Systems Map

Repair and resiliency story

Design Brief

1) What did you make and why?

I made a calendar in Bristol paper. And each “number” is like a wheel, which can be rotated manually. I made this calendar because it’s very useful on daily basis, and I can use it for a really long time. I chose to use wind power Bristol paper because it was made with wind generated electricity, which is absolutely natural and eco friendly. For each number, instead of painting or printing the number, I poked little holes with pins to indicate the number because normal ink might cause harm to the environment. There was also a slot where I placed a roll of tracing paper, so that I can get the length I want and write memo on it. The orange wire in the middle points to the exact number, or the date. And it also helps me to more precisely tear the tracing paper. Last but not least, I keep everything in white because, on one hand, I want to avoid using any ink that might be toxic, and, on the other hand, I try to keep the design simple and neat, so that it will not be outdated after 50 years. For the wire in the middle, I picked color orange because it stands out from rest of the design.

2) In what ways will this object/design be useful to you over 50 years of change?

The calendar is useful in terms of it’s function. I always need to check the date and write down some notes. Also, it feels satisfying by just rotating the date everyday and see the numbers changing by time. My family always keeps the calendars that we used because it is a very private item that stores memory. By making a calendar that can be used for rest of my lifetime, it will definitely contain so much of my memory. So it will become more precious over time as I build up more memories.

3) How will it be resilient (used in more than one way etc. and/or encourage social resiliency through its usage)?

I will be able to repair it by myself by using paper, and I can refill the tracing paper easily. I not only can check date but also use it for decoration purpose.

4) What specific event(s) of environmental change will it help you adapt to or address?

I want to address an ongoing problem of massive consumption and production. Instead of changing a calendar every year, I can keep using the same calendar for rest of 21st century. If everyone is using a calendar like this, there will be less demand for products. Also, the material I use is eco friendly. The paper is absolutely safe and recyclable after use. And I didn’t use any ink at all.

5) What materials will you use, given what you have learned this semester about changing resources and material availability?

I used wind power Bristol paper. The paper itself and the way of producing the paper are natural and safe. Some resources are very hard to get. And exploiting the resources might cause harm to the environment. The material I use will save a lot of resources because it can be recycled at the end and used for other products.

6) How does your object offer function and aesthetics over time? How does it fulfill the Long-Life Design criteria to the best of your ability?

My product is repairable. The cost of Bristol paper is very low. The process of making is fairly easy as long as I calculate all the numbers. The product is very useful on daily basis and easy to use. It’s definitely safe and addresses a bigger environmental issue. The design itself is simple and will unlikely to be outdated.

Self-evaluation

Did you finish all components on time? 

Yes.

Were you invested in your work over the past month? 

Yes. I changed my idea a couple times and spent plenty of time developing my design.

Did you proofread your writing? 

Yes.

Did you meet all specifications? 

Yes.

Did you take care in printing your support materials (map, brief and repair story)?

Yes.

Did you show creative innovation in your design and project idea (gain new skills, challenge yourself conceptually etc.)?

Yes, it was hard to design an object out of nowhere. And it’s even harder to design an object that addresses sustainable issues. The idea of being aware of the surroundings and making changes is challenging for me because I never considered the materials in terms of their impact on the environment. Also, the object itself was hard to make because I need to figure out the rotating mechanism and ensure the precision and aesthetic of the object.

Were you prepared for your presentation and exhibit care and enthusiasm for your project?

Yes.

Did you take care with your final documentation?

Yes.

Any other comments or feedback you’ll like to give me about the class or your final project?

This is a brilliant project of combing art and science. And I was able to think about sustainable systems from a designer’s perspective, which is different and helpful.

1)  Read the following article: Damaging Your iPhone, Accidentally, on Purpose

 

• How you ever felt this way about an object you’ve owned?

I can relate to the article because I used to have a laptop that I’ve used for several years. And I knew that my parents were going to buy me a new one as soon as the old one was broken. So I kind of just wanted my laptop to break. I no longer used laptop case. And I was extremely careless about it.

• How does your final project challenge having this mentality towards objects?

There is no “upgrade” in my object, so I won’t have a sense of hoping for a newer version in the first place. Also, I will have a feeling of satisfaction by “changing” the date everyday, which wants me to keep and take better care of my calendar.

 

2) Upload a draft of your Final Project Design brief

1) PROJECT NAME: Rotating Calendar

2) What did you make and why?

