computer, yet I am impervious to that fact when I am at home. The harmonisation of computers and mobile phones takes the love obsession further. We fight, laugh, cry and even spend the night together on those critical deadlines. In the near future we will see a new niche market, 'Center for the Digitally Disturbed' where addicts will go for treatment that will accommodate social media detoxing through to virtual enemas for blogger buffs who find themselves 'backed up'.

Humans are supposed to be the pinnacle of creation, yet through our own exploration with technology we are deceivingly trained like pets. I type this post in a state of revelry, not quite awake nor asleep. Pushing all the right keys, I am a constituent of her as she is of me. Constantly drawn towards her presence. My life evolves around her sleek and carefully manufactured body. My weakness. My Veronica...

Design AID: Assistants In Distress!

 [Image: Erik Dixon by David Jackson].

Zack Arias and his team are at it again. In particular, their studio manager Erik Dixon, who was invited by Brad Moore of the Scott Kelby team to be part of their ongoing Guest Blog Wednesday series. Creatively mirroring the intense reality of Transform to create Stroke, this lighthearted approach towards the treatment of design assistants within workplaces around the world was a pleasure to experience... Again  ;o)

Border(s) Patrol

I love to browse through all the books and magazines at Borders whenever I get the chance. While perusing architecture, digital photography and other design related articles I was overcome with a moment of de ja vu, where the material I was holding in my hands had been consumed on the internet several weeks prior. Now I accept that the magazine could have been old but it really made me consider the impact digital media has on my reading behavior.

Imagine going to a friends place for drinks, upon entering the entertainment area you stumble across a shelf housing a multitude of different coloured, sized and aged books. Are you overcome by admiration or curiosity; questioning the true characteristics or similarities that you and your friend share. Are any of the books familiar? Would you like to read them?  Now imagine walking  into the same room, the bookshelf is replaced with a hard drive. Would you have noticed the hard drive?

It is this familiarity towards books, displayed and stacked like humble clay bricks, builds a narrative of interests past and present. The physicality of text alone sparks social interaction through conversation, book clubs and local second hand stores. Since 1800 BC, has this primary vessel for information ever been threatened.

So where to now for this ancient catalyst. Core77 earlier this month launched a new 1 Hour Design Challenge: The Future of Digital Reading.

"What will reading look in the future? Will we be using printed books, rectangular electronic devices, embedded technologies?This competition challenges designers to envision a rich future digital reading experience, based on a defined set of design research. Recently, Portigal Consulting undertook an exploratory research project on reading, books, and digital reading devices, entitled Reading Ahead. Here's what they found:

• Books are more than just pages with words and pictures; they are imbued with personal history, future aspirations, and signifiers of identity
• The unabridged reading experience includes crucial events that take place before and after the elemental moments of eyes-looking-at-words
• Digital reading privileges access to content while neglecting other essential aspects of this complete reading experience
• There are opportunities to enhance digital reading by replicating, referencing, and replacing social (and other) aspects of traditional book reading

It seems the argument of print verses digital and tangible verses intangible will be present for a long time to come yet.

The 4th Dementia??

I have been working on a nursing home project that involves designing an outdoor area for dementia patients. At first I was a little taken back by the idea until I researched into what the check list would consist of and design features that needed to be incorporated within.

Dementia is the

"deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, resulting from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain. It is sometimes accompanied by emotional disturbance and personality changes."

- Stedman's Medical Dictionary

When designing for patients with dementia or other related illnesses, I was quickly reminded that designers need to walk in many different shoes throughout their career; to not only satisfy the brief while surrounded by a myriad of constraints but evolve and encourage the development of those fastidious conditions.

Creating an enclosed environment for the user without feeling restricted in any possible way may sound easy when dealing with dementia patients; Unfortunately however they are notorious for wandering, with their upbeat levels of activity creates an avenue for danger to be looming around every corner. I have always been interested in photography where the photographer leaves the viewer pondering what's just around the corner. The idea of a path being one of journey and destination. The sense of discovery and the unknown.

                                                     [Image: The Rocks, Sydney].

                                             [Image: Colo-I-Suva Forest Park, Fiji].

 

                                                     [Image: The Rocks, Sydney].

It would definitely be one if those out of body experiences to look into the minds of dementia patients and see the world through their eyes. To sense what they sense and to feel what they feel. For one day. One week. One month? That's the purpose of a designer...

Designs, Budgets and Deadlines! Oh my!!

I received Grand Designs on DVD as a present from my parents and have been sitting down to watch it every opportunity. Tired of the same old soapboxes during the week, brought me to the attention of this wonderful television program on the ABC.

From the back cover;

"Designer and writer Kevin McCloud returns with a fifth series of Grands Designs following Britain's most ambitious and astonishing house building or rebuilding projects. From an eco friendly log cabin to a floating glass pavilion, each project on this five disc set reveals the trials and tribulations of creating a unique Grand Design."

Grand Designs, is more than just a documentary on the story of families and couples in pursuit to see out their 'grand dreams'. At times, it is hard to ignore the over indulgent requirements of the client, but through great narrative and penetrating questions of Kevin McCloud, reinforces the ideal, that it is about quality of life and not egos overcompensating with extraneous spaces.

Repeatedly highlighted throughout the projects is one of necessity. The collaboration between architect, designer, project manager and client is crucial throughout the entire project from initial design to construction. Relationships are formed and torn, fluctuating with the success and disasters of the design. One in particular was that of the 'Modern Eco Farmhouse' in Carmarthen in Wales, where conflict and friction between parties emphasised the responsibility and trust that we as designers hold.

