Phase 3 - Week Eleven
Week Eleven
Focus for the week:
My main focus for this week was to plan out my essay and to have some feedback from ben about my concept of my project.
Feedback Session - Ben
Within a tutorial with ben this week, There were some questions that he asked me about my project that I actually didn’t have the answers too. This made me really rethink what I was doing and what I wanted to do within this project. I wrote them out on a piece of paper and then I am hoping over the upcoming weeks I will be able to answer them as I was feeling at loss with my project.
Focus groups - what do i want out of them?
Physical system / enabling?
Who’s it for - Design or community?
Node + Network
Self sustaining community?
What am I doing?
Interview with Cat
I had an interview with Cat from the course, as ben mentioned that we should speak to each-other about our project due to their relation with place. But when beginning talking to cat, I realised that she had created an identity for one of her local towns in Scotland.
This can be seen in the image opposite about the main pieces that were designed for the brief that she had to respond too.
Within Cat’s Interview, she had mentioned that she went out to ask other people feedback on the identity. This was the main thing that helped her was seeing the reactions and feedback from the local people. Mentioning that they had ownership over the identity by being involved within the project. Cat spoke about how the brand identity was for them but also commissioned by a local charity to promote and re-energise a town “a kiss of life of something positive”.
With the town being fairly old and a lot of people having lived there for a long time, cat spoke about the difficulties of people being against the change for the town but from their perspective it would bring new people for the town.
With Cat being a local person, living in the town, she took inspiration from shepherds check which was a pattern designed in the town. She mentions how the brand is still evolving over time and it isn’t something that just happens and its been a long process.
After the interview, Cat gave me contact information for her boss who was the project manager for the project. I thought it would be helpful for me to talk to her to really understand the whole vastness of the project and the actual steps that were taken.
After having the conversation with Cat, I realised that I needed to do more research on identity for places and analyse what worked and what didn’t work for each identity.
Place Identity
Firstly for the essay, I did some research on place identity and a sense of place as I feel this is something that I could fit into my essay:
“The notion of identity is a fundamental phenomenon which is difficult to define, although it is possible to recognize many of its characteristics. In order to frame this notion within the aims of this volume, we will report the definitions that are used in different ways in the placemaking practice and the relative components which contribute to their characterization. The starting definition is that asserted by Relph who identifies the difference between ‘identity of’ and ‘identity with’, which is useful to gain a clearer idea of this concept: The identity of something refers to a persistent sameness and unity which allows that thing to be differentiated from others. Such inherent identity is inseparable from identity with other things; Erik Erikson (1959, p.1029), in a discussion of ego identity, writes: ‘The term identity … connotes both a persistent sameness with oneself … and a persistent sharing of some kind of characteristic with others’. Thus identity is founded both in the individual person or object and in the culture to which they belong. It is not static and unchangeable, but varies as circumstances and attitudes change; and it is not uniform and undifferentiated, but has several components and forms. (Relph, 1976, p.45)
Sepe, Marichela. Planning and Place in the City : Mapping Place Identity, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/falmouth-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1143818.
“The term ‘place identity’ which emerged at the end of the 20 th century has been more focused on the significance of ‘place’, ‘people’, and ‘meaning’. David Seamon (1985), who focuses on the significance of phenomenological perspective, mentioned that in the modern world, “themes such as community, at-homeness, and sense of place take on renewed significance in both academic discussions and daily conversations” (Seamon, 1985, p. 227). Like other similar terms, creating place identity has emerged as a solution to the effects of modern societies. Consequently this field has largely influenced architecture and seeks to connect people with their environment and increase the sense of attachment and belonging in architectural spaces.”
Role of Place Identity in the Perception, Understanding, and Design of Built Environments, edited by Hernan Casakin, and Fatima Bernardo, Bentham Science Publishers, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/falmouth-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1041545.
