Ok. Still feeling like I'm no where close to figuring out my project.
I started thinking about basic simple problems I've come across, mostly in my interactions with the general public:
1. Many humans don't think, they just do. They follow the media blindly and willingly, without furthur investigation themselves into the topic. Don't be gullable. Think for yourself, speak for yourself. Have an opinion and base it on real research.
2. Many women (and maybe men, though I haven't experienced this personally) jump from relationship to relationship, never learning independence or how to be ok on their own. Their self worth becomes dependent on guys' attention.
3. Kids these days are lazy and unmotivated. Typical Gen Y stereotype: entitlement. You're going to need to understand that you don't always get everything you want when you want it to survive in life.
4. People don't laugh enough. We complain too much. I heard on the radio a recent study discovered that on average Canadians complain for a total of 8 minutes a day.
5. There are no good hang out spots (that I can find) for young adults to sit, drink and have a conversation. Not a club, not even a pub, because they're too noisy. Some comfortable environment to go, drink, eat, and hang out til the wee hours catching up or chilling back with friends.
6. Are designers artists? (I realize this isn't a problem but a question - though non the less I post it anyways as I feel it's a good one.)
D!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you about your upcoming project!
In response to some of the things you mentioned on this post:
I heard on the news that the average canadian is sitting 10 hours/day...and obviously we are quickly becoming one of the most obese nations in the world...For kids, at least I feel like they have new games now, like X-Box Kinect that actually promote movement and fun even though yes, they are in front of a screen. (I recently tried it and you can really get a good workout from some of the games that they have)... I wonder if there would be a way to design something that would make working at a desk less about sitting and working but incorporating movement? What if we broke down the average desk job and we could reinvent the way people work? (just a random thought that came to me while thinking about how many people i know work at a desk everyday).
The other comment I had was a while ago, I was walking around gastown with some people and we came across this place kind of out of the way...It's called Guilt & Co. It really intrigued me because it's so different from any other gastown pub/bar/restaurant establishment. It really reminded me of travelling and the backpacker bars that had all these games, etc...for the patrons. Check it out... http://www.gastownblog.com/guilt-company/
OK. That's all i have to add. I really look forward to seeing what you come up with!!
xo
ak
1. How could you redesign a media outlet that would encourage people to think for themselves and contribute to a positive discourse? One thing I've seen is a forum where you have to use your real name, and it needs to be verified, to comment. No fake names or handles to hide behind.
ReplyDelete2. I can't really comment on that.
3. I was always jealous of my Dad's youth. He lived next to a forest and near a river where he built tree houses, rafts, go carts, etc. He imparted some of that on me, I was allowed to use hammer and nail and play in ditches. I never had a video game system beyond an Atari 2600. I think that's what's part of the problem. With this new fear of kids getting kidnapped or injured, they're not allowed to push the boundaries of their world. Everything is scripted for them. They can't go down the street by themselves, let alone climb a tree.
Have you heard or seen of the Maker movement? ( http://makezine.com/ ) Or check out '50 dangerous things you should let your kids do' ( http://www.fiftydangerousthings.com/ )
4. That's because most people beyond work, sleep and watching TV, don't do much at all! What else is there to talk about?
5. Blame greed for that. If you have a larger space with little walls, you can fit more chairs and tables in, thereby fitting more customers in, making more profit. Even coffee shops are getting too noisy!
6. Yes. A commercial artist with parameters often set by the client, but an artist.
hey chicken!!
ReplyDeleteself directed project....woooh baby!
i see the challenge you're stuck on is looking at what others might need to improve in ways which you feel are easy to manage or perhaps find annoying.
My advice to you would be conduct a survey on these issues & see how many strangers/acquaintances agree/disagree with you. find which of these questions others respond to with the most impact.
From there look to your own discoveries on why you find you're motivated etc. or how your family deals with exercise & health issue etc.
Then assess what are REAL issues which the public cannot seem to manage or are really not aware of.
topics that have all be touch on before but they bother you for a reason.
From there just think of ways you learned your discoveries and take the most abstract angle you can think of. a completely foreign view.
And work backwards.
look for questions to answer.
collect everything that inspires you. take pictures. surf the net. keep a log.
it's tough but you're the creator.
i will keep popping in.
good luck young chicken!!!
and that restaurant in gastown AK was talking about is my friend dani from the Olio festivals.
it's pretty awesome. they have giant jenga!!!
also great for inspiration......board games!!!