The Itch That Needed to be Scratched...

Ever since completing my undergraduate degree, I knew I would one day in the near future head back to study. Since then I have been developing my skill set in various design fields to get a better feel on what it is that drives me towards design as a lifestyle and career. Originally, my intentions were to return to complete my 5 year course with a Masters of Architecture, which is required to gain recognition as an architect within the profession and would only be justified now, 'to finish what I began'. Two years experience within the industry has pin pointed that direction and where to find it, as being one of the hardest obstacles to face. I believe that life is all about setting goals and fulfilling them to the best of your ability. Direction is just one of those goals and through further experience, I wish to gain a better insight into the world of design and what drives it's intense attraction.

The abundance of courses and study options available becomes quite overwhelming. The more you search, the more confused you become. My process of thought on study has been a roller coaster from excitement and conviction, through to unenlightening and uncultivated. What I needed was a source of inspiration and guidance to renew my determination in seeking who I am, what I want to achieve and how will I become the designer I envisioned prior to my initial design studies.

On the Saturday 5th September I attended Raffles College Open Day to get a better feel and grasp on what it will be like to studying there and what it would entail. We were greeted with a laid back approach which was very welcoming. Unlike university open days, I didn't feel pressured and constantly assured that 'this is the place you should choose to study'. Rather a 'here is an outlet for your studies, this is what we have to offer and do with it as you choose'. After talking to lecturers and Michael (recent Master of Design graduate), I realised that this approach mimics the nature of their course structure and studying environment. The question of flexibility is answered through after hours classes, briefs take an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving and design work can be complemented by Design Management classes allowing for exposure to different creative fields, while maintaining a steady flow of income.

I have been sitting on the fence for a while about which creative direction would suit my tastes but came to the realization that I won't find out till I get my feet wet. I sit here, pen in one hand, application in the other anticipating an unpredictable future ahead.

LEGO Architecture... Trendy?

Just a quick update on this gorgeous Father's Day. Complimenting my previous post, where we saw how influential the architecture industry can be on LEGO's form and function. Removing the colourful blocks from the children's bedroom and into the office. Catching up on previous ABC Radio National's 'By Design' podcast, presented by Alan Saunders, LEGO Architecture featured in Trends and Products, followed by a wonderful reflection from a man in 'A Lego Story' written by Mark Wakely and read by actor Nicholas Opolski.

LEGO Architecture

If you were privileged to play with Lego as as kid, you will know the excitement I felt when I tore apart the birthday wrapping to find what was inside, a Frank Lloyd Wright Lego set!! Created in conjunction with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Brickstructures, Inc. and the LEGO Architecture brand, the first two sets in the series are The Guggenheim and Fallingwater.

[Images: The Guggenheim and Falling Water designed by Adam Reed Tucker ].

Architects and designers have been using block models since the beginning to help conceptualize, develop and promote thier design scheme to clients. No more dedicated has an architecture firm been to realizing the potential of these innocent and colourful building blocks we threw together as kids, than Bjarke Ingels Group back in September 2007. A time-lapse video, shot over five weeks, shows how a 1:50 scale model 'Lego Towers' , a proposed housing development for Copenhagen, was made from LEGO.

LEGO has definitely done their research on targeting a market for designers with the LEGO Architecture range. The attention to detail with the meticulous selection on which blocks mimic the construction methods best only falls short with the random orientation of the LEGO logo on each of the nibs. Critical I know, but attention to detail is after all, why we are hired.

Praise For Peda Pod

After catching the train into Circular Quay today, the interest of passers by in what seemed to be a just a promotions vehicle caught my eye. With further investigation, I was delighted to see the purpose built bicycle 'Peda Pod' used for the transportation of people and parcels.

Classed as a bicycle who's shell is constructed using recycled plastics from milk containers, the Peda Pod is able to go 'off road' onto footpaths and other various locations which the traditional taxi is restricted. This adds a definite x-factor to their appeal by further promoting what the business provides when conducting tours around the city.

Established in 2005, the business aimed to "foster a new inner city culture that creates a sustainable future." and "would love to see the city streets full of bicycles and pods, people moving under their own steam..." reinforces the avant-guarde ideals that are still yet to be taken seriously by the majority of companies and consumers alike.

Inspiration and Influences

What a wonderful feeling it is to start a new project. Your little baby. The thing you will pour your heart and soul into. Your head is filled with excitement and fresh ideas, but what happens when it does not turn out the way you intended? This is the reasoning behind my first post. To look back on how far I have come and help kick start and build momentum to finish what I have started.

Inspiration and influences come in all different shapes and forms. It could be the day your mum enrolled you into University without your knowledge, too absorbing the thoughts and ideas of the Masters that have walked this path before you.

I can safely say that the inspiration to start 'Designtail' was a guest blog on Scott Kelby Inside Photoshop by Zack Arias. The video blog 'Transform', emotionally describes the realities of the unknown. Last week Zack reinforced his commitment to his folowers and posted another video blog 'Dope, Soap and Hope' which drives home the idea that teachers ARE everywhere and to open up your eyes and ears to the world. Things DO happen for a reason. That there are those in less fortunate positions than we are and playing the cards they have been dealt with a positive attitude and unmatched self belief.

Whenever I feel lost in life and I just need to know that I am not alone, I like to watch these two videos for encouragement and stimulation towards my day to day life.