nearly a waste of a day...

University today... was sprung upon the spatial designers last week that we were to present our research projects despite having the submission for the project next week.

Unfortunately, none of our tutors turned up therefore as a group of students we took it upon ourselves to discuss and appraise the work we had produced... I found it extremely useful and got some really good feedback from the group about my latest visual statement. Overall they liked the idea and theme but felt that I needed more reference to what the installation piece might look like perhaps with a plan/section or ghost sketch behind whats shown below.

act on co2...

I have been thinking for a while to use the government's 'Act on CO2' campaign as a part of my research project... however I think the campaign may have more influence in the design stages of my project rather than in my visual statement.

There is a specific area within the 'Act on CO2' campaign aimed at reducing car emissions which is the area I will focus on. Currently there are TV, radio and bilboard adverts addressing the issue of buying fuel efficient cars. All the adverts feature a family facing issues with money and helping the environment, which I think helps the general public to relate to.

interesting sites...

Following several Monday meetings, I thought I would document some of the interesting sites that my fellow MA students have presented...

John Tusa interviews exploring the creative process - Nicola brought these interviews with famous artists, architects, sculptures and composers to our attention on 16th February. There are some amazing interviews with my favourites being with Rachel Whiteread and Frank Gehry.

Stina Persson - Stella presented this artist on 16th February... She uses a variety of media including watercolour and cut paper for personal use and also for ad campaigns. I really like the image opposite because of the composition of text and images, something I'm trying to create in my visual statement.

Design Observer - Dominic showed the group this website on 23rd February and you will probably notice I have posted links already to several articles from this site. Its really useful for locating articles from different perspective on design.

The Photographic Dictionary - Emma presented this website on 2nd March. The site displays photos linked to different words... The image opposite depicts 'Breeze', I like it because of photos simplicity in communicating its message.

David Stark - Ashley presented this Events planner on 2nd March... David Stark uses a lot of recycled products within the events he creates. After further viewings of his website I found his blog which contained a post about how he and his team created items for the opening of a store out of cardboard boxes used for transporting other items within the store. This ensured there was no waste products from the opening.

There have been many more, but these were some of the main ones that stuck in my mind and may explore later as part of my continuing research...

exhibition design...

Just a bit of research into small exhibition displays/elements that may come in useful for when my project move towards the actual design of my installation piece...

I like how D8 Design Consultants have combined different types of media within this display system. By using clips they can easily change the images and text displayed.

I really liked the series of little cars on show in the background for the Smart IAA 2007 show. I am interested in using it as a system for displaying the latest 'Eco-cars' available, perhaps with a mini model of each car supplied by each company.

I thought these pods, designed by D'Art Design Gruppe for Grundig's IFA show in Berlin, used for the marketing of a new MP3 player were interesting... They may be useful if I decide to design specific spaces for each 'Eco-car' or perhaps as a space where the public can access general information in private.

I am hoping to engage the general public into leaving comments, so I really like the way Vitamin-e have used graphic speech bubbles in various colours and textures to express different points of view on a specific topic.

the car - necessity or luxury??

I have been thinking about this question for a while... Many people would say that their car is a necessity, but is it?

For many, their main use of the car is for travel to and from work yet I'm sure most of those live within a suitable distance to travel by public transport. So really for these people, the car is a luxury that allows them the freedom to avoid the delays and expense of public transport. Admittedly I am one of these people, I regularly use a car to travel to and from university and work. However for myself, public transport is simply inadequate... with two trains an hour either way from the next village, travel by public transport is an inconvenience that would waste more of my time than it's worth!

I found an article regarding this topic from a surprising location... Is owning a car in the financial crisis a necessity? a blog post from Nemo personal finance. The post discusses whether cars are financial viable anymore and brings into question whether we still need them. It recognises that people living within different areas of the UK will have different requirements from the car, with those living in urban areas having less of a need compared to those in rural Britain.

I found the post very useful for putting your need for the car into perspective... It certainly made me think about what I currently use my car for and perhaps how I cut its use down. Maybe I could use public transport to commute to work??

planet green...

Found a really interesting website earlier called 'Planet Green'... They have a lot of useful information on how to go green within different sectors such as public transportation, recycling, dating, spring cleaning, workouts, holidays, gardening and cars... Check it out!!!