I made a calendar in paper. And each “number” is like a wheel, which can be rotated manually. I made this calendar because it’s very useful on daily basis. And I can use it for a really long time.

3) In what ways will this object/design be useful to you over 50 years of change?

The calendar is useful in terms of it’s function. I always need to check the date.

4) How will it be resilient (used in more than one way etc. and/or encourage social resiliency through its usage)?

I will be able to repair it by myself by using paper. Also, the paper is absolutely safe and recyclable after use.

5) What specific event(s) of environmental change will it help you adapt to or address?

I want to address an ongoing problem of massive consumption and production. Also, the material I use is eco friendly.

6) What materials will you use, given what you have learned this semester about changing resources and material availability?

I will use Bristol paper. Some resources are very hard to get. And exploiting the resources might cause harm to the environment. The material I use will save a lot of resources because it can be recycled at the end and used for other products.

7) How does your object offer function and aesthetics over time? How does it fulfill the Long-Life Design criteria to the best of your ability

It’s repairable. The cost of Bristol paper is very low. The process of making is fairly easy as long as I calculate all the numbers. The product is very useful on daily basis and easy to use. It’s definitely safe and addresses a bigger environmental issue. The design itself is simple and will unlikely to be outdated.

 

1. Read the following article “Designer Tom Dixon Unveils His ‘Secret’ Project With Ikea” (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.and write a reflection on how it connects with the themes of our class. How does it relate to your work this semester? Do you aspire towards similar practices in your final project? Does it change how you think about mass produced designs?

Tom Dixon displays the idea of long life design by trying to design furnitures that can last a lifetime. His working ethic well fits the goal of my project, which is to design a calendar that can be used for over fifty years. Dixon tried different materials and always makes sure the quality of the furniture is high, which makes me think about how I can make my calendar “stronger” and structurally steady. I agree with Dixon’s opinion on mass produced designs. Since they are produced in large numbers, they should have designs that meet most of people’s taste. So it’s easy to fall into a trap of copying and losing originality.

1) What is the name/title of your project?

Rotating Calendar

2) How will your project change, as you change, over the next 50 years?

The “time” will change, so the numbers will keep rotating.

3) Post a draft of your systems map and your resiliency/repair story (research and/or design) See Final Project brief for full description of each.

Resiliency/ Repair Story:

The calendar is made completely out of paper, so that the paper will be recycled after use.  I will create a step-by-step instruction of how to make a new one. So that if one is broken, I can easily make a new one by following the steps.

 

Map

1. Compared to what you saw during your Zone Walk, what can you see and sense differently from the boat?

I can see the city from a third person perspective instead of first person perspective. And I was able to have a clearer sense of how “prepared” New York city is in face of the flooding and see level rising. Also, taking the boat, I basically saw the outer part of the city, which is zone 1.

2. Does New York seem prepared for sea-level rise?

Not really. In Manhattan area, the ground is slightly elevated from the water but not much. There wasn’t much protection, the buildings are pretty exposed to the water.

3. What areas appear to be vulnerable to coastal flooding? Are any effects of Hurricane Sandy visible?

The whole Manhattan, especially midtown is vulnerable to coastal flooding because there are lots of tall buildings that are right next to each other. The buildings are very close to the water, and there is barely any protection. Somewhere at lower Manhattan, close to the Dumbo, I saw a really long infrastructure that looks like a protection wall. (I’m not sure, it might be a factory.) And around the Long Island City, there are piles of rocks near the coastline.

4. Do you see any evidence of the Big U being constructed?

If the wall that I saw was the barrier wall, that could be the evidence of the Big U.

5. Are you able to determine which areas of the coast are built on landfill?

The creek that’s next to the Long Island City is built on landfill.

6. Do you see any sea walls, reinforcements or marsh areas?

The piles of rocks on the coastline might be reinforcements, but I didn’t see any marsh area.

7. What kind of systems do you see interacting (people, water, boats, etc.)?

I saw boats and piles of kayaks either in the water or near the water. I also saw tourists visiting the statue of liberty.

8. How do you think the New York City coastline will change over the next 50 years?

The coastline will be more elevated in order to get prepared for sea level rising. After the  Big U is made, there will be a huge wall surrounding the Manhattan.

9. Reflect on the presentations. What did you learn? Did anything in particular surprise you? Did you enjoy the trip and the perspective offered from the water?