” People’s feeling that they belong to place is most directly related to the triad of identity, since it is through this process that individuals and groups grow attached to and recognize a part of themselves as arising from place. In addition, people’s identity with place is aroused by the daily interpersonal encounters that their place may provide through smaller and larger triads of interaction (Seamon & Nordin 1980). For example, the heart of the successful urban neighborhood for Jane Jacobs (1961) was the everyday pleasure of what she called the “street ballet”—an exuberance of street and sidewalk interactions founded on the everyday comings and goings of many people carrying out their own ordinary needs, obligations, and activities. Beyond the more day-to-day experiences and interactions through which people participate in and draw identity from place is the potential of place through the triad of realization to envelop people with its special character and thereby transform a material setting into a lived geography with its own particular presence. In this sense, the triad of realization contributes to place identity in that the power of genius loci facilitates a unique geographical world of which individuals and groups feel a part existentially. But what do these three triads say in regard to degree of place attachment and identity? As Relph (1976, p. 49-55) and Shamai (1991) suggest, the lived connection with place can range from no relationship at all to minimal cognitive knowledge to a sense of limited belonging to growing attachment and identification through deepening involvement and even personal and group sacrifice for place (Seamon, 2008). The triads of identity, interaction, and realization indicate that people, geographical ensemble, and genius loci found a wide spectrum of reciprocal actions. Each of the three triads can unfold at a range of intensities to sustain, on one hand, strong place attachment and identity (committed people, integrated geographical ensemble, and strong genius loci) or, on the other hand, weak attachment and identity (disinterested or alienated people, dysfunctional geographical ensemble, and unpleasant, weak, or non-existent genius loci). To identify ways in which place attachment and identity might be invigorated, one can consider the triads of creation, intensification, and release, which point toward possibilities through which place can be strengthened and made more whole. Unlike identity, interaction, and realization, these triads more often (but not always) require a self-conscious, intentional mode of being whereby person and group allow themselves to be taken in and touched by place so that their actions, understandings, and feelings engage and sustain genius loci. This is particularly the case for the triad of place creation, which requires an intimate, empathetic connection between the affirmative and receptive impulses ( 1 and 2 ) whereby the citizen, designer, or policy maker seeks to generate the best environmental situation (whether policy or
Role of Place Identity in the Perception, Understanding, and Design of Built Environments, edited by Hernan Casakin, and Fatima Bernardo, Bentham Science Publishers, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/falmouth-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1041545.
After reading the above articles, I had a clear image of why place identity is so important to the local community but also how it makes a place stand out from other cities. All of the above articles really talked about people within the place and how the community is strengthen when there is a clear identity. Especially when looking at the following quote from the role of place identity in the perception, Understanding and design of built environments by Hernan Casakin and Fatima Bernado. “To identify ways in which place attachment and identity might be invigorated, one can consider the triads of creation, intensification, and release, which point toward possibilities through which place can be strengthened and made more whole. Unlike identity, interaction, and realization, these triads more often (but not always) require a self-conscious, intentional mode of being whereby person and group allow themselves to be taken in and touched by place so that their actions, understandings, and feelings engage and sustain genius loci. This is particularly the case for the triad of place creation, which requires an intimate, empathetic connection between the affirmative and receptive impulses ( 1 and 2 ) whereby the citizen, designer, or policy maker seeks to generate the best environmental situation”, The quote is rally interesting talking about the feelings of the place but also how the place is created by the connections. I think this summaries well why it is important for the place to have clear identity as this allows for the local people to connect with it.
Identities
Narrative Identities by Nadia Troeman
https://www.dezeen.com/2009/09/07/narrative-identities-by-nadia-troeman/
I found this really nice case study of work by a graduate designer who created a conceptual branding system for her college. This would change according to the cultural associations of individual students answering questions about the cultural importance to them.
Troeman says the following within the article; ‘Narrative Identities’ raises the question of identity, specifically cultural identity, in a world of increasing globalization where people and cultures are converging more than ever before. The question ‘who are you?’ is becoming increasingly difficult for some people to answer. Cultures are meeting, morphing and exchanging. The idea of a fixed identity is becoming redundant. We have to be able to play with representations in order to show a more accurate picture of who we are culturally. My project illustrates a variety of cultural references and challenges our interpretation and understanding of what these references mean to us today.”
I find it interesting this interpretation of the cultural identity and what it stands for, I think next week i need to do more research into the cultural identity and what it means within my research question.I really like how each of the responses to the project are personal to that person but they are easy to read if you had some sort of key to analyse them with.
A Sense of Place- Ty Abiodun
Article from Creative Boom looks at a group show that was curated by a local designer which brings together 17 up and coming designers across the county of brighton.
Ty says the following about the project; "This exhibition is an opportunity to show the value of open borders and to celebrate the talent here in Sussex, in what is a special and inspiring place," says Ty. "It's also a great chance to give something back and help others who aren't as fortunate."
I love the concept of the project involving the local artists and designers from across the county but also looking at the topic of place and what is means to different designers and I guess how the community would then respond to that.
