Subject: new ideas, maybe

From: Stefanija Najdovska
Date: September 19, 2007 10:25:55 AM GMT+02:00
To: sophie krier

Hey Sophie,

Good morning.
Yesterday, after the discussion we had about improving our lab and working on it so it becomes the way we all want it... we were talking with Fleur and Lauriane. We've came to realize something really interesting. I don't know if it would be of any use for you, but it's a funny fact.
Everytime we have break, or we finish class, and we go infront of school, we start taking and so many ideas, suggestions and questions rise (for current or even new projects, school...) . I think its because eventhough there are many people outside, we are kinda grouped and talk. People from different departments, and teachers... it seems to be more relaxed, then when we are in class talking at once with 30 people. Maybe its the coffee-tee, the cigarettes... or just being outside that has influence on us, but its and interesting situation. Maybe somehow we can integrate that in the way our lab works.
Also, we realized that immediately after discussion in class, we are still kind of stuck with questions, but they do however come later on. So maybe it could be in idea like you said that we send them to you later, or we ask them the next time we have class.

Ok, well that would be all for now...


See you soon,
Stefi

DESIGN LAB SESSION 2

Questions in reaction to Kees Dorst' lecture.

Melina
How to increase awareness of our assumptions in class situations at the Design Lab?
Robbert
How to close the gap between broad theoretical knowledge and the practise (vertaalslag)?
Rana
How do you specify abstract findings in a project? How do you work with analytical data?
Marjan
How to connect this to the ‘normal’ person who doesn’t know anything from this new design?
Rosa
In what way are we different from non-designers?
David
What is design for me?
Sjoerd
Do designers still need a personal intuition in the new design?
Sophie
Why do we have to put new in front of everything?
Laurianne
How does the environment influence us and how to keep your own touch?
Johanna
How to learn to initiate projects when we are studying
Alexander
What is more effective for the designlab; a collective or a hierarchical structure
Stefie
In a changing world why do we need consistant values?
Does intuition follows changes?
Peik
What are natural partners in design-process?
Ben
Is design becoming part of social studies, is antropology replacing industry, how should they work together?
Fleur
Would it be helpfull for the designlab to have brainstorms with people of different backgrounds (like sociologists)?
Myrte
Should we dive more into human-behaviours and also social structures (big and small)?
Erik
What should happen to the old-school designers?
Eleny
Is design a tool to reform a society?
Niels
Can a new design create his own value with- or without research?
Kees
Are you ready to open up to design in this way?
Lena
Are the Lab1 students different than the Lab2 students? Why?
Comment of Kees Dorst:
How can we develop a program at the designlab this year that answers these questions? No more projects but adventures.

DESIGN LAB SESSION 3

Tutor's statements & questions to the department related to their professional practice

> how can we study specific places, share our findings, experience a topic physically? how to design specific things? how to generate collective knowledge? (c&m)
> how can we construct meaningful dialogues? how can build rich processes and communicate these? (sk)
> how can we honour the detail? (ls)
> how can we design for changing societies? how can we design open, participatory processes of change?
> how can we innovate beyond style? how can we materialize our ideas?

Lab portraits & questions related the identity of a design lab

> bakery (jeroen) > freeze moment for dough > ideas also need freeze space. what is the dough of the department? what are the special ingredients that we should keep a close eye on?
> vintage store (stefi)> about trying things out, about old and new > is a lab about new ideas or new methods? can one change his/her identity in a lab?
> tichelaar (sjoerd)> database aan mogelijkheden. no formula. learn by trying. > which database should designlab build up? which learning mode fits designlab?
> volkskrantgebouw (eva) > how to learn from each other, to combine skills, and how can spatial configuration support this?
> mouth (melina)> a sensor for the environment
> (fleur) >how can our lab be linked to specialists from outside the design discipline?
> (david) > drogisterij > how is possible / how can be a quality to be conservative in a lab?
> (marjan) > fablab> how could a designlab look as magical to the outside as a chemistry lab looks to us?
> (rosa) >where does a question come from in a lab? - fomr society?
> (johanna) > fiestfabriek > are there any innovative researchers about creating movement / mobility with muscle power?

Design LAB SESSION 2

Lecture by Kees Dorst & Questions to the department

Design LAB SESSION 1

Notes Sept 3 2007: manifesto issues

About technology & craft, new functionalism. need for a beeldenstorm.
The courage to explore unknown areas. What should the courage of the department be?
What could design lead to if it could go where it wants to go?
Design: an immediate, accessible, direct, democratic medium?
How to communicate the value behind design?
Can good design be invisible? Should design be recognized?
About the necessity of communicating. What is communication? Communication in public space today is often impersonal. How do LAB projects communicate to the world?
About new surroundings and the need for a safety net. Do we need a safe base, as individuals and/or as a department? Can Design Lab be a reference point / a home to its students?
Is Rietveld a protective environment? Do we want that?
The idea of a manifest on-the-go. Letting intuition play a role in guiding the work process.
About the need for things to be more human, more warm. What does being human mean to each of us?
Starting with a clean street, getting over preconceived ideas of design. How to stay open, experiment?
Speaking in LAB metaphors.. triggers images of what’s written.
About reading, how to organize a good setting for this, how to maintain discipline?
What should our LAB library look like?
About the balance between thinking and doing, how to create that balance, work towards it?
How to maintain belief in your projects? To keep a good energy with what you are doing?

Concept future agenda points: basis for design exercises?

• What should the courage of the department be? What could design lead to if it could go where it wants to go?
• How to achieve a balance between thinking and doing in projects?
• How to create a HUMAN LAB?
• What should our LAB library look like, function?
• Can we establish a LAB language, lexicon?
• Can our LAB be a temporary home?