One of the guest speaker talks about how we can approach the flooding issue from another perspective. Instead of prevent the water coming into the city, we can use some types of material that absorbs the water or a space that stores the water. I think that it’s an interesting and more efficient solution than the Big U. I enjoyed the trip, especially with such a nice weather.

1) What is your final project idea and why do you want to make it? Describe how this design/object/idea will specifically help YOU (make sure it is designed for you, not someone else, or an anonymous user) be more resilient and navigate environmental change over the next 50 years.

My final project idea is to make a calendar. Instead of making it flat like a conventional calendar, I want to make it three dimensional. Inspired by the lock that is used for suitcase, I want to add a sliding mechanism that allows me to change the date and year by twisting each layer. I want to make a calendar because it is very useful for me on daily basis and it will save a lot of paper because I can use one for a really long time. Through this design, I will be more aware of the number of things I really need and those I don’t need.

2) Describe your specific work plan for the next three weeks (please note that all project components are due May 3rd).

I will make everything in paper/ recycled paper. I will gather all the materials and make a clear plan of each component I need and figure out how the mechanism is going to work by next week. I will make a rough prototype before I start, just to make sure everything works. And I will start my making process in next two classes and document the final piece during the last weekend before the last class.

3) How will you source materials?

I will look up recycled paper online, or used the paper that I wasted.

4) How does your project specifically encourage resiliency or use resilient materials?

My final piece will be completely recyclable. And it’s made out of recycled material. Also, it will never be outdated and very easy to use by just “switching” the number manually.

5) How will it be repaired?

I can simply repair it by using another piece of paper.

1) Explore articles published in the New York Times within the last month

– What was the most interesting visual that you found (photograph, diagram etc.) and why was it so powerful to you? Include the image and the link in your post.

The image was powerful to me because of the high contrast in colors. At first glance, it looked like a painting, or an art project. Looking at it closely, I realized that the orange “dots” in the image are chimpanzees. And I was very curious of the purpose of making such a high contrast image.

(https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/science/drones-infrared-cameras-animals.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=8&pgtype=sectionfront)

– Given what you learned in this article, how different do you think the environment be 50 years from now (the year 2070)?

The camera used to shoot this photo was originally used to shoot the galaxies in the universe. However, the scientists now use the same camera to keep track of the endangered animals because thermal energy released from the animals allows them to be highly visible in infrared camera. And it’s very hard to spot these animals at night due to low visibility. However, the hot rocks, rain, and other situations sometimes might be caught as “animal” in the camera. So the scientists are still improving the equipment and plans to have it for sale in the future. In the year 2070, there will be more animals that either go extinct or become endangered. However, the rate of this tragedy happening might be slower than it should be due to these high-tech inventions.

– In what ways do you think these realities will impact your work and life 50 years from now?

The species extinction will definitely motivate me, and all the designers, to consider issue like this while we are designing products. Just like the infrared camera, I feel the responsibility to contribute in saving the world. More importantly, this harsh reality also serves as an alert that constantly reminds me not to pollute the earth. I will be aware of any action I do.

– How might these realities affect your final project design ideas?

Since we’ve been talking about the environment a lot, I only focus on how we are affecting the water and air. After reading this article, I realized that it is not just the environment. What we do potentially threaten other species’ life. As a result, for my final project, I want to address a broader issue and bring in the idea of “we are killing the animals”.

 

2) Conduct independent research on Social Resiliency.

• How does social resiliency differ from infrastructural and urban resiliency?

Social resiliency is the resiliency of people in the society, while the infrastructural and urban resiliency is the resiliency of physical facilities and infrastructures.

• How would you explain social resiliency to a friend or family member?

There is an invisible bond between people and the government that needs to be strengthened. There is also bond among the citizens. They need to build trust and compassion in relation to each other.

• Why might social resilience be important in the context of climate change (think about Hurricane Sandy or other environmentally related natural disasters etc.).

When there is a natural disaster coming, the whole region will probably be chaotic. When the emergent situation happens, if there is a strong bond between the citizens and the government. The government will be able to give out instructions easily. Since the citizens trust the government, they will be more likely to follow the instructions instead of panicking. For the aftermath, citizens will gather together and help each other out if they have strong social resilience. They are a united community instead of individuals isolated from each other.

• How important do you think it is for designers to consider and encourage resiliency among people in their work? Why?

It is very important because social resilience is in fact a prerequisite of infrastructural and urban resilience. As long as people are united and cooperate well with the government, the fixing and rebuilding process will be done more smoothly and easily. In order to achieve it, designers can help inventing something that assist the government to manage the whole city, such as apps.

