Platform 12
The ambition of this platform is to examine the reintegration of design and function, where intelligence is not invested in effect, but in a conceptual logic that offers a new kind of performance and functionality. The focus is on the huge landscape of the ‘forgotten physicality’ - the forgotten products that continue to surround us, whose worlds require more than ever, the attention of thought and application. The current trend in industrial design leads to an overdose of themes, extremes, egos and extravagance, metaphors and typology’s. What is needed is a balance, a re-bith…where design is brought back to communication, celebrating a proper mental model for how things work. We will investigate meaningful play and invention, through experimentation with. It will value function as beauty, instead of design as form and image. We wish to leapfrog the current phase of design as entertainment – where obsession with individual genius far exceeds commitment to the collective effort that is needed to construct the new landscape of industrial design.
Tutors
Sam Hecht, Durrell Bishop, Andre Klauser
Students
Platform Introductions for 2008-2009 will take place on Tuesday 21st October.
Our Mobiles
Project 4-Observation/Inspiration
1st year
Leading on from the Presentation of "seeing what other cannot see",roughly develop 10 ideas for a project, inspired by the observationsthat were presented (either by yourself or others) on Tuesday 15th January.
2nd year
Leading on from the Presentation of "seeing what other cannot see",roughly develop 10 ideas for a project, inspired by the observations that were presented (either by yourself or others) on Tuesday 15th January. Alongside the ideas, there should be an 'Umbrella' theme that ties the ideas together. This will help to focus the project and to give a context to what is presented at your final show.
Project 3-Seeing what others cannot see
The designer has an ability to see what others take for granted. It is a creative concept, and one that needs to be honed and leveraged.
The purpose of this project is to illustrate that what exists in our world forms the palette of thoughts and ideas for us an individual designers. It is similar to detective work.
Stroll with Richard
The artist Richard Wentworth is famous for his acute ability at reflecting back to us the very things that we do, yet cannot see. He has made a carrer out of breathtaking observations of life. Richard has kindly invited us to join him on a walk through Colindale. On this occasion we will be given the fantastic oppotunity to see him see what others cannot see.
Project 2-Radio Selective
All of Platform12 projects will have an overla of thought and intellect that needs to be considered, by producing an informed opinion.The overlay for this project is 'Tuning'.
We want you to form a design direction for the concept of what tuning is, how one can understand the connection between a random number (95.8) a chanel (FM) a name (Capital radio) and sound (Pop music). These desperate elements currently need to be registered in the users mind, as a complex set of instructions to obtain adesired result. They are meaingless by themselves, but together make the desired result.
The systemic overlay of 'Tuning' should be described either as a separate part of the presentation, or integral to the design.Project1-Radio Active
The radio has certain functions (to listen to it and garner news, information, music...);
It has certain interactive elements (adjustment of knobs, buttons, displays, antenna...);
It has certain capabilities (portable, self-standing, hanging...).
These qualities are all givens - they are part and parcel of what exists. We want you to
look further - to the borders and extremes of what this product gives us, what it could be,
how it can be better - NOT 'How it can be different for difference sake'.
First we would like you to take the product apart, understand its components and their
orientation. Without this knowledge, the act of design cannot take place. The final design
must operate as a radio, but is not bound by its existing scale, interaction or material.
The design must be a working prototype, supported by a statement.
First meeting
7th of November, we had first meeting at Sam's Industrial Facility office.
