Social
Spaces

5.8.2009

ConstantStream x Borderline was organised by Royal College of Art (RCA)/Helen Hamlyn Centre, Media & Design Academie (MDA), Design Platform Limburg and art centre Z33.

ConstantSteam x Borderline explored the meaning of borderlines in different contexts: in the Family, in the City and in a Collaboration context.

A fruitful group of 23 participants shared their interests and knowlegde on the theme Borderline and design methodologies, which will also be the central theme of the Cumulus conference in Genk May 2010. The workshop was a first brainstorm for ideas and perspectives on the Cumulus conference of 2010. Futhermore, it will give ideas and content for the Constant Stream publication by RCA in 2010.

A presentation by dr. Yanki Lee (RCA) of art and design projects about China and Chinese culture were the starting point for discussions on how to deal with borderlines. The ‘Family’ context was for instance exemplified with the provoking photoseries Daddy and I by O. This critical photo project discussed the adoption of Chinese girls by American families. The workshop participants were asked to think about their own origins and reflect on the cities they currently work and where they would like to live in the future. The participants went outside to physically map their hometown, ‘worktown’ and ‘futuretown’. A paper mapping on a wall of Z33 followed and gave various opions and answers to questions such as: what is a border? what defines a border? why do borders exist? what kind of borders exist? how to cross borders? or do border not exist at all?

After a delicious Chinese take-away lunch break, the ‘City’ context was introduced by designer Thomas Laureyssens (MDA) and researcher Jo-Anne Bichard (RCA). Thomas explained his thoughts on how to make the invisible visible. He moderated a ‘marking border citywalk’. During this walk he asked the participants to literally visualise (non-)exisiting borders in the streets of Hasselt with white tape and a black marker. Pictures of the marked borders were taken and exhibited next to the mapped wall. Jo-Anne’s research on public toilets was integrated in the ‘marking border’-citywalk. By drinking two glasses of water before we started the walk, the participants were forced to use public toilets. Leaving the buildings of Z33, on our quest to actually use public toilets showed the lack of sanitary in public spaces. The public toilet search and marking/defining borders assignment raised awareness to look at the city in a different way. By leaving traces it is visible for other people as well.

A last lecture by Yanki Lee on design methodologies showed that the traditional design 1.0 altered in various design modes: to product/service design 2.0, organization and transformation design 3.0 to the latest social transformation design 4.0, which includes the inclusive design method of the RCA. Nowadays designers should design with people, not for them. Designers should help people explore how they live and will live. The ConstantStream x Borderline workshop showed us to think about our abilities and ourselves in relationship with the outside world.

Photo-impression: physcal mapping, marking borders in the city, mapping public toilets http://tr.im/kUlt