At this year’s Xth Planetary Collegium Conference in Munich, I will be giving a paper presentation, discussing participatory design methods within the context of media architecture: Spatial Experience rather than Large Screens – Designing for Media Architecture.
Statement:
Participatory design research as an element of the design process for mediated architectural spaces.
Abstract:
The urban built environment has increasingly become the stage for dynamic media projections. Building facades turn to large canvases for graphical and interactive output. The appearance of static buildings can be dynamically changed and reflect visual interpretations of the building’s location or usage. Large-scale digital display technology is being attached to or integrated into existing and new building structures, as latest LED technology is affordable, sustainable and flexible to apply. This enables facades to turn into huge – sometimes multidimensional – screen areas, capable to alter the spatial experience of a city dweller. The conception and design of such mediated architectural projects involve various disciplines and professions, from architects and engineers to visual designers and software-developers. However, there is little research about trans-disciplinary design methodologies in this field, leading to a communicative experience rather than a technically viable solution. Based on recent examples of mediated architecture, the proposed paper will specifically address the experiential qualities of mediated architecture as spatially designed communicative objects: What elements constitute the experience of perceiving and interacting with them? How are the “audiences” being recognized in the design development process and how can they contribute, as participants, to the design of engaging spatial experiences? This is leading to a discussion of human-centered design approaches, in particular generative design research (E.B.-N. Sanders) and contextmapping (Sleeswijk Visser et al) as possible elements of an integrative design process for mediated architecture. The proposed paper will highlight novel tasks in the design of such communicative spatial situations, and what methodical consequences the equation of media architecture as an experience design process might have for design practice.
Keywords:
Media Architecture, Spatial Experience, Design Methodology, Participatory Design Research
The Consciousness Reframed conference series was founded by Roy Ascott at the University of Wales in 1997. Consciousness Reframed is a forum for transdisciplinary inquiry into art, science, technology, design and consciousness, drawing upon the expertise and insights of artists, designers, architects, performers, musicians, writers, scientists, and scholars, usually from at least 20 countries. From November 19th to November 21st, 2009, international known scientists from Media Theory and Media Design, entrepreneurs and creators will get together in Munich.
This year’s slogan “Experiencing design, Behaving media” is a wide and open forum for unusual and innovative positions and perspectives.
The event will be opened by Prof. Derrick de Kerkhove (McLuhan Chair; University of Toronto), Jens Monsees (Industry Head, Google Germany) as well as the artist and theorist Roy Ascott.