“We are out in a country that has no language no laws whatever we do together is pure invention the maps they gave us are out of date” Rich Adrienne

“Mortal Engine” by “Chunky Move” is a site-specific interactive instillation
using sound and light technologies. It explores the tensions between the rational world we live in and richness of our imaginations. The dancers moves are read by the software Eye Con and transformed into live graphics on stage.
Bodies become live animators.This piece inspired me more anything I have seen in quite some time.
The language of sound, movement and moving image interchange with each other and work together
to create something more powerful than either one could communicate on their own.
This piece started my investigation into how different languages work together and
when two or more languages work together does one become the mediator for the other.

This very question has been asked about DanceFilm.
Dance is a very primal language it is also a physical and interactive language.
However access to dance at the moment is quite limited especially where our education system is concerned.

‘There isn’t an education system anywhere on the planet that teaches dance
the same way we teach mathematics” Robinson Ken
DanceFilm is such an interesting format as two languages work together and at the same
time struggle with each other. Dance, a language that is so physical is translated through a flat medium.
It is a confused language however within this confused language I feel there is a way to use this mix of
languages and create a tool to help people learn or help educate.
Jason Mickelson & Wendy have already done a world of investigation into how we can use movement in
education by engaging math learners through embodied performance.
They engage the students in math using bodily action.
They are using similar technologies that “Chunky Move” use but I guess are using it more for the greater good
as opposed to using the aesthetics to help with narrative or by focusing on evoking kinesthetic empathy.
What is amazing about these experiments is that the students are making their own video’s using dance to
solve mathematical problems. They are interacting with the video working through cognitive problems and making their own video’s which they can then reference further on down the line.

I guess what my research into DanceFilm has taught me that these two languages
together can be effective tools in communication.Finding ways to also engage the spectator physically is something I am researching into. Research shows that many patients with eating problems struggle with alexithymia, a term used to describe the difficulty in putting feelings and fantasies into words (Zerbe, 1995).

A lot of movement therapy has been used to help sufferors of depression, anxiety, dyslexia, OCD.
These complex issues are often treated with cognitive therapy and it is interesting that movement
and dance has been used to help solve mathematics and has helped to put numeral cognition into a more
personal and situated context, where the numbers, shapes or equations are part of the physical world rather than a
conceptual or hypothetical world.

I have a lot of work to do and I feel I need to do more research especially
into kinesthetic creativity into participatory design.
Here are two links I feel are important to my work.

“Mortal Engine” and a talk by choreographer Gideon Obarzanek
http://vimeo.com/7711107
This essay on engaging math learners through embodied performance and visualisation.
http://wendyju.com/publications/mathpropulsion.pdf

500 words for feedback | Paula

The subject of food is a personal interest that has been evolving. Living in London and contacting with a completely different food offer and culture made me think about the motivations behind choices and habits.

My research started with the book “A sociology of food and nutrition” by multidisciplinary authors from social sciences, health, nutrition, academics, to name just a few. This book explores how eating habits are a social construction and how food production, distribution and consumption are highly determined by a mesh of contexts such as political, economical, religious, geographical and historical. The process of globalisation is also explored in its contribution to a change in what and how we eat.

There were two subjects that most grabbed my attention in this book: on the one hand the analysis of the current food system and the disclosure of the networks of economical interests behind it; on the other hand the harmful impact of this industry in several fields, such as the environment, food-related illnesses, customer choice and the future of farming itself.

Simultaneous to readings, I also watched some talks and DVDs on this subject. One that reinforced my interest in eating habits was Jamie’s School Dinners - a Channel4 series where the Chef Jamie Oliver reveals what is served to kids in UK school canteens and proposes a “revolution”.
What interested me was not his approach to the subject, or the way he tried to implement the changes. It was instead the lack of knowledge that 11-year-old kids showed regarding fresh food, not only in identification but also in the consumption itself. Both at school and at home, they were invariably eating processed and packed food (high in fats, sugars and salt) instead of balanced cooked meals from raw products. Some even confessed being eating vegetables for the first time. It was shocking to see them crying and refusing to try dishes like roast chicken and pasta, instead of the usual fast-food. The parents were also reluctant in changing their children’s habits, and kept sending junk food in their lunch boxes.

