POISE SPATIALISING WATER Water was the theme through which Poise studio members explored model making, design development, and solving the “stopping problem” of finding the right design solution amongst multiple alternatives. Students were asked to model water in digital and physical formats. Water is a fertile source of design ideas. The physical characteristics of water are unique. For instance, as a liquid, it has unique surface properties, subsurface currents and splash patterns. Water makes an impact on many aspects of everyday life from health to recreation. Moreover, it has an equally strong symbolic and poetic resonance. Current popular opinion focuses on the political issues of water: supply, wastage, shortage, recycling, disposal, pollution and salination. The models developed by the students represented such issues. Water was not only a topic for research. The fluidity and flow of water offered insights into the design process itself. From their focus upon the nature of water, students began to question certainties and broach the comfort zone of familiar ideas. The models of water were developed within the boundaries and language of the students’ particular disciplines and were supported with a visual diary of working sketches and idea development.
(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ANDRIA SKOUMBRIDIS PHIL SMITH JARROD MANEVSKI INGRID RIDDERVOLD