criticaldesign-turbo

[criticaldesign-turbo]

We had a "last-minute" change for the scanner. Initially, we only had the image of "Organ Scan is loading determining the quality," but when we finished it on Monday, we thought it looked a little "empty." So, on Tuesday morning, we came up with the idea to print out buttons and sliders and put them on the glass to make it look more like a technological device.

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On the same shopping trip I saw this picture frame and thought maybe we could use it to hang up pictures from donors, but since we wanted to play with the unseen I thought of maybe adding fake hair to have it more of a "look at this stand on which hair color you want as an implant". But we decided to focus on our other stuff so I did not buy it.

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Supplement: When I was shopping and saw this, I immediately thought we needed to use it for our project, so we came up with the idea to use one of these Head massage tools, which normally is relaxing, but we wanted to add a twist and used fake blood to make it "ewwwwy."

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Supplement: I found some pretty boxes in Action, which I bought as a presentation box, since I thought the fake marble made it look fancy.

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Supplement: This is our initial mood board after our brainstorming session (see tumblr post with witheboard). I looked at websites like Rituals to see how they advertise their items. We also considered using a presentation box, as it's more convenient to buy one instead of trying to build it. For the scanner, we found good inspiration from the mood board and decided to build it from scratch. The basic idea was to create a black box with acrylic glass and add some red light.

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In the last week, we bought the final items for our presentation, and they are being constructed!

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Brainstorming Session for the Final Object

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Black Mirror Stories

Story 1

Background Wissen: Die Menschheit hat es geschafft, unsterblich zu werden, da sie eine Technologie herausgefunden haben, Organe, Körperteile etc. einfach auszutauschen ohne großartige Nebenwirkungen oder Vorbereitungen. Also so ähnlich wie bei einem Auto, wo man einfach die kaputten Teile austauscht. Der Hacken daran ist jedoch, dass die Spender*innen am Leben sein müssen, also können sie nicht einfach durch Organspende bekommen werden. Daher gibt es so etwas wie "Menschenfarmen", wo Menschen wie Tiere gehalten/geboren/aufgezogen werden, um als “Ersatzteillager” zu agieren.

Story: Emma, die Tochter einer wohlhabenden Familie, führt in dieser Welt ein glückliches und zufriedenes Leben. Sie will eines Tages ganz normal zur Uni gehen, als sie jedoch abgeführt wird. Nicht von der Polizei, aber von einer Institution, die auch dieses Recht hat. Emma wird in eine dieser Menschenfarmen gebracht, da ihr Vater ihre DNA an diese Institution verkauft hat, um ihren Lebens Wohlstand aufrechtzuerhalten. Ihm wurde damals zugesichert, dass die Wahrscheinlichkeit nur sehr gering sei wirklich als passender Spender auserwählt zu werden

Moodboard 1

Story 2

Story: Da jeder in dieser Welt unsterblich ist, kommt es ab einem gewissen Zeitpunkt zu dem Problem, dass zu viele Menschen auf der Erde sind. Daher wurde ein System eingeführt, dass alle Menschen auf der Welt nach Punkten gerankt werden. Je mehr Geld man hat, desto mehr Punkte hat man. Hat man irgendwann mal kein Geld mehr, und ist somit nicht mehr produktiv/relevant für die Welt, wird man unsichtbar. Keiner sieht einen mehr und man kann auch mit keinen Objekten in der Welt interagieren. Man kann jedoch wieder sichtbar werden, in dem man wieder über 0 Punkte bekommt, also in dem man Geld verdient.

Moodboard 2

Story 3

Background Wissen: Es gibt ein Unternehmen, das es geschafft hat, einen Menschen unsterblich sein zu lassen durch einen Chip im Gehirn, da dieser das Altern der Zelle beeinflusst/stoppen kann. Dieser Chip ist jedoch (noch) nicht im Markt und befindet sich in einer Testphase. Daher sucht das Unternehmen Proband*innen die sich diesen Chip gratis einsetzen lassen. 