-What is an experience you have had, or an object/design that you have, that you feel supports social resiliency in you?  (i.e. makes you feel stronger, not alone, connected to the earth, other people, animals, the planet, prepared, capable and able to deal with changes etc.).

I feel connected to the community when the Parsons fire happened a week ago. When the actual fire happened, even though I wasn’t there, I heard all the students and faculties were very organized and efficient in terms of leaving the building. After the fire, I got email updates from school everyday. And everyone is cooperative. It feels like we are one big community, where we understand the situation and help each other out.

• How might design encourage and invite social resiliency?

A good design is able to connect people and offers an easy way for people to better interact with each other.

• Would you like your final project to support social resiliency?

Definitely if I could because it is very important to make people feel connected to the society. Also I believed that making a good design should somehow contribute to the society in a positive way.

 

3) Develop three final project ideas. What will you make and why? (an object, clothing, set of tools, skill manual, a design for connecting you to other people, animals or the earth, creates meaningful social connections with others etc.)  Include sketches for each idea (and bring these sketches to class next week). For each idea, answer the following:

Cigarette Box:

1. What is your idea and in what ways will this object/design be useful to you over 50 years of change? Think about how each design could have meaning and be useful in your daily life for several decades.

My idea is to create a separate box/ space/ container that is attached to the cigarette box to collect cigarette butts. I don’t have to throw away cigarette butts on the street. (My only problem is that I might not be smoking for that many years.)

2) How will this design be resilient (used in more than one way etc. and/or encourage social resiliency through its usage)?

It can be also used to store wasted gum. The design encourages people to not throw away “tiny” but “toxic” trash on the streets. When one person starts using it, the people around will see it and start following.

3) What specific event(s) of environmental change will it help YOU adapt to or address?

Cigarette butts thrown away by people cause air and water pollution. And they also poison the fish in the water.

4) How will this design be repaired?

The opening of the tiny container uses sliding mechanism, and it’s easy to put it back if it falls off.

5) What materials will you use for this design given what you have learned this semester about natural/biological/recycled materials?  (Consider how climate change might affect the availability of some materials.

I will use biodegradable plastic/ paper for the outer part, and fire-resistant material for the inner part.

6) Which of the Long Life Design criteriadoes this design fulfill?

It definitely addresses a broader issue of saving the environment by doing small actions.  The container is very easy to make in terms of manufacturing process, and it will be pretty cheap.

Collapsible Bowl:

1. What is your idea and in what ways will this object/design be useful to you over 50 years of change? Think about how each design could have meaning and be useful in your daily life for several decades.

I want to make a bowl that is collapsible and has multifunctions. When it expands, it can be used as a bowl, but when it collapses, it can be used as a cup. It’s useful in daily life and saves plenty of space. Having multiple functions will alleviate mass production and consumption.

2) How will this design be resilient (used in more than one way etc. and/or encourage social resiliency through its usage)?

As I mentioned, the bowl can be used both as a bowl and a cup.

3) What specific event(s) of environmental change will it help YOU adapt to or address?

There will be less production and consumption, which decreases the use of resources.

4) How will this design be repaired?

There will be costumer service that fixes the bowl by taking apart the “petals” and replace a new one.

5) What materials will you use for this design given what you have learned this semester about natural/biological/recycled materials?  (Consider how climate change might affect the availability of some materials.

I’m thinking of using bamboo or ceramics.

6) Which of the Long Life Design criteria does this design fulfill?

It saves money because people can buy one product that can be used for two purposes. It’s easy to produce in quantities and for costumers to use. The material is safe and calls for people buying less product.

Shampoo packaging:

1. What is your idea and in what ways will this object/design be useful to you over 50 years of change? Think about how each design could have meaning and be useful in your daily life for several decades.

People always complaints about not being able to pour out all of the shampoo. Inspired by toothpaste squeezer, I want to design a shampoo packaging that will have no wasted shampoo. It’s useful for almost everyone on daily basis.

2) How will this design be resilient (used in more than one way etc. and/or encourage social resiliency through its usage)?

Physically, the design can fit any storage place and easy to carry around.

3) What specific event(s) of environmental change will it help YOU adapt to or address?

The shampoo waste may poison the water. Reducing waste as much as possible alleviates this problem.

4) How will this design be repaired?

Since the material for packaging will be soft and flexible, I don’t think it will be so easily broke.