In line with this, another book that caught my attention was “Eating behavior”, that focuses on the process through which we acquire eating habits. Presenting several child-development theories, the author explains how food acceptance and choices are learned in very early childhood and influence the preferences in adulthood. Exposure to novel food, memories & emotions associated to eating, incentives & rewards, observation & imitation, and the influence of “important others” are some of the key factors in food learning.

Throughout all the reviewed literature my two topics of interest – food system and eating habits – were connected with the alarming figures of obesity.

With all these in mind, I would like to explore how a transformation in the ground knowledge in childhood could improve the relationship between kids and food that remains throughout their growth. My interest is to focus in a learning process that influences positively their early experiences, memories and emotions with food and eventually develops better acceptance and habits.

Bibliography:

http://www.jamieoliver.com/jme/dvds/info/jamies-school-dinners-complete-series/100235.html
(Talk related to this subject: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jamie_oliver.html )

Germov, J. & Williams, L. eds. (2008). A sociology of food and nutrition: the social appetite. Australia: Oxford University Press.

Dovey, T. (2010). Eating behavior. London: Open University Press.

500 words essay

I started on my project with an interest in Korean typography in the globalized world and Korean typographic designer’s works.  Nowadays, various activities and discussions in Korean typography university students union “Han-ul” have been working. Diverse exhibitions have been held with an active participation as well. At this point of time, I realize that designer has an important role to arouse people’s interest as a member of society. 

I have been impressed by Sang-Soo Ahn’s work. His works have given me a good impression that makes me go deep into Korean typography for a long time. His new attempting to Korean typography allows me to discover a great potentiality with curiosity. 

Each field of society is mutually connected. Social- cultural change has an effect on typography. A high level of economic growth in South Korea has influenced on people’s living condition. It results in the improvement of social welfare, the elevation of education standards. It follows a rise in the standard of living and cultural level. As a natural result, People have gradually realized the importance of Korean culture. Also, lots of people have seriously concerned about a dominant use of english at the same time. About 35% of the world's mail, telexes, and cables are in English.  Developing countries do not dedicate enough time to the education of native language. This situation has a possibility to bring a negative effect on the development of Korean typography. 

With the advent of problems in the globalized world, a new movement is following. Fortunately, Nowadays, various activities that related to Korean Typography has been already working. we need to have an attention to the development of Korean typography with the stream of globalization. 

Moreover, I have been inspired by ‘Korean typographic designer’ Sang - Soo Ahn’s work with Korean traditional pattern. One of the most important features in Ahn’s work in which I have been interested is unpacking design. Korean typography is usually organized within a square of the same size. He developed the first ever “out-of-frame” Hangul typeface, called Ahn Sang-Soo font.

The distinct figurative characteristics and experimentations in his work is that each letter is regarded as not only a means of communication but also a formative element.  Korean letters consist of basic formative elements such as dot, vertical stroke, horizontal stroke, diagonal stroke, circle. By using these geometries, he created a unique graphic pattern. 

I’m also interested in Korean traditional pattern that is made up of horizontal and vertical rectangle, overlapped and repeated lines. when I visited a buddhist temple, I was fascinated by a delicate complexity  and  harmony of colors. Finally, I try to make a interesting experiment by collaborating on a work with artists. I want to create a graphic pattern by using a geometric elements in letters and patterns and apply them into various materials that people can use in a daily life. I believe that my project help to aware of the importance of typography that has their own social identity and encourage people have a interest in korean typography.

