the next project...

for our next undertaking, we see a project that involves...

...students, professionals, local manufacturers, community members...
...each of our talent sets and a variety of community members to "grow" the community and inspire understanding. students receive hands on design opportunities..
...showcasing the talents of the community , highlighting the arts/organizations that give greensboro life...
....design challenges we haven't yet faced and one that pushes us to learn new things about ourselves as designers
...playing on our individual collective strengths..
....defying convention + the expected
...multi-faceted approaches and many people
...making a positive change in the community

project roles + responsibilities...

...addie : collect, craft, curate
...debbie : brainstorm + outreach
...edgar : ideate, explore, make, build
...matt : build things + help others do the same
...patrick : connect people + tell stories
...suzanne : draw + document

should we REALLY tackle a book?

suzanne came by my office yesterday and pitched the idea of a book centered around community-based design. the more we talked about sharing outwardly our successes as faculty members in the studio and beyond, the more i became convinced that we should at least attempt to put together a proposal. so we've committed to meeting for one morning each week next semester to flesh out the idea. stay tuned to see the process unfolding.

mission/vision statement : revised

we just finished a most exhilarating meeting and looked at the previous mission/vision statement...here's the final version. if you'd like to comment, please feel free to do so.

we see COMMUNITY BY DESIGN as...

...a CATALYST for change at multiple scales
...an ADVOCATE for results-oriented, responsive design
...an INCUBATOR for good ideas + thoughtful outcomes
...a community-centered NETWORK of people who embrace design opportunities

we aim to...

...DREAM + DO in all we undertake relying on our individual + collective experience
...WELCOME conversations + REALIZE connections to bring about amazing projects
...FOSTER the value of thinking + making in populations young + old
...ENRICH + ENLIVEN the community in elevating quality design in the Triad + beyond

we value...

...the POWER OF DESIGN to address issues of SOCIAL CONCERN
...inclusive community DIALOGUE with many different types of people
...UNEXPECTED projects in UNEXPECTED places
...LOCAL + GLOBAL sharing
...SUBSTANCE that lies beyond surface

OUR VISION : we see communities TRANSFORMED as places where people value good design and recognize the social responsibility inherent in the re-allocation of resources to meet human needs.

setting the frame

several of us gathered a week ago to brainstorm a bit about future directions for COMMUNITY BY DESIGN. since that time, suzanne + patrick have met several times to further polish + embellish the ideas that everyone had. the result : a bit of a muddle...so we decided to move the "conversation" on line....thus this blog post.

we see COMMUNITY BY DESIGN as...

...a CATALYST for change at multiple sclaes
...an ADVOCATE for results-oriented, responsive design
...an INCUBATOR for good ideas + thoughtful outcomes
...a community-centered NETWORK of people who overcome design challenges

we aim to...

...DREAM + DO in all we undertake relying on our individual + collective experience
...FACILITATE human + resource connections to bring about amazing projects
...FOSTER the value of thinking + making in populations young + old
...ENRICH + ENLIVEN the community in elevating the quality of design in the Triad

we value...

the POWER OF DESIGN to address issues of SOCIAL CONCERN
inclusive community DIALOGUE with many different types of people
UNEXPECTED projects in UNEXPECTED places
LOCAL + GLOBAL sharing
SUBSTANCE that lies beyond surface

OUR VISION : we see communities TRANSFORMED as places where people value good design and recognize the social responsibility inherent in the re-allocation of resources to meet human needs.

so, there we are....let us know what you think.

the project update

photograph courtesy edgar a. cabrera

now that the new semester has begun, the bus | shelter remains in our lobby, providing seating for those in the space. it's interesting to note that those sitting in the lobby far prefer the shelter over the excruciatingly uncomfortable concrete and metal benches usually encountered there. a small group of students met with the greensboro transit authority board in january in an effort to maximize the impact of their work. the shelter will be used as an exhibit for the regional design, arts + technology symposium in high point at the beginning of march. we hope that the project lives on in future years as a reminder to the community about the power of change in the face of adversity. in this way, the bus | shelter serves as a symbol linking past to present in our community. thanks for following this project.

