Matter of Transformation - 2023
Project name: “Using a Pragmatic approach while designing for a guest: A foldable stool to display emotional bonds”
Co-designers: -
Grade: 7.0
Expertise areas: TR / CA
Project description
Implementing works from pragmatic philosopher William James (James, 2019) into a design process stood central during this course. Based on pragmatic principles, I had to “design for guests”. Each week a new chapter of James was discussed, and this theory was embodied in a new iteration. It was decided to create a set of stools which could transform from a one seater, to a two seater. Focussing on the transformation aspects of the stool and translating the emotional distance or relationship of the two people into the physical distance on the stool.
Reflection
This was my first time implementing philosophical literature in the design process. It was challenging to implement someone else’s vision to my design process. I found that it was sometimes confusing and it was also perpendicular to my own vision. Although this process made me realise what I like about my vision and reflect on how I approach things, it was refreshing to look through someone else’s eyes.
Furthermore, I learned some hard skills such as working with the hand sanding machine, the jigsaw and I also did some metalworking. Furthermore, interesting interactions and movements were created to transform the stool, not revealing how to approach the stool and challenging the viewer to discover its action possibilities
James, W. (2019). Pragmatism-A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James: With a Critical Introduction by Eric C. Sheffield.