NOTE: THIS IS A BLOG FOR "SCHOOL." NOT MY REAL BLOG

Monday, March 28, 2011

Statement + Slides, 1st draft (global design)

Open Source Housing Development

Open source technology and neighborhood involvement to encourage the sustainable development of affordable housing.

Generically, open source refers to a system in which the content (in this case building plans) is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open.

Content is typically created as a collaborative effort in which anyone can improve upon the content and share the changes within the community.

Open source sprouted in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by corporations.

The indentation is to use open source system to implement the design(s) for affordable sustainable housing plans and / or renovations techniques within the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn NYC.


Monday, March 21, 2011

Assignment 2 Q&A (global design)

Propose a catalyst for the development for homes for low-income families in NYC.  Rejecting the idea that safe, high design, environmentally friendly and affordability don’t belong in the same sentence. This will not involve the subsidizing of homes or public ownership – but rather private ownership.


Inspired by cradle-to-cradle thinking, emphasis on high design while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture.

C2C - This framework seeks to create production techniques that are not just efficient but are essentially waste free. In cradle to cradle production all material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients can be recycled or reused with no loss of quality and biological nutrients composted or consumed. By contrast cradle to grave refers to a company taking responsibility for the disposal of goods it has produced, but not necessarily putting products’ constiuent components back into service.


“We want to build homes”
“Intellect building techniques.”



1. What am I changing?

The lives of lower income, working class families and individuals



2. Who is doing the changing?

Architects, designers, engineers, Investors, Elected officials



3. How will it work?

Bring together engineers, designers, community members & the appeal to kindness and generosity in people’s hearts. Draw up plans for the construction of intelligently designed homes with emphasis on high design, cradle-to-cradle thinking, preserving community culture. No cutting corners – no cheapening on materials. The price range in should fall in the $90, 000 – $150,000. No family or individual will pay more than 30% of his or her income on mortgage.

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4. What are the barriers to change?

Zoning permits, acquiring the proper funds



5. What is the default choice?

No



6. What will motivate people to change?

Common sense, generosity

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7. What is the context of your challenge?

Post recession NYC although working class families have been living in a virtual recession for the past 30 years. There is a portion of our society that we’re ignoring and casting to the wind.



8. What is your audience already thinking?

The rents to damn high



9. What do they need to hear to change their minds?

“Two Americas”

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10. What is your story?

“Two Americas” – NYC is a micro version of this. Funding for subsidized homes (i.e housing projects) is slowly being fazed out Driving out the middle and working class is a detriment to society in general. Working people need affordable (not subsidized) homes that they own.



11. What is its design?



12. What does it look and feel like?

Rationally, relatable

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13. Who will really benefit from the change?

Low Income working class families suffering under the weight of rising rents



14. Who will make it happen?

Community leaders, the community, elected officials, investors.



15. What is the blowback?

Too big of an idea; wont be able to please everyone.

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16. Are we skating to fall?

No. Failure is not an option. If we do fail then fail big.



17. Will we put ourselves out of business?

Yes. Once the deed is done, we’ll disappear, step back and let the community shape the project.



18. What if…?

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Final Essay (global design)


Parenthetically the task of the first half of the semester in the global design course was to uncover values that we as designers hold true to our hearts. This task of is made more difficult as I myself can safely say that I’m not the introverted type. Having acknowledged that, I can truly say that above all I value humor, audacity and public education. However those are not new values as I have already expressed my admiration for those ideals in a previous essay. Something else had to be unearthed – and it was. Its name: Practicality

As a designer we’re often thought of as being “clever” given tasks to “pretty things up”. This is bullshit for more than one reason. In my eyes as the act of being practical doesn’t often mesh well with being clever – but it can. 

From my perspective, being practical as a designer means: Know the communities for which you serve and speak to them, using their language in a way they will digest and understand. As opposed to what? Namely designing for designers. As someone once said to me “You can either win AIGA awards or you can make money – you choose.” Wise words… wise words.

It also means rejecting dogma for reality – which might also mean, checking your values at the door in the face of real world, day-to-day, bread-and-butter issues everyone faces, i.e., keeping the bills paid, you belly full, and yourself thoroughly entertained.