Story: Ein Opa nutzt die Gelegenheit und denkt sich, warum sollte er das nicht ausprobieren, er hat nichts zu verlieren und im besten Fall sieht er seine Enkel aufwachsen. Es geht auch anfangs alles gut, bis jedoch seinem Umfeld auffällt, dass er sich immer mehr und mehr verändert. Er hetzt gegen die Regierung, nimmt aktiv an Protesten teil etc. Dies hat jedoch nichts damit zu tun, dass er selbst politisch sich engagiert, sondern das Unternehmen kann die Zellen so beeinflussen, dass sie einen Menschen steuern können, in dem was er tut. Somit bildet sich eine programmierte Armee, die gegen die Regierung ist, sodass die Firma eine Zulassung für das Produkt bekommt.

Moodboard 3

Objekte

Born to Replace

DNA kid’s die als Lifestyle Produkt vermarktet werden (wie jetzige am Markt) jedoch stehen in den AGBS, die natürlich keiner liest, eine Klausel, dass man sich als lebender Organspender meldet und jederzeit als Organspender ausgewählt werden kann.

Scanner der die erhaltenen Organe analysiert (Zustand, matching person etc.) und dann den Preis berechnet

The Points of Existence

Eine Art Kamera, mit der man scannen kann, ob sich eine unsichtbare Person in der Nähe befindet. 

Eine smartwatch, die deine derzeitigen Punkte anzeigt und die dadurch für alle ersichtlich sind. 

Programmed Army

Eine App für die Mitarbeiter des Unternehmens, anhand welches sie eine ausgewählte Person steuern können. 

Eine Brille, die durch das beobachten der Augenbewegungen des gegenübers erkennen kann, ob die Person zu dem Zeitpunkt kontrolliert wird oder nicht

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Reflection MAK

I really enjoyed visiting the museum, The first thing I noticed were the shopping bags from various brands. What came to mind there, and what we discussed with some colleagues, was Hermes. Because I have seen people online purchasing so many random Hermes items, such as scarfs they did not even need or really like, just to obtain a certain credit score in order to then be able to apply for a Brikin/Kelly bag, despite not being able to choose the design. Because what this demonstrates to me is that what is actually being pursued is a feeling of status and an 'investment'.

The brown (denim?) top and skirt made of pockets were items I actually liked. Because it looked "most fashionable," even though I personally would not wear it. Thus, I believe there's a good chance that a lot of people would wear the outfit if it would be promoted by some fashion influencers, for example.

In another room, there was an intelligence lamp whose purpose I did not understand. Before using the lamp, you had to teach it what darkness and brightness looked like so that it worked when you pressed the switch (as far as I recall). However, why not just use a regular switch? What I found most interesting in the room was a vintage dollhouse, which appeared to be extremely realistic (unlike Barbie houses). So when I looked at it, it appeared to be a decoration or something someone would buy out of interest. But then I discovered that it was used to teach girls to do chores.

Alin

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Museum Visit

I really enjoyed the visit and in general the opportunity to visit the MAK through/with a course! I was a little bit disappointed by the critical consumption exhibition since it was only focused on fashion consumption and I have the feeling that most of the stuff which was shown was already said somewhere else. The item I liked the most from there was the “Mended Brown Cardigan” which is a originally badly damaged hand-knitted cardigan, repaired using the visible mending technology with various blue woolen yarns. I really liked it because normally if you repair something you don’t want it to be seen but this is the complete opposite to make it so obvious that it creates basically a new cardigan. The other exhibition in the basement was my favorite part, it had quite a lot of critical/speculative design objects which I know from the course/googling etc. and it was nice to see them in reality and it inspired the project. It was also funny to see a set of cutlery to “lose weight and prevent overeating” which was basically a spoon with a hole, like I sketched in the last homework. It was also super interesting to see the Frankfurter Küche in real life since I read about it quite a while ago. Also one of my favorite parts was the “care” section with the “pretty designed” helpers for elderly people, as well as the extension for the beds in hospitals. The exhibition on the 1. floor about Vienna 1900 was not really my topic, maybe I am too less educated in history to fully understand/relate to it. On the other hand, the new exhibition about protest architecture was super nice and it really opened up the question “Where does architecture start?” with the comparison between the Olympiahalle in Munich vs. a protest camp which had the same architecture. All in all, I really appreciate the visit and it was super inspiring for the course!   -Sonja

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Anti Design Objects

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Fashion and Fame

“DNA, The Kardashians & The Konsequences” by Marie Clare Jones

Marie Clare Jones explores the popularity of ancestry kits and the commercialization of DNA testing. It imagines how Kylie Jenner could introduce K-DNA kits through her brand, Kylie Cosmetics, and explore the implications of widespread DNA testing through a timeline linking DNA, the Kardashians, and its consequences. The project raises important questions about DNA ownership, commercialization, and ethical implications for the future, culminating in the creation of two spoof articles where children sue their parents for irresponsible use of K-DNA Kits. Overall, it offers and questions insights into the potential uses and ethical concerns surrounding DNA in a commercial context.

