As part of a studio project, I carried out an exploration in the spirit of the PixelVision. Honoring the tradition of pixelvisionaries, I underwent a personal study of my way to-and-from design studio. I recorded these different videos using a point and shoot canon s70 digital camera, which since it was not really intended for video recording, it provides an “amateurish” feel and look.
In my first exploration, I recorded my way into the studio during the day.
In my second exploration, I recorded my way from home into the studio during the night
In my third exploration, I recorded my way from studio to my home during the night.
After all explorations were done, I made an exercise in which I overlayed all of them together in one film. I went into this with no intentions or expectations, so a few realizations came in with incredible surprise. I was able to note some parts of my mile-long-trip that slow me down and others that I thought were linear in nature but actually caused more variations in path.
In conclusion, if the winds send the Burger King scent into my route, I slow down and the trip takes me an extra 1 minute. Hills are not particularly the slower aspects of my trip and no matter what, there is a 7 minute difference between the faster walks and the slower ones.
Even though this did not developed into a final project, it is a beginning phase as I explore the videographic medium.
In class we are exploring way into what the future may look like. Of course, we are supposed to be exploring this with some relation to graphic design, but as I see it, many of the explorations reflect the hopes, frustrations or anxieties of their own creators. (and this generation) Read the rest of this entry »
It’s that time of year. We are half way through the semester and I’ve decided to refocus all of my research.
What drives in human beings the need to be remembered? Why is it sometimes crucial to leave a mark behind? Why do people want to communicate that they were here or there? We can see this along history… from cave drawings, to the Pyramids of Giza, to royal paintings, to photographic portraits, to bathroom stalls, to contemporary social networks as facebook and myspace. Other people want me to know something about them, and they want to be sure that I remember it for a long time. Read the rest of this entry »
This model was thought, envisioned and created in 1 hour and a half as a reaction to the phrase: Empowerment as me jumping on top of you and screaming like crazy!
This story, which is the product of a in-class brainstorming session with the rest of my classmates, uses exact quotes given to me by my peers (in red) and I have created a whole fictitious narrative around them to explore the idea or concept of empowerment.
Welcome back to another segment of Who’s pica is it anyway?
] For this segment the rules are simple: a random person of the crowd will yell out a theme for two of our improv graphic designers to execute. Then, remember those little paper pieces that were handed to you at the beginning of the show? Those papers where you could write whatever you wanted on? Well, every 15 seconds, our improvisers will incorporate one of these statements into the overall dialogue. (If you later decide to go online and download the transcript, we will include the nicknames of those who submitted statements.) Let’s begin!
_Master of ceremonies_ Our improvisers for the night are girgen29 & pirindinga. Anyone have a theme in mind?
] not even a second went by and a voice from the side of the room yelled empowerment (crispygonzo) [
Since I spend more than 80% of my time in this room, my wall has grown into Gretchen’s space. I am about to explore the west into Robert’s space. Soon I will have to begin layering in order to keep all things up.
As a graphic designer, I wonder about my possible contribution to a social & architectural development project. How can I aid other professionals whose practice and form are key in improving people’s lives while recontextualizing their social condition. How can I help them understand the possibilities that are at hand?
I analyzed the case study of Quinta Monroy at Iquique, Chile. This social housing development project was idealized by architect Alejandro Aravena from the Elemental Group and the Barrio Chile civic organization.
In this case study, and in many others that the group has already finished, Elemental does a wonderful job of working with the community. It understands that in this kind of relationship, understanding social realities is the key to the success of any endeavor. It is not possible to come in with a brilliant idea, impose it and carry it out. If no interest is shown on the community’s opinion, nothing will take place.
Seminars, collaborative sessions, educational exercises, informational meetings… just a small sample of the efforts that Elemental performs to gain confidence and understanding from the members of communities, which are usually skeptical any kind efforts made in order to improve their way of life.
My project concentrates in the touch point between these two groups (architects vs. community members). I explored the possibility of a visualization system to allow a better dialogue between the architect’s’ diagrammatic style and a verbally denoted system that allows for the community to develop a sense of ownership and understand that this kind of project is not an imposition, but a template for them to develop within. It’s about realizing the unlimited possibilities.
Ten (10) Possible Strategies for Designers to Improve Communication Management with Communities
by Jorge Rigau, FAIA and Alberto Rigau
The following are not presented in any particular order, as implementation of all or some strategies may vary from case to case:
1. Elucidating the Big Picture
Community members often argue their cases focusing in particulars, often missing a large scale, wider-scoped understanding of the issue at hand.
2. Make the Community’s Questions Your Own
Identify questions and concerns that are key to the conflict and address them before they are articulated as such. Answer them directly, and proceed to explain; not otherwise. Making sense is about acknowledging pro’s and con’s.
The Iquique social interest housing project* by ELEMENTAL** and Alejandro Aravena.***
* ] ELEMENTAL Iquique social interest housing [ Looks to deal with extremely low-cost housing that can be a real means to overcoming poverty. The project intends to design neighborhoods of good quality, expandable housing units, which in turn can be well located in cities, and able to develop harmoniously over time. These structurally safe units would be built for $7,500 per family.
There were three goals: the best possible architectural design (having intelligence and precision in form), the best possible engineering and construction (using development and lab tests for new prefabricated components and seismic systems), and the best possible social and community work (offering pre- and post-construction guidance to residents).
** ] ELEMENTAL [ Based at the Universidad Católica de Chile's school of architecture, supported by a Chilean government grant and by the Harvard Design School, is an initiative to build seven exemplary projects of around 200 units each throughout Chile, bringing together the best practices in construction, engineering, social work and architecture, while at the same time aiming to offer a concrete contribution to housing for the poor.
*** ] Alejandro Aravena [ Architect Universidad Católica de Chile 1992, independent professional practice since 1994. Studied history and theory in Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (1992-93). Visiting Professor at Harvard University between 2000 and 2005. Professor at the Universidad Católica since 1994. Since 2006 he is the Elemental Copec Professor at UC and Executive Director of ELEMENTAL.
Armando Rigau currently pursues a Master in Architecture I at Cornell University. He received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy with History and Spanish minors from Georgetown University.