www.ssahn.com

http://www.culture.go.kr

Sooyoung  Hur

Critical Feedback_Anna Maggi

I would like to talk about the workshop The taste of Beirut: like salt and bread on the Green Line (2008) designed by Marije Vogelzang, a Dutch Eating Designer. Marije worked with Kamal Mouzawak, a Lebanese chef who founded in 2004 the first farmers market in Beirut. The concept of the workshop attempted to eliminate the cultural and religious differences between the Lebanese people, using food as a common ground. First she made a questionnaire, investigating which was the food they related to peacetime and secondly the one they related to wartime. Most of the participants answered bread. Marije decided to make one big piece of dough mixed with parsley juice, a typical relish in Lebanese culture. Each person made a bowl and wrote inside a happy thought using sugar. With all these different shaped bowls they made a line passing through the market creating a Green Line. People were invited to eat the bowls as if eating the Green Line, a symbol of the Lebanese’s war division. In this project she gives evidence of her particular understanding in the field. In fact she approached this concept without falling into clichés.

When I started my research this project was one of my main inspiration.
I was particularly interested in the way this project embraced communication, cultural issue, social issue and methodology. Furthermore, Marije used food as medium to communicate a social message; she utilised it as a symbol rather then nourishment.
During this period I have tried to understand why I have been so attracted by this particular project compared to others eating design workshops.

I have analyzed this project for months and every time I understood something new. At the beginning of my research, I was interested in communicating issues related to food through eating performances. For example, doing a workshop to raise awareness about food diseases or about the importance of sharing food. But these findings didn’t satisfy me and I started to research in a different direction.

Finally I understood that for me the nitty-gritty is to find other ways of communicating.
I strongly believe that nowadays people received too many messages and it’s difficult to reach their attention. This is why I think that active communication/performance or experience design is a possible way to solve this concern. Furthermore I believe that food it’s a strong communication medium but I’m not concerned only in food-related issues!
Analyzing again The taste of Beirut, it was clear to me that Marije used food to communicate social issue like war and racial discrimination. The answer has always been there!

Now I understood that my challenge is to communicate social issue in alternative ways (food could be one medium) and to use performance to engage people.

Here you can see my last project “Special J” in which I tried to put into practice my ideas.

And this is the link to the project of Marije.

500 words for critical feedback – Rita

As everyone knows I am working on Alzheimer’s disease and if communication design might improve the perception of the disease by the general public, raising awareness and supporting patients and carers. I am also interested to approach information design, because I believe in its power to enhance understanding.

Instead of choosing some beautiful piece of information design, I decided to share with you my views on the short-film Ex Memoria, by John Appignanesi.

Based in personal memories of the director, the film tries to look at the world from the patients’ point of view and make us feel their experience. Just in 15 minutes, it manages to cover different aspects and issues of having dementia. Besides that, it comes with additional information and advice for family and carers, what I found really useful.

Eva is a Polish old lady suffering from dementia who is no longer able to distinguish past and present. She constantly recalls deep memories related with the war. The film starts with a scene from the past, when she was young, helping us to understand some of her current attitudes. She doesn’t recognize her family (daughter and grandsons) or the nursing home staff. She keeps on misunderstanding people, asking them “weird” things related with her past memories.

In addition, the film presents the scenario of living in a nursing home, where there are no references and the will to go home or to go out (probably in the pursuit of something they recognize). Also, sharing spaces with others at this age and condition might not be easy. Furthermore, the fact of being far from the family makes it more difficult for Eva to identify them and for them to understand her or know how to talk or stimulate her. It refers as well the difficulty to let other people help them with tasks they cannot perform anymore, like personal hygiene.

Although symptoms vary slightly from person to person, I recognized there the situation of my grandparents. It’s impossible not to compare to what I know and what I feel about this situation.

The film touches important topics that open reflection and discussion about the condition and about the way support is being provided. It also suggests how important is to know the past of the patient in order to understand and help him/her better. That’s why family’s support is also important.

I found this way of presenting the disease really inspiring. It gives a clearer notion of what it really is. In my opinion, for example, showing how the Alzheimer’s brain looks like doesn’t add any knowledge for someone that has to deal with the disease.

