Design Skills Symposium 2014 Day 2 Newsletter
If you dont draw it, it wont happen! Design Skills Symposium 2014 summed up by key contributors The aim of the sympoisum was to deliver
scenarios. Even if they’re sketchy it gets the idea
learning, methods and approaches that could be
down and provides a starting point for consideration.
applied outwith the study sites. On this basis, the following reflections were offered from key contributors who had moved between subgroups seeking key transferrable learning. Day One keynote speaker Geoffrey London, Victorian Government Architect, noted the process had acted as the condenser of ideas and thoughts. Lawrence’s group had gone from scratchy despair to inspired description. Following the process arms participants
Further reflections were provided by Jim MacDonald, Jill Malvenan, and Heather Chapple of A+DS. Questions included - Should we go for development at any cost or are there better more self-sustainable solutions? How do you construct an identity for an area? Artists have a role as agents for reform. Make space for collaborations, for people to do things together.
with something repeatable and builds confidence that What can design do for this process? Design is a you can make it work again. Many comments were made about being prepared
way to broker solutions. Reiterating ‘If you don’t draw it it won’t happen’; it allows you to see the issues.
to commit to a long-term view. How might you stage
We must base our responses on the unique qualities
strategies to ensure propositions can build on one
that we find in places – not our preconceived ideas.
another?
Resist the urge to go for a solution. Groups looked
The scale of the projects was noted. The three
for potentials and valuable purpose and sought
sites represented massive projects that seemed
to transform the experience of a place. Having
insurmountable at the start. He encouraged the
conversations with “real people” is crucial, being
delegates to be broad in ambition and to seek
able to describe a shared value and where we
connections beyond the site. The three sites had
are trying to get to. A real need for honest, open
astonishing landforms. While there is a tendency
communication about people and their places.
to work 2-dimensionally these sites needed to be looked at 3-dimensionally. Geoffrey remarked the importance of process is establishing a brief with a well-defined project. He noted the level of collective agreement that emerged when there is an understanding of what is needed.
We weren’t here to solve the problems of the specific sites, but with limited time and limited information, everyone had a good go and a lot was achieved. Following the Symposium – it would be good to consider back in the “real world” if we are still tackling problems in the creative way approached here.
Geoffrey also stated “If you don’t draw it, it wont
By applying similar approaches there is a healthy
happen.” The next steps should be “what-if”
chance to bring changes to working practices.