2) “How the Shein influencer trip marked a turning point in the brand-sponsored vacation trend” by Jenna Benchetrit

Shein, an online store that specializes in selling clothes and shoes, is one of the largest retailers with $100 billion in sales in 2022. Known for its extremely low prices, the online shop sources directly from China. Like other fast fashion companies, Shein has faced criticism for poor working conditions, high levels of toxins in its clothes (with no commitment to using standards), and extremely high CO2 emissions (source: https://time.com/6247732/shein-climate-change-labor-fashion/).

The article discusses Shein's attempt to "greenwash" these criticisms by sponsoring and paying influencers to visit a "fake" manufacturing facility, in the hopes that they would promote Shein as "not as bad as everyone thinks." However, this move sparked a huge backlash and controversy for the influencers. This situation is critical as it highlights how such companies try to improve their image without making substantive changes.

3) “Dirty Laundry” by  Carole Frances Lung, Aditi Mayer, Minga Opazo, Alicia Piller, and Sommer Roman

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art held an exhibition called "Dirty Laundry" focusing on the problems of fast fashion. Fast fashion makes lots of cheap clothes quickly to keep up with trends. This leads to waste and harm to people and the environment. The works in "Dirty Laundry" highlight critical design aspects by making people think about the problems of fast fashion. They use creativity to show how this industry harms the environment and people. By raising awareness the exhibition encourages viewers to think differently about the clothes they buy and the impact of their choices.

4) Smog Free Project by Daan Roosegaarde

Led by Daan Roosegaarde, the SMOG FREE PROJECT is an urban innovation project that showcases the aesthetic value of clean air. Roosegaarde crafts SMOG FREE RINGS from compressed smog particles gathered from the SMOG FREE TOWER (world's first smog vacuum cleaner which creates clean air parks). You can donate the city 1000 m3 of clean air by sharing the SMOG FREE RING.

It is currently included in the permanent collections of the National Museum of Zurich, Utah Museum of Fine Arts USA, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and The Biosphere Environment Museum in Montreal.

5) Solar-Powered Jacket by Vollebak:

The Solar Charged Jacket is made of a highly adaptable material that can be quickly charged and made to glow in the dark by any kind of light you can find. For example, a phone flashlight can be used to draw on it. You can use sunlight to charge it. If it is fully charged it glows completely. The piece deals with fashion's functionality and sustainability while presenting creative responses to environmental issues.

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Concept - Royalty

The Crown - Netflix

"The Crown" chronicles Queen Elizabeth II's reign from her 1947 marriage to Prince Philip through a number of significant historical moments and turning points. Every season focuses on a different era, with the first season covering the early years of her reign and the later seasons exploring various decades and important periods in British history. Viewers are given an intimate look into the private and public lives of one of the most well-known royal families in the world in this fascinating and thought-provoking examination of the British monarchy and its place in contemporary society.

→ By revealing the private lives of the royals, it humanizes royalty by portraying them as people with feelings, hardships, and struggles in addition to being powerful and authoritative figures.

→ costumes/aesthetic

→ Gender equality/role of women and struggles

2. The Platform (Movie)

In the dystopian future depicted in the novel, prisoners are kept in a building that resembles a vertical tower, with two inmates on each floor. A feeding platform that travels from the top floor to the bottom and stops for a brief period of time at each level is used to feed the prisoners.

One way to interpret "The Platform"'s vertical prison structure is as a metaphor for hierarchical social structures, such as monarchies. In the movie, inmates are kept in a vertical tower, with those at the top experiencing plenty and those below facing scarcity. The hierarchical structure of monarchies is reflected in this arrangement, as individuals at the bottom are frequently marginalized and oppressed due to the concentration of power and resources at the top.