Read an article about "Why Do We Need More Electric Cars On The Road?"... it was extremely fascinating and talked about the benefits of electric cars. The language and design of the article is very simple and easy to understand which is good, as I have found that some articles tend to be very heavy on facts which can overwhelming. Despite being aimed towards the American public, I think anyone can benefit from the information within this article.

pretty cars...

Have found to different approaches to marketing the car within short videos...
The first promotional video is for the Toyota IQ, a new small, environmentally friendly car. This video uses attractive graphics and draws on the emotions of the consumer. By focusing on the feel of the car, the video portrays the 'ideal' and not the 'real'...

In contrast to the Toyota, the promotional videos for the Vauxhall Agila takes a more practical approach to selling. There are two videos labelled "Fit more into every day" and "Fit more into your work day".

"Fit more into every day" follows a typical day in the life of a stay-at home mum demonstrating how easy and practical it is for everyday use. Whereas "Fit more into your work day" follows a business woman's day showing that the car can also take on a professional look. The use of a women within the videos does tend to suggest a specific target market for this car... which is also seems to be reflected in its price.

user-centered design...

Being doing a bit of thinking about user-centered design in our lives... Was sat at work earlier today thinking about how even insurance companies tailor their service towards the needs of the customer. Our service is designed to be easy to understand as the safety our money is important.

With spatial design we have to be aware at all times of what the customer/user expects and requires of a space so we meets, fulfill and exceed those requirements...Hmmm, so much to think of!

noah rose...

I was given the link by my dad the other day so thought I'd check it out...

NOAH ROSE This guy creates sculptures, public art, and collaborates with other companies to create artwork for various means. The project I was most interested in was the one he completed with Four 23 where he has designed an built a giant Adidas shoebox to promote the opening of new Adidas stores across Europe.

"The shoebox appears overnight on the city streets, then disappears only to pop up somewhere else. People stop and stare, try to lift the lid, climb up, juggle and skateboard on the top. The next day, it’s gone, only to reappear mysteriously in another part of the city."

I really like the concept of this project as it has a similar idea to my own project, in the way an element appears in a public space overnight allowing the public to respond to it in their own time.

nothing related to space but i love it....

Just wanted to share this special moment with you all...

I have been a supporter of the Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey team for 18 years and this year we won the BMI Baby Elite League!!! YEAHY.... At the weekend the team was presented with the trophy, it was such an emotional experience for me as a fan, one that will stay with me for a long time!

It made me think about a recent discussion during our Monday sessions at university, Ashley brought in a piece of artwork that he finds very precious and would never part with... It made me think about artefact's in my life that I could not part with. One collection would have to be my three Steelers replica shirts, despite having no value they hold many memories from games and events - reminding me of special moments in the teams history that I was present at.

something a little bit random...

Found a cool website that features a selection of designer car covers... I really like the design by Richard James which plays on the traditional english suit. Its tailored to fit a specific car, creating a bespoke design.

installation art...

Doing a bit of random web browsing and came across a group called Illegal Art "A collaborative group of artists whose goal is to create interactive public art to inspire self-reflection, thought and human connection. Each piece is then presented or distributed in a method in which participation is simple and encouraged."

The work they create is really interesting and is very similar in thinking to what I am hoping to achieve with my design project linked to climate change... I specifically like the 'incomplete' project where an unfinished sentence is placed on a window to encourage passersby to finish the sentence, add on to what other’s have written, or erase it and start over.

The 'To Do' project which uses post-it notes to create wall art is also very interesting... the project encourages people to write comments on the post-it notes. This could be useful within my design proposal as a tool for communication of ideas and thoughts.

its presentation time...

Had to do a presentation to the group today about my project for this term... to be honest I have no idea where my research is going to lead me (i suppose thats the fun of it all!) I showed the group a series of visual statements about the issues of cars in the current environmental climate. I wanted to address issues from both sides of the argument - we love our cars; they get us from a to b, they give us freedom that no other machine can, yet they are destuctive and the pollution they release is slowly destroying the world in which we live in. I am coming to learn that some people care, some people do not!

Anyway, back to my visual statements...

I decided format the images as a collage, this is an idea Im keen to develop in my future design work. The collage depicts different media images of the car, and a list of personal concerns about the car and its imapct on the environment.

I then wanted to focus on the image of the car destroying the planet. This image is only at the development stage, as I feel I need to include more cars to increase its imapct.

My research has lead me to believe that the car was a huge part of our past and will be a huge part of our future. This last image has been adapted from a Fiat advert to show that cars may change but our values and reliance on the car will remain the same.