5) What materials will you use for this design given what you have learned this semester about natural/biological/recycled materials?  (Consider how climate change might affect the availability of some materials.

I might use biodegradable plastic because I want a transparent material.

6) Which of the Long Life Design criteria does this design fulfill?

The cost won’t be hight. The material is safe. The design itself is fresh and visually pleasant. Also, it addresses a broader issue of shampoo waste.

1) LOCATE WHICH HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONE YOU LIVE IN:

My apartment is not in any of the zone but is close to zone 6. It is extremely useful to learn about hurricane evacuation zones because I would be more prepared when it really happens. My apartment is two blocks away from zone 6. Parsons is in zone 5.

Do you feel prepared for a hurricane in NYC?

I think that I will probably still be in panic when the actual hurricane comes, no matter how much I know about it and how “prepared” I am. Also, I live on 25th floor, so it will take more time to run to a safer place. However, I’m positive about the aftermath of the hurricane because there are several resiliency projects going on and the professionals are aware of the problem. So at the time when the disaster comes, there will be more mature solutions to deal with it.

What are your thoughts on this website’s design (is it functional, aesthetic, easy to use etc.)?

The website is clear and straightforward. I like how it uses graphics to show the evacuation zone. The graphics is concise and easy to follow. There is no excessive information.

2) TAKE A WALK to experience and observe different evacuation zones in NYC, using the

maps on your smart phone via: https://maps.nyc.gov/hurricane/ Visit at least three

zones during your walk.

Most of the buildings are made out of bricks. The buildings are very close to each other and are pretty tall. The windows are small, and the window frames stick out. The installation piece located in zone 3 is made out of plastic, which is pretty vulnerable in face of both wind and water. The thick brick walls look steady. Since the windows are small and “below” the surface, they are less likely to be shattered by strong winds. The street lamps are vulnerable because there is little protection around them. In low-light or driving rain, the road signs might be difficult to see because the fonts are fairly small.

3) Create a map of your route and upload to your LP post

4) Answer the following questions on your LP:

– Does an awareness of evacuation zones change the way you experience the city?

Definitely. I was shocked by the amount of space that is likely to be flooded due to the hurricane. I felt unsafe and a bit terrified at first, but then I realized it’s a very important thing to be at least aware of there is still problem that’s waited to be solved.

– What areas appear to be vulnerable to storm surge, if any?

The area that is close to the river appears to be the most vulnerable.

– Which zone do you live in? Do you feel prepared for a hurricane in NYC? What would

make you feel more prepared?

I don’t live in any of the zone. If there is enough facility that won’t let the hurricane flood the streets, I would feel much more prepared. Also, learning about the hurricane and the steps I should follow when it really comes will be helpful.

– Do any buildings/infrastructures look more prepared for the next storm — how?

The tall buildings look more vulnerable than the shorter ones because the they are much steadier. Also, any building with a “sharp point” at the top looks vulnerable because it’s easy to break or crashed by the wind. The Parsons university center looks vulnerable as well because there is lot’s of glasses.

– Are any effects of Hurricane Sandy visible?

There are flood walls built along the coastline.

5) Choose one zone (1-6) as your focus. What is a design idea you have that could

communicate to the public what zone they inhabit? What kind of tool, device or signage

would you make? Include a list of 3-5 challenges you would face in implementing this

project in NYC (think about resiliency of materials, language issues, access to

information, visibility during different times of day/during storms, diversity of publics etc.).

 

For zone 1, I would create a sign that is placed in different location to remind people of the zone they are in. I would make the sign very simple and straightforward by filling it with one single color that corresponds with the colors appeared in evacuation map and put the number in the middle. One challenge is to make sure that people can easily see the sign. Also, it requires a certain number of workers to put the sign around the city. More importantly, the sign needs to be clear and not mixed up with other signs, such as the traffic light.

 

2) What is a beautiful object/design that you admire from your home country that has been in production for longer than fifty years? Write a brief description (around a paragraph) about this object’s history on your Learning Portfolio and explain what you think makes it so resilient (able to still be in production for over 50 years). Which of the Long Life Design criteria does it meet? Include an image on your LP and please bring the object with you to class next week, if possible, for presentations.

