Design as Conversation

Design is not solely based upon the aesthetics; it can often be used as a method of communication to convey the artist’s belief and ideas about a certain issue to the public. As a result, it would require its audience to understand the designer’s intentions so that they may respond to it; this is exactly what a conversation is: a method of communication in which both the designer and the viewer interact together. It is the most important step as a designer, being able to communicate the idea to a broad range of audience, because design is often a collaborative work. In order to work together, people must understand the purpose or goal for which they are working towards.

Interactive art is a style of art that allows art to speak out to the public and have its viewers participate in response. Rather than “tell” the audience what they should do or believe, interactive art allows the public to join in on the idea and participate right along with it.

http://www.blackrockarts.org/scrapeden/Compost-spiral-pttp.jpg

An example is the Composting Contraption created for the ScrapEden project in San Francisco, whose main goal is to educate everyone about the joys of composting. The Composting Contraption is basically a manually-powered machine that uses the science of kinetic energy to turn the barrel for a composting bin. The materials used to make this machine were either recycled or reused, which is a wonderful way to stay green and help reduce the trash in our environment. This mobile compost design will travel through the area, educating children and adults alike, to enlighten them about composting methods and ways to recycle. They hope to maintain San Francisco’s zero waste goals.

Sources:

ScrapEden SF 2010 — Black Rock Arts Foundation." — Black Rock Arts Foundation. Web. 16 Oct. 2010. .