Comments on: Aware Project by the Interactive Institute

By: superjonsson

superjonsson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:44:34 +0000

I know that Interactive Institute is nothing like this. Both the AWARE and the Static! projects carried on for several years and where grounded in qualitative user studies both in early stage of development and afterwards.
I think that the focus here is not to directly evaluate whether the specific prototypes actually reduce electricity consumption but rather to gain knowledge and understand the possibilities on how artefacts should look and behave, what social roles they might play, in desirable future scenarios like sustainable living.
The design examples should be seen as materialized discussions around a way to map out a design space towards awareness and longer-term engagement. It is not their primarily focus whether they actually work or not.

By: Panos

Panos — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:32:32 +0000

Every little helps…people don’t have to be so negative for such an inspiring work.
It might not be super efficient to dry you clothes for example around a lamp, But its an interesting idea that would make some people use the tumple drier less than normal…
Also the same applies to the rest of the pieces…some designers design based on pure research some design based more on emotions and reactions…both are needed.

By: Jo

Jo — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:49:38 +0000

This is probably the wrong blog for this kind of work. There are other ones with more enlightened and educated readerships where work like this is appreciated for it is rather than dismissed for what it is not.

Don’t squander good work here, let them enjoy their cake!

By: onvn

onvn — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:03:08 +0000

Agree with Jeff K! Some of these designs are mere idealisations of energy efficiency and energy awareness and not an aim for a better future.. I question the designer’s intentions somewhat.. pure design or energy awareness?

By: Marc Bell

Marc Bell — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:05:57 +0000

I complety agree with Jeff K, there are to many designs at the moment that highlight the need to reduce energy consumption, that unfortunatly dont actually contribute hugely to the cause.

By: jeff K

jeff K — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:21:54 +0000

There seems to be many designs coming out right now that are aimed at ‘energy awareness’. The ‘research’ seems to involve coming up with something poetic or beautiful, and much of the energy seems to go into the quality of the final product.
I would be interested to see some actual research into whether these ‘awareness’ products actually effect energy use long term, or if they are just pleasant little stories that make up nice exhibitions. Human habits are extremely complicated, and it seems silly to make assumptions on how these can be changed.
I hate to be critical of people who are obviously trying to do something good, but I also feel that research in the design world always feels dumbed down and focused on physical objects rather than actual research. This does little for the credibility of the field.
I like beautiful objects and I like interesting research. It frustrates me when one dilutes the other.