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Anne Britt Torkildsby
Why?
From where I stand as an Industrial designer, I consider an object, such as a quilt, to be produced by humans in a certain way or fashion. That is, the quilt has its own method of construction; it comes with an outline saying that its essence is e.g. to keep someone warm. This “real meaning” is given even before the quilt exists, so that we as designers can bring another piece into life by making it from this specific plan. However, there is a well-known problem with this way of thinking; since none of us really know when, where, why, by whom & most importantly how the object is used, we will not be able to fully determine its essence.
How?
To come to a better understanding of suchlike situations, I suggest implementing a critical method: the (existential) designial analysis, already into the blueprint of objects. I simply wish to present a new way to think design: a method of designing with focus on opening up the design brief – before the development process starts – through critical analysis, hence bring to light perspectives that the designer seems to forget and consequently understand the complications that may arise if these are neglected.
Just like the conditions of absence and confinement – existentials (fundamental forms of human existence), which are likely to be endemic to human life in cases involving illness and/or imprisonment – the object itself must hold certain basic forms that are commonly held to be universal to its existence, i.e. designials (fundamental forms of design existence), namely deprival, punishment, threat, substitute, protection, and anchor.
What?
The method is to be understood, and put into practice the same way most designers use functional analysis, i.e. starting from the top and analyzing the situation all the way through to the end result – constantly aiming the attention at the person in focus, namely one of many individuals in Intensive care units and Remand prisons around.
All of this will be described and exemplified in a design manual – a document intended for all students within the field of design, architecture, engineering, or the like who are involved in planning, constructing, maintaining, etc. future intensive care units, prisons or similar environments (that are experienced to be “extreme” to the individuals inhabiting them – permanent or temporary) or simply those born with an adventurous mind, that in addition are curious to take a trip to the 'dark side' of design-thinking.
Anyone that employs this method into their education, or design practice, will contribute with concepts such as text: that defines and motivates a series of designials, or take the physical form of critical design examples – all with the purpose to reveal something novel about next generations design objects.