 

Feiyue is a brand of sneakers that has been produced in Shanghai since the 1920s. The manufacturer company of Feiyue is called Da Fu. It was first designed for athletes and martial artists, so that they are comfortable and flexible. The shoes have been consistently popular for decades and are still popular nowadays. The design of the shoes is fairly simple. The most classic ones are in white and has two stripes in red and blue. The design itself is almost impossible to be outdated because it’s very basic. Also, the canvas is thin and flexible, so it’s absolutely comfortable to wear on daily basis. A lot of my friends own ones. And it’s considered a trendy item in China right now.

The shoes are very cheap, about 15 dollars. So it’s affordable to people with low budgets. In terms of the function, the shoes can be worn in different seasons and different occasions. As I mentioned, the design is great and suitable for different age groups. They are produced in planned volumes.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feiyue)

3) Conduct independent research about what scientists are predicting New York City will be like (weather, infrastructure, architecture, population etc.) in the year 2050 due to the effects of climate change? If you have trouble with your research, see the videos on this page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., or the  “featured story” links posted on this page. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. How are these predictions different or similar to what you imagine the city will be like? What do you think can make a coastal city like New York more resilient? Include 2-3 citations of your research.

 

In 2050, New York City might be as warm as Alabama because the average temperature keeps rising each year. Also, there is an increasing possibility of flooding. One of the most serious consequence is sea level rising. About 30% of lower manhattan might be inundated by water due to sea level rising. Other than the impact on environment, the climate change also leads to changes in the the decision of how high the ground floor of a building should be and the sewage system.

The increase of average temperature is similar to what i have imagined because I can physically feel that the summer is getting hotter by years. However, it’s hard and even a bit terrifying to think about the amount of space that will be sunk in water because of sea level rising. Even though the sea level keeps rising every year, it’s not obvious enough for people to actually see the change.

In order to make New York more resilient, the materials used to build the buildings should be carefully considered in order to prepare for the floods in advance. Also, there should be a system that is able to evacuate water in a very short time. More importantly, people need to be more educated about the current environmental issues and what they should do when they encounter flooding.

 

Citation:

Garfield, Leanna. “A college student created this plan to save New York City from future floods.” Business Insider, July. 11, 2016. http://www.businessinsider.com/what-new-york-city-will-look-like-in-2050-2016-7 (accessed Apr. 4, 2018)

Schuerman, Matthew. “NYC 2050: Climate Change and the Future of New York.” WNYC, Dec. 30, 2014. https://www.wnyc.org/story/nyc-2050-climate-change-and-future-new-york/ (accessed Apr. 4, 2018)

DOCUMENTATION:

TITLE:

2)  What is the title of your completed artwork? Did you choose something literal or provocative, why?

I named the small one “Wave”. If looking at it closely, it’s actually a pretty abstract wave.

I named the big one “Growth” because there are tons of branches and leaves, which symbolize growth.

RESULTS/ INTERPRETATIONS  

3) Did the work come out as expected (or as you hypothesized)?

Not exactly. The “white to purple” one doesn’t show up that well. And color purple doesn’t show up at all. The outlines are a little bit blurry but is still fine.

4) Did your canvas mature over time? Did you manipulate different things over time?

Yes. The bacteria reacts and produces different colors that gradually show up over the last week. The color red is obviously the most dominant color. I didn’t do anything to the plate but merely put it under a certain temperature and let it grow.

 

REFLECTIONS:

5) What new questions do you have?

What will happen if I leave the dishes for longer time, about a month? Will the bacteria keep growing? Or stop at a certain point or be contaminated?

6) What would you do differently next time?

When I put the bacteria onto the fabric, I won’t press too hard because it would smudge the image.

7) What is unique about bacteria as an art material?

It is absolutely natural and nontoxic, which will cause less damage to the environment.

8) What messages/images do you think painting with bacteria best conveys?

Painting with bacteria best conveys simple designs because the outlines could be blurred and hard to see, if the image is too complicated. It also educates more people to infinite possibilities of exploring new natural materials.

9) How might using bacterial paint express the concept of Long Life Design as we have discussed it in class?

The material is safe and natural, so it won’t lead to any harm to the environment. Also, the paint can last for a pretty long time.

10) What connections can you make with bacterial paint and the Long Life Design criteria?

It doesn’t cost too much money. The process of making the dye is actually very interesting to do and see, even though it smells horrible. Bacteria paint is very useful for textile industries because it could be used to dye the fabrics. More importantly, the material is natural and eco friendly, allowing people to be more aware of environmental issues. It replaces synthetic dye that can lead to severe water and air pollutions.

 

1)  Please watch the following design talks video on Regeneration Design Links to an external site.and answer the following seven questions on your LP.