This film reminded me why I am doing this project and pointed out some possible approaches to raise awareness in a different way, maybe making them more sensitive. Besides a more “informational” approach that I still want to keep, I would like also to do some experiments exploring visually to communicate how people with dementia might feel, taking this film as an example.

here you can see 2min of the film: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funded-projects/Profiles/WTDV030205.htm

www.exmemoriafilm.co.uk

www.ritabranco.com

Viva presention:

Chloe-Critical Feedback

Recently we have had the honor to listen to Sam Winston’s talk at CSM.

We unanimously agreed that it was one of the most inspiring lectures we have had since the beginning of the year.
To me, it was particular relevant as Sam Winston’s practice is exclusively crafts drawing and poetry.
He is totally passion driven, and, in a way, one of the last idealists in the design world. 

I needed to talk to someone who shared my views about design, who was ready to defend books and drawing in the digital age, and he did vigorously demonstrate that drawing is still one powerful sensitive way of communicating ideas.

In the end of the presentation I asked him what is the difference between being a student on an MA at CSM and a freelancer?

Instead of answering directly he asked the others in the assistance to find the pros and cons of freelancing and studying. And one of the things that came up of that exchange was: in both cases Future is uncertain.
 I was expecting that answer and wanted him to help me understand how to cope with this uncertainty as it is my essential weakness, and the major obstacle stopping me from being wildly creative.  
He asked the audience again to help him answer my inquiry.
In the end he said that the solution is: confidence in what you do, and obsession for planning and organization. Although the outcome is never certain you need to feel what you have to do step by step to get to it. He also said to be hard on ourselves while we are in the production phase, but be gentle and proud once the work is done.

In a nutshell, his work in essence was a reference as it is close to my area of practice and interests, his argumentation is a reference pedagogically speaking, and his ability to create interaction between us was also a reference as it allowed us to give general critical feedback to ourselves in a moment where everybody needs it .

Chloé 

500 words essay

The „thing“ I would like to introduce to you as being very essential to my project in many ways is Ken Robinsons TED-talk about „schools kill creativity“. I think most of you have watched his talk as it was recommended to us on one of our briefs of the first term. I, at least, have listened to him many times and still find his speech entertaining and inspiring. I even went to a talk he gave on March 13th in Convey Hall, where he presented his new book „The Element: How finding your passion changes everything“. I am so inspired by what he says that I have often recommended friends to watch his talk on TED. I am really not trying to sell anything here, but if you haven‘t watched it, you should definately do that!

As the titel already indicates, the talk is about the way our education system currently functions and how it leaves the creative aspect aside. Ken Robinson says that all children are creative but grow out of it, or rather, get educated out of it. One thing he mentioned is that young children are not yet afraid of making any mistakes. They are more willing to try out new things. Furthermore he says that all school systems educate more to the „one“ side – the left side of the brain – which is the logical side of the brain and is used for maths and languages. The creative subjects like music and art are little or not taught at all. Ken Robinson indicates that creativity should have the same importance as literacy. He also says that intelligence is diverse and dynamic. Creativity comes through interdisciplinary interactions.

When starting my project I was very interested in the mistake aspect of his talk. Mistakes are generally seen as something bad and we get educated the way that we should avoid them. However, when working creatively, mistakes can be very valuable and useful, not to mention that you can learn from you mistakes. Nevertheless, mistakes sounds very negative and I decided to rephrase it and therefore asked myself the question which I also presented at the viva: „Is striving for perfection a barrier to creativity?“ Altough my interest in this question is still very big I figured that it is a highly philosophical question with no real answer to it. I also felt that I didn‘t want to stay that theoretical but also use my visual skills. That is when my project evolved for the second time.

As Ken Robinson was saying, educational systems concentrate more on subjects for the left side of the brain and neglect the right side of the brain. However, I think we should start using our whole brain. This is why I thought of combining logic and creativity in my project. I would like to use a mathematical approach to design (probably typography, where I would like to use the grid as well as the golden section as tools for design.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

http://cargocollective.com/marthariessland