Better World by Design is back to Re(Interact)
Better World by Design kicked off its spring series Re(Interact) with a panel on Saturday in Petteruti Lounge, featuring Ann Chen and Nick Wong (finalists in the NYC Payphone Redesign Challenge), Bo Guo (CEO of Designow), Adriana Gallo (Junior Designer at Ace Hotels), and Ethan Blake '17. The event was moderated by Ingrid Lange RISD '16, an Industrial Design major. Titled “Reimagining Connections”, the panel focused on the intersection of physical and online spaces, the redefinition of a community as technology advances, and culturally conscious ways of designing for community.Lange started off the discussion with the question “How can we foster a sense of community and encourage smallscale civic engagement in a fast-paced, networked society?” Many of the designers emphasized a “bottom-up” approach, citing specific instances of researching by going directly into the field and asking people what they wanted and needed. Gallo talked about the necessity of having a “holistic understanding of space” and the mindset that “your design is not the end-all.” She also mentioned that being open to changing one’s ideas is vital to the design process. Chen briefly brought up the importance of recognizing more and less dominant cultures that may not have access to your designs.The dialogue then transitioned to the effects of “bad design." Blake commented on an instance of bad design that he witnessed in Cape Town during his semester abroad that involved a social enterprise redesigning spaces for children to learn and play in. Though the intentions were good and the designs beautiful, the children did not receive adequate school supplies or support at the end of the day, which turned out to be a rehash of the original issue. Gallo also added that, in big cities, “convoluted signs are worse than having no signs at all.”
The panelists were then presented with the question “How can you design a space that responds to the individual?” Wong stated that “starting with a blank slate” and “the little need for overdesign” were two fundamental concepts that could allow a design to be more personal. "Overdesigning" can lead to a lack of intuition from the user’s point of view, making the design seem too synthetic. Chen discussed the payphone redesign that she worked on and some of its features that would connect with the user’s emotions and sensitivities. Chen and Wong’s payphone incorporates devices that signal when environmental factors like noise pollution reach a certain level, symbolizing that awareness of your environment can be a very intimate and enlightening instance.During the Q&A, one attendee asked the panelists how they navigated the interplay of online and physical spaces. Gallo commented that an online presence could be more tailored to the individual, and that while it might reach more people, it does not necessarily enhance the experience of face-to-face interaction. Guo agreed that technology forces us into a fast-paced environment that may require designers to spread ideas at the same speed. Blake also answered this with a thought-provoking question about activism: Is social activism as powerful if the message is being conveyed online rather than through physical bodies?Better World by Design’s Re(Interact) series continues on Saturday, March 12, with a workshop by Providence-based design and fabrication studio Work-Shop. The series closes with a lecture by Yarrow Thorne of The Avenue Concept on March 19, followed by a networking event afterwards with several design organizations in Rhode Island. Be sure to stop by these incredible events, and sign up on Better World’s website to receive updates about the fall conference!#Reinteract.Image via Mandi Cai '17.