– At the start of the program Industrial Designer Fumikazu Masuda says, “we cannot continue like this, there is no future in mass production and consumption.” Do you agree?

I agree, because mass production and consumption are causing harm on the earth. People buy things and consume them, leaving a lot of trash that goes into the environment. The reason that causes mass production and consumption is basically because of people’s pursuit in trendy new products, which potentially leads to more production and more consumption. This harmful cycle needs to be stopped for the environment’s sake.

– What was the transformative experience that made Matsuda realize he had a responsibility for what he designed?

When Matsuda walked by a beautiful river that was polluted by trash, he realized that he has the responsibility to prevent this from happening as a designer. Design is not always about creating new, cooler products but reusing old things and making them into new ones.

– Do you think you would take better care of objects if you had to repair them?

Yes, I would definitely take better care of objects because I want to extend the life of it. Once I decide to repair an object, the object must have some special meaning to me. I would treasure it and actually care about it. Also, I would be more careful about my object because I don’t want to repair it again.

– What are examples of materials that you could design with today, that could later return to the “natural cycle” (such as the bamboo that Masuda mentions)?

I could use paper, cardboard, recycled wood for materials. Also, there is a lot of potentials in creating new materials, such as the Kombucha leather.

– Masuda says, “nobody wants to leave the next generation with nothing but trash.” Do you think designers should consider the ability for their designs to be repaired, as part of their initial design process? What else might help create less waste?

I think it depends on what kind of products designers are designing. If it’s a table, or a chair, the designer can think about breaking down the product into pieces that can be easily put together by the customers. When a single part of the product is broken, the customer can easily take it apart and fix it. In this case, the designer absolutely needs to consider the ability for their designs to be repaired. However, it is not a case for electronic devices because of their sophisticated structures. The best way to make less waste is to improve the after sale service. Other than making the products repairable, designers can also think about the materials they use. They can choose to use the materials that can be recycled or easily decomposed. Also, designers could produce less products by combining two products into one. The best example would be sofa bed, which can be a sofa when it’s collapsed and turn into a bed when being stretched out.

– What are the two things that Masuda says designers should be mindful of when designing (see timecode 20:00)? Why does he say this is important? Do you agree?

Designers should create something that doesn’t require a lot of resources. They also need to consider natural materials. It is important, especially in Japan, because there aren’t many resources in Japan. And the designers should always consider it while they are designing because every step they go and every material they use will influence the environment. I agree because I think one of the most important missions of designers is to make life better. So they have the responsibility and the ability to save the earth through their designs. And their designers will eventually motivate and educate more people to do the same thing.

– What are you overall thoughts on this video? Did you enjoy it?

I enjoyed hearing from Masuda talking about natural resources and the idea of regeneration. It is inspiring because I never thought about materials and how my designs could affect the earth. However, Masuda’s point of creating  “simple designs that require few resources” bothered me a little bit because a design doesn’t necessarily have to be simple in order to use less resources.

2) Reflect on your process in the science labs this week:

1. Which bacteria did you use and why?

I used Serratia marcescens, Variable, and Sarcina because of the colors they accord to.

1. How does the genotype of the bacteria constrain or expand your ability to “paint” with it?

It constrains my ability of paint because there is limited color.

1. Did you consider how temperature might influence how your paint would appear?

Each bacteria requires different temperature in order for the colors to show up. And some slight changes in temperature could vary the saturation of the color. I didn’t consider too much about the temperature because there is little thing I can do to adjust the temperature.

1. Which petri dishes did you use and why?

I used LB/ Amp for Serratia marcescens and Variable and LB for Sarcina because there is Ampicillin in LB/ Amp, and the color yellow of Sarcina won’t show up eventually.

1. Which components can be varied and which must remain stable?

The amount of “paint” can be varied, but the corresponding petri dishes and the temperature it requires to react and show colors remain stable.

1. Which applicator(s) did you use and why?

I used paint brush and toothpick because I would be able to draw fine lines and the shape I want easily.

1. What effect does the application have?

The application affects the overall shape of my design and the amount of paint going into the dishes.

1. How did you control the amount of paint distributed?

I used different tools to distribute the paint. For the detailed outline, I used toothpicks to draw the lines. And for a big surface area, I paint with a paintbrush. And I dipped a little “paint” every time.

1. Do you think your work can keep growing? What would make the paint “die”?

Yes, the bacteria will keep reacting and growing. The paint would die if I add antibiotics to the bacteria.

