Prompt

In this studio, we will be investigating “imperfections” in your environment as sites for design to inspire new conversations with locations. 

The nuances and imperfections of a place are often what make it so delightful and engaging. A strangely-shaped crack in the sidewalk, an off-beat image on a sign, an ambiguous street sign, a crooked chain-link fence, a bench with a missing arm rest – each provides a new lens into understanding the places we inhabit.

Imperfections are also opportunities for designers to critique the environment: to exaggerate, distort, exploit, manipulate, or alter an existing condition into something new and playful. Through the slightest material change in the environment, design can modify the narrative of a place.

Instructions 

Part 1

Watch the short video (above) on public art in New York City. For piece of artwork shown in the video, write 3  words that describe the piece (e.g., soft, inviting, bold). 

Part 2 - Find Potential Places for Delightful Hacking! (in pairs!) 

Your teacher will tell you where you can explore in order to investigate possible locations for your project. 

1. Identify 3 possible sites for your intervention (this could be an unused shelf, a sidewalk, an interesting corner, a bench, a portion of a fence, etc.)
2. Document each site with 3 photographs from different angles and capture interesting features
3. Draw a sketch of your site, add as much detail as possible
4. For each site, write down at least 3 characteristics about what makes this site “imperfect,” and two ideas about how your team could harness the imperfection to make something new and exciting. 

Deliverable

Take pictures of your documentation and add them in a post to the Responses tab above.