MUST CREATE!

Potato clocks.. yeah!!

2008-02-03T08:28:00.003-08:00

An example of an object which feeds from an unusual resource is the Potato clock. Clocks which run on potatoes may seem like a bizarre example of what is always available in ‘Innovations’ magazine, but this type of energy supply could be quite useful for charging a parasite. The potato provides enough energy to power quite a small circuit and usually charges something that runs on little energy.
By considering the objects which could successfully run on this type of power gives the opportunity for designing objects which could partially feed from them. It begs the question ‘How many potatoes to power a tv?

Anti-homeless design.....what!!!

2008-02-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

Anti homeless design has recently become common. The idea has sprung from councils wanting to change the urban environments to prevent the things that they deem anti-social happening. From railings which prevent climbing, spikes to prevent pigeons resting, bumps to stop skateboarding and now design to stop homelessness!

This type of design seems very extreme and controlling over society and how we behave. Barriers becoming more common and examples of barriers which are now made to look aesthetically pleasing are now noticeable. From forming spiles to stop people from resting on guttering to the metal bumps inserted into low walls to prevent skateboarding, formed into flowers or miniature objects.

These types of prevention gives a designer the opportunity to do the opposite. You could rebuild onto the barriers and prevent the preventor. Would this encourage another continuation of designs to prevent the preventors of preventors?! Imagine the step ladder to help you climb over spikes or a roll out smooth surface to allow skateboarders freedom in the urban environmnent. The possibilities are definitely there.

Second Aids

2008-02-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

A ‘Second Aid’ is an interesting term used by some designers for an object whose purpose is to attach to another, and in doing this is intended to improve or complete the other object. These objects aim to stop the negative reaction a user has to something which seems inadequate or doesn’t work as it should. The second aid is there to mediate between the object and user and enable them to keep the object and improve its use.

Objects like this tend to be advertised as ‘objects to make your life easier’. They are designed to fit snuggly onto the host and address different needs which cannot be addressed by a single object.

Examples of second aids

One of the problems with second aids is the constant reminder they give to the fact that the hosts original design is not perfect. Through my research I came across the concept of the Helfershelfer: a helpful object applied to another helpful object which is applied to second aids. When thinking about this idea I realized that the value of a second aid could be quite low. When you consider the object on its own without the host it seems quite a useless object. The second aid cannot operate without its host whereas the host still remains something even without the second aid.

I did an experiment to test how many objects I could come up with to attach to a pencil in ten minutes and I came up with 26 objects which would seem complete without the pencil!

Synergy- in relation to my project

2008-02-03T07:49:00.000-08:00

In a relationship where one objects feeds off energy or a resource, it is not always negative. Occasionally it may be beneficial for the host or not affect it whatsoever.
This can be related to another scientific term called Synergy where two or more things acting together create something which only can be created with these things working together. For example where, one person alone is too short to reach an object above them and so is the other person. If the second person sits on the firsts shoulders they become tall enough to reach the object. The product of their synergy would be the reached object.

When thinking about the relationships within Parasitic design I have considered the question:

Am I a Parasite of the objects I own or are we partners of a synergetic experience?

As parasites can be related to many objects in different situations I think about how I treat everyday objects. This way of thinking relates to the system of subject- object interactions. Using the relationships of subject - object I can think about how I relate to objects. For example if I were to think about my mobile phone.

Object - Object The relationship between the two phones.
Object - Subject The relationship between myself and the phone.
Subject- Object The relationship between the phone and myself.

The phones relationship is mutual communication between each other. I connect myself with it to make calls and use it regularly. I get resources and benefits from it through using it, but does it benefit from our relationship? This made me think about the idea that without my need for the phone it would not exist, so this is what the phone benefits from me. My ownership allows the phone to become parasitic to me, I carry it around and it becomes a permanent fixture to my life and my environment. This circle of relationships also contains an outside entity which is the phone company which benefits from mine and the phones relationships

'Dielectric'

2008-02-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

Scott Amron the designer behind the company ‘Dielectric’, has come up with an unusual concept for his designs. He has created a number of insulating objects which plug into an electrical socket. The collection do not conduct electricity but instead encourages the user to reduce the amount of electricity they consume. The objects range from a shelf, a hook, a chair to a handy place to hold your toothbrush. The socket acts as a strong attachment for each object. This experiment comes from Amron himself being an electrical engineer, and creates an amusing use for an existing object. The idea of using a socket as a form of attatching an object could be taken forward as an idea for parasitic objects.