1. Hypothesize about the results of your choices in the lab. What do you expect to occur?

I expect the colors to shows up as they were supposed to be. And I also expect to see the drawing I did initially.

1. Are you enjoying the lab so far? What feedback do you have about the experience?

I enjoy the lab and think that it’s a meaningful and special experience. I wonder if we are able to work with bacteria paint in a larger scale and actually make a project out of the technique.

PRELAB RESEARCH: Review the following links and prompts:

5) RESEARCH REFLECTION: After viewing these sites do you think bacteria might offer alternative dyeing methods that are less toxic? Are you inspired by this potential? What questions or concerns do you have? Based on your major and personal interests, conduct independent research on either the effects of 1) the fashion industry or 2) synthetic inks and paints on environmental systems. Summarize your research.

I think that bacteria is definitely a wonderful alternative dyeing methods that are less poisonous and cause less harm to the earth. Bacterias are basically microorganisms. The process of making dye from bacterias is totally natural and safe. In contrast, the synthetic dyes are sometimes toxic and can lead to bad influences on the environment.

It is both an innovative and sustainable approach to create dye for clothing. The idea itself is brilliant because it’s not a hard process but it bring some positive changes to both the fashion industry and the earth. My question would be where are these bacterias from? Is there a specific bacteria that is capable with creating dyes?

Research shows that the process of making synthetic inks emits harmful gases, causing air pollution. Also, synthetic dyes lead to severe water pollution because there is tons of wastewater from the textile industries that floats into the river, lake, or ocean.. And these wastewater with dyes cannot be easily decomposed. More importantly, a layer of dye prevents the sunlight shining through the water and reaches the organisms underwater. As a result, the growth of different organisms and the whole ecosystem are disturbed.

(https://www.slideshare.net/NehaKumar09/impact-of-the-dye-industry-on-the-environment)

 

PRELAB DESIGN INSPIRATION:

7) REFLECTION: Did this video change your perception of bacteria? What did you learn? Were you inspired by her art? Do you think bacteria might be a useful medium for art and design (why/why not)?

This video did change my perception of bacteria. The speaker mentioned at the beginning of the video that people tend to think of bacteria as something obnoxious and disgusting. I used to think of it the same way, but it turns out that bacteria is not always harmful. It is my first time to think about bacteria from another perspective and actually appreciate its existence. Through her artwork, I see a lot of potentials in terms of medium and form. However, only using bacteria could also limit her because there is limited number of color and it requires a specific condition for bacteria art to happen. Bacteria is definitely useful medium for art and design, such as using bacteria to substitute synthetic dyes, because it is a more sustainable and eco friendly choice.

 

9) RESEARCH REFLECTION: After viewing these links, what do you think of bacteria as an artistic media? Are you excited to try it yourself? Do you sense a difference in color (more variation etc.) between what is found naturally in bacteria, as opposed to synthetic colors? Consider our class discussions on Long Life Design. How might painting with bacteria relate to this theme?

After viewing Jenifer Wightman’s work, I think that aesthetically, bacteria is a great media because it creates these amazing patterns that can’t be made easily by other mediums like paint. Also, the idea of using bacteria as an artistic media is innovative and combines science with art and design. I’m extremely excited to try painting with bacteria in person because it’s different from any painting and drawing experience that I had before. Compared to synthetic colors, colors found in bacteria are hardly primary colors. And the number of types of colors that could be found in bacteria is less than that of synthetic colors. Painting with bacteria can be considered a long life design because the material used in the process is safe to the environment.

PRELAB DESIGN:

 

10) Post a scan of your four design ideas and bring this sheet to class. The diameter of your designs should be 3.25 inches (see page 3 of the pigment lab brief distributed in class).

11) CREATE AN ARTIST STATEMENT:

– Why these designs? How does it relate to themes of our class and your work at Parsons?

I design a series of water splashes pattern because our class discusses a lot about water system. And using bacteria paint alleviates water pollution, so I want to incorporate the idea of water in the design.

– Are there particular artworks, methods, or artists that influenced your choice?

I was influenced by watercolor because it’s a bit similar to the bacteria paint in terms of the transparency in the final outcome.

– How does the medium influence your design choice?  What kind of image would you like to make with bacteria and why?

Since I will be painting in bacteria, I decided to design something that doesn’t have too many details. Also, it has that gradient and smudgy quality, I want to have an image that can be best shown through these qualities.