Look simply put we always can’t be the good guy. Sometimes we have to sleep with the enemy. For example: If you had a choice between doing work (whatever that might be) for Habitat For Humanities versus Phillip Morris which one would you chose? Now let me sweeten the deal: HFH is only willing to pay you $5,000 while Phillip Morris will pay you $100,000. Now which one would you choice? Or is the choice already made?

Of course that’s an exaggeration but not far from realty. And that’s point. Don’t move so far into your own head – your own dogma that you reject the world for as it is and only see it for how you want it to be.

Ultimately I guess the point would also be striking a balance between who you are and what you need.

Project Description UPDATE (thesis)


Description
The designer will organize collective platform for the formulation and implementation of business models and public policy around the creation, distribution and sharing of music. The designer will act as process facilitators, but bring together those who have shared sensibility including, but no limited to: lawyers, engineers, computer scientist, popular musical acts, marketers and those who work in the music industry - into a shared collective.



With Purpose and Principle:
Tomorrow’s business of music will not just be about open source, or free distribution or copyright reform – but rather it will be about the people over the process; about responding to change not following a plan; about collaboration over laws and negotiations; and about design an business and system for the sharing of popular music that is actionable and relatable in peoples daily lives.



Mission Statement
Today a consensus has emerged. The Seven_99 Project will serve as a collective platform for the formulation and promotion of the structural reinvention of the businees of music and re-shaping of public policy. Our mission:
(1) The decentralization of the music industry
(2) Copyright reform to reflect how content is currently consumed that will free up content from its current restrictions.
(3) The systemic design necessary for a legal file sharing, based on open source, for the creation, sharing and distribution of popular music.           
(4) Realization that such reforms and such will equal a viable economic model.



DECLARATION
We, here and now, have resolved to set forth a solemn declaration under the eyes of the great architect whom principles wrest on the foundation of most sacred, precious inalienable right of freedom.

The principles of free distribution through legal open source based music sharing system, the decentralization of the music industry apparatus & copyright reform will stream through and send the old models to the trash heaps of history.  What we stand for:

  1. FREEDOM: Freedom is the solemn expression and right of the general will. No portion of the people can exercise the power of the entire people – and yet the enemies of freedom do so through their draconian copyright laws, centralization of ownership and means of production Free distribution through file sharing is a viable economic frameworks sustainable business model(s): and allow for broader connection with fans. This is ther freeist of the free market enterpise and will allow for the fans who use the content create their own experience.

  1. COMPETITON, NOT CONTROL: The law ought to protect public and personal liberty against oppression. Currently the law is a tool of oppression by the enemies of freedom. Freeing up of archaic copyright laws, and more control amongst individual record labels and artists through decentralization will finally unleash a wave of innovation, create growth and give real competition amongst a natural aristocracy of talent.

  1. COLLABORATION, INTERACTION, & CHANGE: The individuals who are apart of The Seven_99 Project will shape our movement for we must constantly respond to change. We call for the business of music to change as well. The business of music must reflect the change in society, business and systems. It must be about the people over the process; about responding to change not following a plan; about collaboration over laws and negotiations; and about designing a business and system for the sharing of popular music that is actionable and relatable in peoples daily lives.

Project Design & Declaration UPDATE



Slide Outline UPDATE (thesis)














Sunday, February 27, 2011

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world (global design)

"Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned"



UPDATE: Project Design, Declaration & Project Description (thesis)

Project Description

With Purpose and Principle: 
Tomorrow’s business of music will not just be about open source, or free distribution or copyright reform – but rather it will be about the people over the process; about responding to change not following a plan; about collaboration over laws and negotiations; and about design an business and system for the sharing of popular music that is actionable and relatable in peoples daily lives.


Mission Statement:
Today a consensus has emerged. The Seven_99 Project will serve as a collective platform for the formulation and promotion of the structural reinvention of the businees of music and re-shaping of public policy. Our mission:

(1) The decentralization of the music industry

(2) Copyright reform to reflect how content is currently consumed that will free up content from its current restrictions.

