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.