Transfiguring Disciplinary Boundaries

“...a blurring of traditional design domains.” [Sanders, 2006] “...a new capacity for collaboration has encouraged new types of design practice.” [Hight and Perry, 2006]. “Encouraged by the rise of telecommunication technologies, new interconnections and configurations of knowledge have materialized and presented new opportunities for creative practice.” [Gibbons et al, 1994].

Changes in Design Practice Professional (Discipline Blurring) Economical (Employment and Financial Shifts) Technological (Developments in Information and Computing Technologies)

The problems of society are increasingly complex and interdependent.

They are not isolated to particular sectors or disciplines.

They are emergent phenomena with non-linear uncertainties.

“Designers no longer fit neatly into categories such as product, furniture and graphics; rather they are a mixture of artists, engineers, designers, entrepreneurs and anthropologists.” [West, 2007]

DesignerDisciplinesObjectivesOutputs Loop.ph Technology Decorative design Beginning a digital arts and crafts movement. Linking technology to nature Environmentally responsive textiles. Electronic wallpaper. Troika Art Graphic design Product design Socio-political interventions. Subverting existing devices. Tool for armchair activists. SMS guerrilla projector. Moritz Waldemeyer Mechatronics Design Exploiting technology to transform designed objects and spaces. Robotic dress. Computer controlled chandelier. Simon Heijdens Art Design Eradicating divisions between art and design. Moving wallpaper. Ceramic tableware. Greyworld Spatial design Music Theatre design Create works that articulate public spaces. Interactive railings. Kinetic sculpture. Daniel Eatock Graphic design Art Furniture design Documentation of everyday objects presented in a non- standard way. Graphics. Furniture. Art. Helmut Smits Sculpture Furniture design Spatial design Link things together to make strong, simple images. Furniture Public art Lighting Atelier van Lieshout Art Design Architecture The emphasis is on the work being produced by a creative team. Sculpture Furniture Mobile home units

DesignerDisciplinesObjectivesOutputs Loop.ph Technology Decorative design Beginning a digital arts and crafts movement. Linking technology to nature Environmentally responsive textiles. Electronic wallpaper.

DesignerDisciplinesObjectivesOutputs Troika Art Graphic design Product design Socio-political interventions. Subverting existing devices. Tool for armchair activists. SMS guerrilla projector. The Cloud, T5.

DesignerDisciplinesObjectivesOutputs Atelier van Lieshout Art Design Architecture The emphasis is on the work being produced by a creative team. Sculpture Furniture Mobile home units

DesignerDisciplinesTypeObjectivesOutputs Jonathan Ive Industrial Design Disciplinary Designer Aesthetics, functionality and the craft of manufacture. Attention to detail. iMac, iPod and the IPhone.

DesignerDisciplinesTypeObjectivesOutputs Philippe Starck Transport, Interior, Product, Furniture Multi- disciplinary Designer Longevity, morality and honesty as integral to the design process (Fiell, 2006). Juicy Salif, lemon squeezer. Louis Ghost chair. Café Costesin.

DesignerDisciplinesTypeObjectivesOutputs Elio Cacavale Product Design Biotechnology Cross- disciplinary Designer Critically explore social and ethical aspects of hybrid grounds such as advances in biotechnology. Utility pets project (smoke eater, toy communicator)The future family’s project (Dummy tummy).

DesignerDisciplinesTypeObjectivesOutputs Moritz Waldemeyer Design Mechatronics Inter- disciplinary Designer Exploiting technology to transform designed objects and spaces. Pong and roulette tables. Robotic dress.

DesignerDisciplinesTypeObjectivesOutputs GreyworldSculpture Architecture Product Music Trans- disciplinary Designer Create works that articulate public spaces. The Source. Interactive railings. Kinetic sculpture. Public Art Interventions.

There are significant transformations within the design industry. Projects now integrate various disciplinary influences, skills, knowledge, and new designer hybrids.

‘Multi-disciplinary design’, ‘cross-disciplinary design’, ‘interdisciplinary design’ and ‘trans-disciplinary design’ each have their own distinct characteristics.

Are Definitions of Design Relevant today?

In practice, disciplines are constructs that we can choose to adhere to or not.

In academia, discipline boundaries are important for research/teaching.

What are the implications for design practice, education and research?

What methods will foster ‘better’ approaches to design?

How can we improve the activities of designing objects and ‘cultures’?

Thank You. Any Questions?