USB Parasite

2008-02-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

An interesting example of parasitic design has been created by Moixa Energy Ltd which has designed a battery which recharges on a USB port on your laptop. This seems to be one of the the most useful examples within the current craze of ‘USB gadgets’. Rather than a useless ‘plug in race car’ or ‘miniature musical keyboard’, this enables the user to ‘steal’ energy from their computer and by doing this ‘provide consumers with better solutions for their mobile or home power requirements that are more usable, economic and environmentally friendly’. This is an interesting mode of energy transfer and there seems a lot of possibilities with similarly actually useful and well designed objects.

Finding Parasites & Icon Magazine

2007-12-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

Looking in the environment around me introduces lots of small objects or entities that attach themselves to things.

By collecting these images it helps find inspiration for finding contexts for my project.

Rus found this article in Icon magazine. The existing table has to be slightly adapted to accomodate the parasite drawers which is an idea which I haven't really looked at. I had come up with the idea of objects that attatch and materials which invade as seperate ideas. Combining both of these ideas is quite interesting.
I wonder what the table will look like with the parasite drawer removed? This is something I need to consider - Do I want my parasite to be permanent? If I were to create an object that needed to be screwed or slotted in (with a slot I or the user had created) it would be interesting to make the screw holes or slots functional or aestheticly pleasing, allowing the table to unaffected when the parasite is removed. But if the parasite is permanent this wouldn't matter which changes the outcome of the objects I design.

Opportunities for Parasitic environments

2007-11-28T04:45:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to look at sites and situations in which a parasitic object could be used. I'm finding it a help to find the hosts and then think of the parasite. My ideas are very abstract and not very clear but the idea of the stair slide is quite nice visualy. Then looking at existing parasitic forms the plug which I could put forward into unusual designs of objects using a socket not necessarily for electricity. Then bizarre sofa storage which has been done a million times for nasty things like remote controls and magazines. I also thought about inclosing space on the sofa making it more of a den or experience. Finally an idea for a parasite which stops the cold tap from turning on too far I suppose saving water but this would probably just be an annoyance.

Parasitic Design - Idea Formulation

2007-11-22T04:09:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to identify Parasitism types within design but focusing on 3D.

1. Objects which steal energy or a resource from a source/host.

2. Objects which change the form of an existing object.

3. Materials which invade other materials.

4. Objects which attatch themselves.

'Las Palmas Parasite’ by Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten.Dutch Architects who have created a prototype of a prefabricated building attached to the roof of an existing warehouse. The building exists using the water and heating power of the warehouse and can be attached in a short time scale. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing but solves a lot of problems from energy consumption and housing space. Its a very interesting opportunity for a parasitic relationship within Architecture.

Micheal Rakowitz, Parasite. The product is a compact homeless shelter. The mass of fabric is able to be carried around and then rolled out. A tube is attached to the exterior ventilation systems on existing buildings. The product fills up with warm air and provides a temporary warm and waterproof membrane for the person to sleep in. Taking advantage of heat which is usually wasted and also making a thought provoking statement about the lack of shelter for the homeless within the city.
This is an impressive opportunity for design using existing sources, imagine a parasite which exists on wind or condensation or some other free source. The idea of the inflatable is also an interesting one. The air we expel is proven to be able to intervene in a Parasitic relationship and inflatables themselves definitely seem an extremely successful form of parasite.

Parasitism

2007-11-22T03:33:00.000-08:00

I have started to research the science of Parasites.
It is decribed as Parasitism and always found within the subject of Symbiosis when I researched it.

Symbiosis is when two organisms co-exist (where one organism benefits while the other is not affected).
Also there is Mutualism where both species benefit

A Parasite changes the Symbiosis by sometimes being predatory e.g flea on host, and one organism benefits and the other called the 'host' is harmed.

I then found a whole list of types of parasites which will be handy when i'm defining my projects.

Endoparasites - Parasites that live inside the body of the host.
Ectoparasites - Those that live on the outside of the body.
Parasitoids - are parasites that use another organism's tissue for their own nutritional benefit until the host dies from loss of needed tissues or nutrients.
Epiparasite - is a parasite that feeds on another parasite.
Biotrophic parasites - cannot survive in a dead host and so keep their hosts alive.