12 | 12 @ 12

after working all week, the class has finally arrived at the moment of truth -- the bus shelter's unveiling before a public audience. in the last week, the class came to the realization that the hard-packed soil on site, and the windy conditions of the last several days would prevent them from revealing the design for the shelter outdoors. as a result, the community was invited into the lobby of the gatewood building.

all of the second year students stood proudly as tommy lambeth, department chair, congratulated them on tackling such a tough issue in studio. students gave an overview of the design process and uncg's female a cappella group, the sapphires, sang in celebration of a long semester's worth of hard work.


in the end, students realized that their work, while not sited at a bus stop, had truly brought a greater awareness of the woeful shortage of bus shelters in greensboro (64 shelters currently....1100 stops). read more about news coverage online....or better yet, stop by and see the shelter in the lobby, accessed off highland avenue.

Ooops!!

This is an example why Patrick's chair cards are SO important.

A day of process [timeline]

photos taken by:: sara zales + kevin lahti + morgan bodford

More Process Photos

photos taken by:: sara zales

Press Release + News

Be sure you check these links out!!

http://www.uncg.edu/ure/news/stories/2008/dec/seeds120808.htm

http://news14.com/content/top_stories/602299/uncg-students-build-better-bus-shelter/Default.aspx

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=115502&catid=57

Natty Greene's

Come out and join us tonight[December 8] at Natty Greene's. It will start at 7:00pm and end at 11:00pm. This is a time to hang out together and help promote our bus shelter. Hope to see you there!

Important Reminders

A few important reminders::

• In order to buy more materials everyone must bring $15.00 on Monday December 8. Please hand money to Laura Dipasquale!

• If you have taken any photos of the bus shelter project, please post them to your blog.

• Don't forget to pass out flyers to your family + friends!

Process, Process, + more Process

We are finally moving along with our bus shelter project [yay]!! We have completed both of our moment benches, which one is located at The Green Bean and the other at Edward McKay--go and check them out! Please keep checking the blog:: lots more updates + pictures to be uploaded!!

Just a few important reminders!!

Please don't forget to come out to The Green Bean located on Elm Street to help get the word out about our bus shelter!! It goes from 3:00-7:00pm today [December 4]. One of our moment benches will be placed here and there will also be half priced lattes! Please come out and support us as a class!

Friday [tomorrow] and Monday [December 8] all students will be working in the wood shop. Prepare to dress appropriately! **Keep in mind that you may be working outside

It is important that we all come together [as a class] to build the bus shelter [121212 is right around the corner]. Even if you are not scheduled to work--please consider coming out to help build anyways [not only is this helping get the shelter built, but it could also boost your grade]

overall comments on shelter|bus reviews

Another milestone passed!!!!

We have assessed all of the shelter|bus projects and that will be factored into your final grade for the course.  Please pick up all your materials from the critique room no later than noon tomorrow. As part of our ongoing effort to provide feedback, critique sheets from jurors will be distributed at the end of class on Friday.  We remind you to fill out online course evaluations.

We would appreciate it if the following students would deliver their boards and models to Suzanne's office sometime this week: Meg McMillan, Sara Zales, Michelle Bodon, Kevin Lahti and Maiken Schoenleber. These materials will be retained for the CIDA review in Fall 2009 and then they will be returned to you.

We have the following observations to make for the class as a whole:

• Many jurors commented that the strengths of the projects rested in the stories you wove to explain concepts and design process.  
• Students need to observe better time management with their studio projects.  We believe this to be a high priority in the coming semester.  Though some students put in a lot of hours, their time in the studio resulted in low-quality drawings and models or emphasis on the deliverables that did not maximize sharing information about the project --- in other words, the focus was misdirected.  Other students failed to put in the necessary energy and time to fully investigate the design opportunity.
• In the future be sure to recognize the value of planning well in advance for your visual presentation.  Too many students made last minute decisions in layout, composition and craft which adversely affected the positive perception of their projects.
• Successful projects included diagrams that helped explain the complexities of the shelter|buses.
• Use models more through the design process.
• Draw!  Draw!  Draw!  
• Experiment with presentation techniques earlier in the design process.  This includes color choices, lighting effects, textures, scale figures, entourage...
• Continue to experiment with how your board layout can bolster your concept and approach to the project.
• You've come a long way in your speaking abilities this semester.  Continue to practice the craft of oral presentation supplemented by visual material.  Without doubt the more organized verbal presentations led to a greater comprehension of design intentions.

Again, we look forward to your engagement over the next 9 days for the bus|shelter!  With your active contributions and commitment to the process we are quite confident that the 12|12 event will be a great success and be a seed for change.  Be sure to invite friends and family to the unveiling so they can see the results of your hard work this semester.