(3) The systemic design necessary for a legal file sharing, based on open source, for the creation, sharing and distribution of popular music.

(4) Realization that such reforms and such will equal a viable economic model.



DECLARATION 
We, here and now, have resolved to set forth a solemn declaration under the eyes of the great architect whom principles wrest on the foundation of most sacred, precious inalienable right of freedom.

The principles of free distribution through legal open source based music sharing system, the decentralization of the music industry apparatus & copyright reform will stream through and send the old models to the trash heaps of history. What we stand for:
FREEDOM: Freedom is the solemn expression and right of the general will. No portion of the people can exercise the power of the entire people – and yet the enemies of freedom do so through their draconian copyright laws, centralization of ownership and means of production Free distribution through file sharing is a viable economic frameworks; sustainable business model(s): and allow for broader connection with fans. This is ther freeist of the free market enterpise and will allow for the fans who use the content create their own experience.

COMPETITON, NOT CONTROL: The law ought to protect public and personal liberty against oppression. Currently the law is a tool of oppression by the enemies of freedom. Freeing up of archaic copyright laws, and more control amongst individual record labels and artists through decentralization will finally unleash a wave of innovation, create growth and give real competition amongst a natural aristocracy of talent.

COLLABORATION, INTERACTION, & CHANGE: The individuals who are apart of The Seven_99 Project will shape our movement for we must constantly respond to change. We call for the business of music to change as well. The business of music must reflect the change in society, business and systems. It must be about the people over the process; about responding to change not following a plan; about collaboration over laws and negotiations; and about designing a business and system for the sharing of popular music that is actionable and relatable in peoples daily lives.


  
Design Updates




Sunday, February 13, 2011

Project Designs, Description, Names, etc. (thesis)


MISSION
The Music Industry’s commercial apparatus is one a path of self-destruction. But music in the purist sense is not a industry. Music is personal. Music has no judgment. Your favorite record will never make you feel self-conscious. In fact, quite the contrary – music has power to make you feel euphoric about your life. Their decline present to use an opportunity to reinvent the wheel.

IN 1999 Napster emerged as a cross cultural phenomenon years ahead of its time. It was a wake up call – it was a market signal. The old style commercial apparatus for music simple didn’t fit the needs of the populous.

Today a consensus is emerged. “? ” is a collective platform for the formulation and promotion of the the structural reinvention of the way content (popular music) is distributed and consumed through:
  1. The decentralization of the music industry
  2. Re-writing of current copyright laws to reflect how content is currently consumed.
  3. The systemic design necessary for a legal, open and free form of file sharing for the creation, sharing and distribution of popular music.           


DECLARATION
We must not think of free as in “a free beer” and start thinking of it in the context of “freedom of speech”. The enemies of freedom are strong. Their grip is tight. But with the sweat of our brows and the strength in our backs, we will send them to the trash heaps of history once in for all. We call for:
  1. REINVENTION OF CAPITALISM: Freedom is the solemn expression and right of the general wil. Free distribution through file sharing is a viable economic frameworks; sustainable business model(s): and allow for broader connection with fans. This is ther freeist of the free market enterpise.
  2. COMPETITON, NOT CONTROL: The law ought to protect public and personal liberty against the oppression. Currently the law is a tool of oppression by the enemies of freedom. Freeing up of archaic copyright laws, and more control amongst individual record labels and artists through decentralization will finally unleash a wave of innovation, inspire growth and give real competition amongst a natural aristocracy of talent.
  3. UNEARTH THAT APPARATUS: No portion of the people can exercise the power of the entire people – and yet they do through one size fits all business models. We say ENOUGH. Free distribution through file sharing is no longer a fringe idea but rather a reflection of cultural trends towards how a growing section of the population consumes content. We will put pen to paper and boots to ground to wake-up policy makers, fans and artists alike.

The designer will organize this collective platform (process facilitators), but bring together those who have shared sensibility including, but no limited to: lawyers, engineers, computer scientist, popular musical acts, marketers and those who work in the music industry - into a shared collective. 

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Design Ideas