Design Distinctions (Asynchronous Session)
Reading Cultural Differences Through Similar Products: An Example of Mortar View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Fatma nur Gökdeniz Zeynali, Ege Kaya Köse
Cultural heritage is an important resource in the formation of cultural and social identity in the exchange of objects of their physical effects on eating and drinking habits. Food service products, which are shaped as a result of consumption habits, are made meaningful by the physical factors that generate the eating and drinking culture, traditions, environment and consumption routine. The life style of the society, which includes traditions and cultural features, carries this knowledge from past to present through objects. In this study, mortar, which is a food preparation product, has been discussed. Mortar has the same functions but different meanings by being associated with the region where it is used in its past and present uses. These uses, include the similarities and differences in the effects of product design. Conceptual relationships of these uses are discussed through the example of Turkey and Mexico. Within the scope of the study, material culture and cultural differences between societies and the reflections of this difference on objects of everyday life were investigated through the mortar sample. The methodology of the study was shaped by observation and semi-structured interviews with a Mexican product designer and Turkish product designer.
Cultural Détournement: The Impact of the Hijacking Movement View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mikki Shaw
The Situationist International was a collective of young men whose communist and Marxist ideals drove their creativity and theory development. Guy Debord spearheaded the movement, and ultimately pushed his ideas beyond the movement in order to stir cultural revolution amongst classes who experienced social unrest. Just as they derived their methods and purpose from other movements, such Letterism, Situationism influenced a great deal of following movements as well. The impact of the SI can be felt throughout history within graphic design, politics, and culture. The main technique used by the SI was that of détournement, a hijacking of icons and mediums in order to bring about a new message. Their methods and theories are still prevalent and emphasized in today’s culture.
Design of Traffic Control Equipment with Improved Responsiveness to Prevent Accidents in Flooded Underpass View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jaime Alvarez
In order to deal with increasingly frequent accidents caused by underpass flooding, it is required to develop traffic control equipment that can close vehicle traffic in a quick end effective way. In this research, design requirements for underpass traffic control equipment were clarified through literature review, market analysis, and user research, leading to a design proposal of a traffic equipment composed by a fence-retractable barricade and complementary traffic redirection devices that can be installed at expected flooding locations. At this stage of the research the design proposal has been qualitatively validated by conducting interviews with road managers; obtained evaluations have been satisfactory.
Examining Cultural Dimensions in the Design Studio View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marianne Holbert
In the innumerable hours that students spend working on design projects and faculty invest developing courses, how much time is given to reflect on questions of culture, practices, or values in the design studio? Whether it is intentional or not, when teaching, culture is being transmitted. Culture affects educational environments and tends to influence the way learners participate in education. Faculty, for the most part, teach in the model from which they were trained often without awareness of its associated cultural values. This paper shares current research on cultural dimensions in studio-based education. It develops a new data informed approach to addressing cultural dimensions to advance levels of cultural consciousness in the design curriculum. The framework integrates the Cultural Dimensions of Learning Framework (CDLF) developed by Parrish and Linder-Van Berschot for the studio. It builds upon the research of Hofstede, Nisbett, and Lewis and implements a survey for comprehending the cultural dynamics of design studio. It explores the presence and impact of cultural values in spectrums of variability. By developing integrative cultural learning strategies in the studio, faculty and students can become more aware of the cultural forces at play in learning environments.