The presentation seemed to go well, but I know need to define what area of climate change my project will focus on, and what type of space will be created to increase awareness and provoke communication within the public domain.....watch this space!!!

something i found...

I was just doing abit of research on installations and came across this website... The designs are very organic, with inspiration taken from nature. I really like the Bijou and Vella ranges because of the simple wall decorations they create.

We have a real problem with cars...

They are a selfish pleasure; attractive, a convenience, an image of power and a way to gaining freedom. Car manufactures have long manipulated our minds with images of how our lives could be; images of long legged women draped over car bonnets, idyllic shots of city families enjoying a day out in the countryside, the list goes on...

However in today's society, we are now seeing different images of the car. It has changed into a machine that is destroying the planet and consuming more of our energy and money than we can afford. Suddenly, everyone is concerned about 'going green' and how we can all do our bit to save the planet!

"The use of cars must be re-defined. Car use has to be considered a privilege, not a right. The cost of environmental damage and reclamation has to be added to the cost of owning and operating a car. Vehicle use should no longer be subsidized."

There are many suggestions and tips available to help the individual tackle climate change, however according to the DEFRA 2007 Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviours Toward the Environment many people still feel "It takes too much effort to do things that are environmentally friendly" and "I don't believe my behaviour and everyday lifestyle contribute to climate change". It seems people are more willing to make sacrifices within the home, such as recycle more, not leave the TV on standby or switch lights off than they are to switch to a 'greener' car.

It is going to take a lot to persuade the modern consumer to part with their much loved car....

alternative use for the car...

I found a really interesting article about Adidas using a Volkswagon Campervan as a promotional device for the brand. Its an unusual way to market a brand but I think it could be a very useful tool for new brands to increase awareness and popularity.

http://www.thecoolhunter.co.uk/transportation/Adidas-Promo-Bus/ (Accessed 07.03.09)

zaha hadid....

The car industry is clearly big business, even architects are getting involved!!

Zaha Hadid - BMW Plant, Leipzig . I really like this building, Zaha has used her strong architectural design to create a building that represents BMW's brand as unique and outstanding as the brand itself. They are extensions of the brand and form a further outlet for the brands identity.I have a real interest in buildings like this designed specifically for brands from my work during my undergraduate degree.

environmental tips....

back again!

I've been doing some more investigating into tips for the modern consumer, here's what I've come up with:

• Reduce - Try to simplify your life as much as possible, only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis.
• Reuse - Despite the media doing a great job at persuading us to buy new products, we already collectively own so much that we could all survive for a while on the existing products.
• Recycle - Create designated bins to recycle a much household waste as possible.
• Conserve Energy - Evaluate all your energy expenditures and decide where cuts can be made.
• Online Newspaper and Magazine Sources - Consider switching to online resources, to save on paper resources.

I suppose they are general tips to help, its up to each person to decide how far they are willing to go to improve their current situation and ultimately the environment.

two posts in one night...

Well here i am again....

I have been doing abit of research on the current environmental climate following a recent conversation with my tutor where he suggested instead of trying to tackle one area of environmental concern, i should try and gain an understanding of the overall picture. I'm hoping that this will give me an insight into how companies, specifically the commerce industry are using the current environmental climate to their advantage.

I came across an article on the Design Observer a few moments ago it looks at how the plastic bag has become redundant in place of the 'canvas tote', i found it very intriguing that many designers had become interested in this product as a marketing tool. The author of the article makes an considered point when he says "The ensuing glut of these bags however raises questions about the sustainability of any product regardless of the intention behind it, and the role that design plays in consumption." Can sustainability lead to good design practice? Hmmmm.....

This article is very long winded and I will be honest, I have not had chance to read the whole article yet (but I will, I promise), a interview with Michael Pollan on the effects of Environmentalism!

This article from the Design Observer on recyclable products is amazing....this will be very useful for my spatial project. I like the idea of raising awareness within a supermarket setting of the different recyclable products. This is the ideal setting for this campaign and I think the designer, KT Meaney, has done a excellent job, as I think clear communication can often improve many problems within society.

That's all for now....

well here goes...

so here is my very first blog.....not entirely sure what to say. i am wanting to use this space to document my thoughts and any interesting sites i find that will be useful towards my masters project.

im sure i will be back very soon with some more snippits and randoms words of wisdom!