Interestingly there's also a term
'Social parasites' - taking advantage of social interactions.

Never thought of tape

2007-11-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

I had been thinking of adhesive objects which could create a parasitic invasion, i'd been thinking of hooks and suckers etc but I think this creates such a visual impact as a material. It made me start to think about the entity thing I kept going on about ... a huge sticky parasite?.. but what would it do?

Research

2007-11-21T12:45:00.001-08:00

I researched for parasitic designs and through doing this I noticed different types of parasites.
Firstly I found an example of lazer cut marquetry by greenwich village going back to the idea of materials being parasitic.

The idea of something which changes the form of an existing object is really interesting to me the fabric changes the use of the chairs and creates something new without damaging it.

I find this product so inspiring for this project changing the use of this chair and making it something else and something so much more attractive that what it was.

Objects clinging to another or surrounding it, using ivy as the comparison again.

The stool is such a visual parasite on this chair I think I would need a good concept to do something similar to this though. The chair below it is a similar example when looking to it as a parasite it just reminds me of a backpack or clinging child.

And finally the idea of collections of parasites again... these patches stick together to create forms which the user creates. This is an example which gives me similar ideas to the parasite badges or objects on the wallpaper.

Velcro wallpaper

2007-11-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

Done some pretty naff prototypes. The idea behind velcro wallpaper could be quite interesting, I made a few box shelves and thay stick suprisingly well. I imagine some intricate patterned wallpaper which would have a similar appearance to flocked wallpapers. This would be nicer if I can get hold of rolls of velcro material which I can cut patterns into rather than the annoying strips that are available.

The shelving was a quick option but objects that can be pulled off the wall and rearranged easily is a nice idea... need to think of what these objects would be. Think i'm blocking myself by imagining a front room when there are more rooms in the house with interesting objects in. Kitchens always have lots of hooks and hanging objects. Thinking about the bathroom with tiles that have different functions think their all sex aids or something, nice context.

Marquetry

2007-11-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

I've identified a few areas of parasitic design and parasites in design. One of these concepts is a using a material as the parasite. This could be realised by boring or wasting material in the way in which wood louse burrows through wood leaving small tunnels and holes. It could also be realised by inserting a material into or onto another in a similar way in which ivy surrounds and infects the outside and inside of a trees trunk and branches.

A process which I have been really interested in is marquetry. The idea of experimenting using plastics rather than mother of pearl or wood could have interesting outcomes. I've experimented with perspex for a starting point before I test out various shades of wood. I have seen a few examples of this process around, its a really interesting media and could be a niche or process I could take forward into my final project if I do end up making furniture.

I seem to have an obsession with the lazer cutter and realised last year that marquetry could be created much more quickly and easily using it, although I will be experimenting with original techniques also. I slightly manipulated an image of a flea and cut the same shapes from birch ply and perspex. It's come out okay not sure on the colour it probably would be nicer with wood on wood, but it was a successful experiment and I know that lazer cut marquetry is possible now.

A quick idea was to use the birch offcuts as a collection of parasitic badges and a ridiculous amount worn at the same is quite an interesting idea.. well it looks pretty interesting, and saves on waste. Collections of objects could definately be something I should look at and could be used with different medias.Its made me think about things that hook to clothes or surfaces like walls.

The next step

2007-11-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Another post in the past tense. Ok.. first ideas on parasites. Kept noticing graffiti pastes in Brick Lane. Could I relate this to parasites? The idea of an object covering or taking over existing object (in this case walls) I wanted to start by getting the idea out of my head so pasted an image of a hook worm on the studio wall. Works as decoration and nothing much else.. nice process though.

Parasites

2007-11-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

I started with a project on Boundaries. I was exploring the relationships between a person and their personal boundaries. I looked at protecting personal space and the oposing idea of intergrating it. When looking at intergrating boundaries I thought about seating which forces people together, and squashes their personal space. I created ideas about applying pattern to particular spaces, the chairs and tables and objects in a room could be forced into an intricate pattern which overlapped space. I then thought about the pattern being applyed to all surfaces and it became an invasion of pattern. From this idea I moved on to the invading pattern become a physical thing, a set of objects or imposing entity and from this long chain of thought I came up with the concept of... PARASITES.