The ruling class is represented by the characters at the top of the prison tower, who enjoy luxury and plenty, while those at the bottom are exploited and suffer from deprivation. This is a reflection of the differences in privilege and wealth that are frequently connected to aristocracy and royalty.

1st level vs. bottom levels:

3. Banky

Banksy is known for his criticism of the UKs monarchy.

Paintings - all of them can be found here: https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-banksy/articles/banksy-queens-graffiti-and-the-theme-of-anti-monarchy

Queen Victoria as lesbian: Inspiration probably taken from Queen victorias assertation that women 'were not able to be gay'

Monkey Queen: Created to ‘Celebrate the fact that the highest position in British Society is not a reward for talent or hard work, but simply handed out with the accident of birth.’ 

Weapons of mass distraction: Queen with gas mask 

DI-Faced Tenner: The face of Queen Elizabeth has been swapped out for that of the late Lady Diana. criticism faced by the Royals following their treatment of Diana has been capitalized on here by Banksy, as the ‘People’s Princess’ has become an emblem of the Royal institution’s shortcomings

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Conceptual Sample - Furniture

“The Cia-Chair designed for plants first and humans second” by Alice Hultqvist, Emelie Sjöberg and Linnea Nilsson

https://www.yankodesign.com/2024/03/21/this-chair-allows-plants-to-grow-on-it-and-puts-nature-before-human-needs/

Critical Planet-Centric Design: The Chia-Chair prioritizes plant life over human comfort, symbolizing a shift towards respecting nature. The idea is to let the plants be the main users of the chair, and humans are just visitors. The designers emphasize that humans should approach it with respect, recognizing that it’s a living thing. They acknowledged that throughout the last century, humans have prioritized their needs at the expense of nature and wildlife, leading to severe consequences. The Chia-Chair, therefore, serves as a symbolic gesture, aiming to redress the balance by placing the plant at the forefront and demanding reciprocity from its human users.

2. “Aufstehhilfen” der Wiener Linien

Hostile Design: In general “hostile design” refers to objects in public spaces that tend to disadvantage specific vulnerable groups. It refers to the design of objects in public spaces that, through their design, materials, or composition, enable certain actions while preventing others. What's unique about them is that there doesn't necessarily need to be a direct sanction; rather, the nature of the objects or space dictates how we can or cannot act. For example, Wienerlinien has a metal bracket in the middle of the benches, which leads to preventing someone from lying there and eventually sleeping. 3. “DRM chair” by Les Sugos

Th DRM chair is a piece of furniture that self-destructs after 8 uses. After eight people sat on it, a lick of smoke starts to come from the joints. The joints then melt down and the chair falls into a pile of parts, The DRM chair was created over the course of 48 hours for a global project called “The Deconstruction”. The Deconstruction is described as "a game about re-thinking the world as we know it, taking it apart, making a few adjustments, then putting it back together a little awesome-er." Teams participate by thinking up and building projects in a short time frame. I find it quite interesting to think about how it would be that Furniture only has a limited amount of uses.

4. “The Uncomfortable” by Katerina Kamprani 

A collection of everyday objects that have been intentionally redesigned to be impractical. The works intend to challenge assumptions about the functionality and purpose of common objects, and to encourage us to rethink our relationship with the world around us. Its not really furniture but I count in the same category of like everyday objects, like furniture is.

5. “Disposture chair” by Jessica Ross, Emily Wallace and Cathrynn Healy

The curved sections of the chair make it impossible for users to find a comfortable seating position, whether sitting on the chair, or resting on the floor and leaning against it. The team researched the long-term impact of prolonged periods of sitting, often experienced by office workers, but initially struggled to find a solution.

"In experimenting with different bodily angles and shapes we found it difficult to come up with the 'perfect' sitting angle," Ross said. After coming to the conclusion that "there is no such thing as a comfortable chair", the team decided to create a seat that would be deliberately awkward for people to sit in. "By forcing the user into this 'C slump' right from the moment they sit down allows the user to recognize how uncomfortable and damaging it can be to the body," Ross explained. I like the approach of critically rethinking and making people aware of sitting too much, like we all do, based on jobs etc.