DixonBaxi's Regent's Place identity
Another fairly different case study of identities is this one that was created for regents place. Within the article it’s discussed how the project started by taking insights from the community to define the authentic spirit. Dixon Baxi described the design process as the following: “DixonBaxi created an 'R' symbol to represent the three districts. It was designed to be "transparent and almost disappear", acting as "a window to Regent's Place and the community," says the agency. "It allows the framing of different perspectives and provides a canvas for the community's vision and creativity. Each application becomes a space to tell a story." The symbol plays a central role in the identity alongside a new wordmark.
Every element of the design was influenced by the natural environment, as shown in the organic lines and natural colours that aim to create a "more calming experience", says DixonBaxi, which adds that "Softness is used with confidence." An editorial style visual language was used to create clarity across digital experiences and printed surfaces such as hoardings and signage systems.
The decisions around materials and how users participate in the space were driven by the tenets of re-use, reduce, recycle, and when this was not possible sustainable, pioneering technology and materials have been opted for.”
I find this project so interesting that they would really heavily use the inspiration from the the local community but also the current guidelines that have been put in place for the space. I really like the clean simple use of colours but the involvement of the children with the sketchy style too and how this would then become to the centre of the space.
Layout of Essay
After the session with ben, I decided to change my question and just cut out the city of culture section although still relevant:
How can collaborative design help to produce points of creative interest for the community as well as a cultural identity for the city?
For the essay, I wanted to just layout how I thought the chapters would link together which can be seen in the following:
Chapter One:
City of Culture
Previous
Current
Future
Chapter 2:
How the city of culture bid can change the city?
Why was city of culture so important to Southampton?
Chapter 3:
What’s currently being done in terms of artistic collaboration within the city?
Chapter 4:
What does Southampton need as a city? What is it missing?
Cultural Strategy
Chapter 5:
How can we improve the collaboration within Southampton moving forward?
What is collaboration? Why is it important?
Chapter 6;
A sense of place:
Chapter 7:
What is Cultural Identity?
Why is it important for a city to have this cultural identity?
I think this was a great initial plan of the outline of the essay. This will allow me to continue writing and researching to make sure that I have covered all the basis within the content section of the essay.
Audiences
From the feedback session with Ben, I wanted to look at who my audience was going to be as within the questions he asked me I was really able to answer. The two possibilities for my audience is design community or the Southampton community below i have compared the two;
Creative Community:
I think if my audience was the creative community I could really hone in on their needs for the local environment.
Southampton Community:
I feel that focussing on the Southampton community as a whole would be really difficult but if I was creating an identity I feel this would also need to be an area that i did focus on. Or at-least ask the opinion of the local community being involved in the re-design. This is something that I need to continue to think about over the upcoming week when taking part in the interviews.
Weekly Summary
This week has really allowed me to look at different identities and understand what it takes to design them and how the input of the different cultural communities can make such a difference. I think also finding a case study that is very similar to how I want my project to end up is inspiring to know that it is already happening in different cities across the country. I am hoping that with Ben asking me questions within one of the feedback sessions this week, it will help me to keep asking myself what it is that I want out of the project that will hopefully keep me on track.
Resources
Abiodun, T. (2017). A Sense of Place: Limited edition prints explore the idea of ‘home’ and what it means. [online] Creative Boom. Available at: https://www.creativeboom.com/news/a-sense-of-place-limited-edition-prints-explore-the-idea-of-home-and-what-it-means/
Casakin, H. and Bernando, F. (2012). Role of Place Identity in the Perception, Understanding, and Design of Built Environments,. Bentham Science Publishers.
Dixon Baxi (2020). DixonBaxi’s Regent’s Place identity opts for ‘radical softness’. [online] Creative Boom. Available at: https://www.creativeboom.com/inspiration/dixonbaxis-regents-place-identity-opts-for-radical-softness/
Marichela Sepe (2013). Planning and place in the city : mapping place identity. London: Routledge.
Troeman, N. (2009). Narrative Identities by Nadia Troeman. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2009/09/07/narrative-identities-by-nadia-troeman/.
Things to remember:
Personal action plan created in relation to your studio project and report, responding to feedback from the formative panel / student review of your case study presentations in Week 8.
Design development captured, edited and presented in a format of your choice, as a clear narrative of your project development, to be published via your research journal (blog) and on the Ideas Wall.
Critical Report draft development, to be published via your research journal (blog), with a link to it on the Ideas Wall.
All outputs to be clearly documented on your blogs, with evidence of active engagement with the Ideas Wall.