Augmented Tweeting: Structures for Inclusion 12

I live tweeted the main day of this year’s Structures for Inclusion 12 (SFI12), hosted by UT Austin, but I also thought it would be fun to share a fuller version of those tweets here (particularly with all the vowels and grammar added back in). Hope you enjoy!

the range of social issues that could (and should) be addressed by designers

Part 1 of 5

Bryan Bell kicked off the Saturday session of Structures by talking about this year’s theme, “Design is Relational.” This theme was inspired by Sergio Palleroni’s presentation at last year’s Structures, regarding the fact that it’s often the non-physical effects of the design process that have the most lasting impact. Bell specifically noted that strengthening relationships within the industry and advancing our processes for collaboration are both essential going forward. “Creativity makes a bigger & healthier pie out of limited resources.” We can do more with less by working together better.

From there, Barbara Brown Wilson took the stage and reflected on past links between social change and physical space. Wilson highlighted the Disabilities Movement as a highly successful effort to transform standards for the built environment, and pointed out that we are currently in a relatively undefined proto-movement (which has yet to create that same level of disruptive impact). The SEED Network, which Wilson helped found, is certainly a step in the right direction. While the network has evolved into a platform for “knowledge brokering,” it was originally conceived as a “bat signal” for communities to reach out to when they needed design services. Providing services to these communities is obviously still the ultimate goal.

This year’s featured speaker, the amazing Coleman Coker, followed. He primarily focused on designing ethically, in response to the earth (something he’s been doing for over 30 years), in contrast to designing based on aesthetic judgment or taste. I found it incredibly inspiring to hear Coker speak about the social and environmental elements of his work, especially as the two are so integrated for him.

April 4’s daily design idea is Coleman Coker’s concluding thought: “if architecture is done well, it brings us closer to the world.”

Design for the minority.

As I was clicking around on Yanko Design, I discovered two more interesting projects. The first is a clock for night owls, which really made me think about how much mainstream lifestyles direct product design (in addition to giving me a good chuckle). The second is a Rubiks Cube for the blind, which seems so inclusive and nice to hold (as well as being nice to look at). I really believe that designing for the minority shouldn’t stem from a need to meet government standards (i.e. ADA accessibility guidelines) but rather from a motivation to extend good design to the environments of as many people as possible.

March 23’s daily design idea is think about an object/place in your everyday life that inherently excludes someone from using it – then figure out a design solution. Mine is designing apartment buildings that look less like the inside of St. Peter’s Basilica and more like the inside of the Guggenheim in New York. Perhaps ramps could circle around the apartments instead of staircases splitting them up the center?