Forum 04

“TO INVENT A FUTURE THAT DOESN’T EXIST, YOU REALLY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TODAY AND COMPLETELY RE-IMAGINE IT.” – Bill Burnett, exec.director of design, Stanford University’s D.School Question: What/how would you do to create or establish this ‘new idea’. How can this help with your current design project?

I think this statement is really important especially if you want to make an impact on the future. As it is right now, I believe that with advancements in technology, we are able to get a lot of information that we need in a few clicks, and the market has become a bit saturated as well with ideas. So in order to get a better understanding and come up with a new idea, we have to extensively research our target/idea that already exists and then mix it with a lot of imagination or what does not seem realistic.

We can get inspired from literally anything around us, but the ability to execute our interpretations into a realistic solution takes a lot of time and research. I think that before shooting any ideas down saying that it is impossible or too unrealistic, we must change our mindset to a more fantasy like mind. Instead of thinking this is impossible, think that this actually works and if so how does it happen. Even a small change like this motivates us to work harder to come up with creative solutions.

Personally, I love looking at fictional media for what we imagine the future to be like or even movies from Studio Ghibli that shows a mix between realism and magic. Another take we can have on this statement is the way we can look at it from different angles which is by getting the opinions of many people. Different people have unique takes on each project and you could create a hybrid of these solutions while it also works efficiently.

Moreover, by using these two methods, I think it has helped my project to move into a better direction. I have researched about my fishing community based project for a few weeks and in order to understand them, I have to get a hold of the lifestyle they have so I can help affect them positively and solve their problems of pollution. However I also have to be creative in a way that I use the filters as not just a small machine in the area but as a continuous structure/form throughout the area.

To continue this, I was thinking of using the different parts of the filter or their rotations in a way that helps with solving the fishermen’s problems and also a more futuristic approach. Drying of fish/prawns can be done using the rotation of wheels, and perhaps the platform could be a floating/moving one as well. As I have seen thigs like moving islands or floating machines to reduce pollution, I was thinking that we could use something interesting and similar in the area.

I made the fish wheel which can carry or dry fish for the community which is a part of the filter and I also made a sketch for detachable water filters that float around and help reduce water pollution. Furthermore, I thought of adding a structure that helps with erosion to raise the boat and let them move into the sea easily