{ THE CHAIRS }

I'd made a couple of friends at a design conference I'd gone to a little while back, when I posted my blog on facebook, one of them namely Shanika Perera, replied saying it was similar to a project she had done. I found her project really interesting, so am posting it. Here's how she describes the project:


we were given the script of the play 'the chairs' by Eugene Ionesco as a starting point. i started thinking about benches and how people do more than just 'sit' on them. its a seat for waiting, thinking, writing, sleeping, eating etc. also, in london i noticed a lot of benches are dedicated to people. thus, i made a plate with 'in memory of '-ing' on it, kinda saying that this bench was dedicated to the millions of people who sit on it daily, to eat, drink, talk etc.

the other route i took was more for the fun aspect of taking all my belongings out of my home and to the bench outside!

Points of note:


- The project was conducted in London, UK
- Dedicating benches is a concept that hasn't quite caught on in Delhi, or India for that matter. (Maybe something to consider when taking the project forward to my degree project)
- Shanika mentions the fact that people do a lot more different things on benches, something that distinguishes a lot from other public places to sit. e.g Chairs, Ledges.

{ SOCIAL LIFE IN SMALL URBAN SPACES }

I managed to find this incredible film which is the result of a decade long reseach conducted in the 1980s. The study was about how people in cities (american cities, particularly New York) behave in public spaces, where they sit, what they do. Although the intentions were to provide architectural recommendations, a lot of the insights apply to my research. 

This is a small, strangely (but interestingly) edited clip from the film. It's the only one I could find on youtube. Along with the film is a book which I've also managed to get..will read through it.

{ THE FAMILIAR STRANGER: ANXIETY, COMFORT, AND PLAY IN PUBLIC SPACES }

I was very happy that Mrs. Sabnani (mentioned earlier) took time out to look at my blog. In her feedback she sent me a research paper titled THE FAMILIAR STRANGER by Eric Paulos and Elizabeth Goodman.

http://drzaius.ics.uci.edu/meta/classes/informatics161_fall06/papers/19-familiarstranger.pdf 

here's a link to it.

What I take from it:

- familiar strangers are individuals we regularly observe but do not interact with.

- familiar strangers may interact if (a) If they meet in a very different environment where their knowledge and place become apparent. (b) events occur that break the social construct e.g earthquake, fire..

- people often give their familiar strangers names or make fictional stories and backgrounds about their personal lives.

- the city works as a facilitator of commercial exchange, the city is a workplace, but the city is also a place for individuals and communities, a place for people to eat, drink, dance, meet friends and just hang out. For these the city provides leisure zones.

- current trends in mobile phone usage divide people from nearby strangers in their community, uncomfortable in strange situations or public spaces, people reach for their mobile phones, dramatically decreasing the chance of interacting with people outside their social group.
- The perception, role, and existence of familiar strangers are deeply embedded within the culture of communities. In communities of less than 150 people, i.e. "the nod line", members are obligated to exchange polite greetings when they meet. In cities, the opposite hold true. Urbanites are expected to maintain "civil inattention" in public places such as the subway platform or the elevator.
- Strangers take on different meanings throughout people's lives.

{ SOME LINKS }

http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/11/11_chair.html

From Benches to Barstools - A History of Chairs, Posture, and Society

- Bench-like seating areas existed since neolithic times (seating is made for social spaces from the start)

- The 'Chair' is primarily a western concept
- Society status decides what seats you can sit on.

http://www.photograph-london.com/london-objects/park-benches.php

London Park Benches Photos
- A couple of nice photos on London benches


http://www.ehow.com/about_4705744_metal-park-benches.html
About Metal Park Benches
- An brief explanation of the History, types, Construction, Cost, Durability of Metal park benches.
- People believed the replacement of wooden benched with ones with metal frames in American parks signaled the end of an era of craftsmanship and the emergence of a colder, more unfriendly park experience but for others, especially cash-strapped municipalities and agencies, they were a financial boon. (park benches can form part of ones cultural identity to the extent that they can be used to comment of society)


http://voooz.com/2010/10/30/cool-and-unusual-bench-designs-in-public-places/
Cool and Unusual Bench Designs in Public Places
- Amazing bench designs
- Benches can be a piece of public art
- The form of the bench is open to any interpretation as long as the concept is intact.

http://allfurniturecollection.com/modern-luxury-public-space-seat-bench-design/
Modern and Luxury Public Space Seat Bench Design

- A beautiful bench design


http://www.contemporist.com/2010/10/28/coffee-bench-by-beyond-studio/
Coffee Bench by BEYOND Studio
- Another great example
- More purpose can be added to an object

http://brysphotostack.tumblr.com/tagged/bench

Bryan's Photo Stack - One day, One photo, One memory
- Images of park benches, mostly vacant
- notable tags public, peace, serenity, solitude, isolation, quiet, silence, relax, rest, alone, world's end, old, calm, contemplation, thinking.

http://www.freakingnews.com/Bench-Pictures---2356.asp

Bench Pictures Gallery
- Photoshop graphics involving benches
- Weird and interesting

{ BENCHISM }

http://www.benchism.org.uk/

This website, run by a bunch of benchists, talks about all things BENCH!
- I have the feeling it hasn't been updated in awhile. Registration to their forum isn't working right now.
- A UK based website, makes sense since the bench is a western concept (although adaptations and similar objects exist native to every culture, also mentioned in the 'about us' page)
- The 'benches on canvas' section and the 'benches as art' in the forum section have some nice imagery

{ DISCUSSION }

Discussion with my mentor Ms. Ramneek Kaur and the mentor group


- I was planning to look at benches in different areas of Delhi (North, South, Central.. ) Or maybe positioned at different places (Parks, Malls, Railway Stations).


- I think you should first go around a little and take pictures of different benches in Delhi.
- Maybe you could look at how men and women react differently on benches? Women often as other women for advice on clothing, if you're sitting on a bench in a clothing store.
- Look at which people come to a bench on different times of the days, how they behave on it.
- Look at different ad campaigns involving benches. e.g. The Zoozoos campaign by Vodaphone.


Discussion with Ms. Kalpana Subramanian


- Why a bench?


- I wanted to look at the bench as a means of understanding people's behavior in public spaces, in this culture (Delhi)


- The bench is a western concept that has been absorbed into our society. When an object comes from a foreign culture, we absorb it's cultural meaning in order to understand it.
- You have to decide what gives more insight as a cultural object?
- How do different kinds of people relate to a bench (Sociologically)
- Along with your live study you will have to do a semiotic study to understand how the bench works as an object in this culture.
- What is the potential for creating more meaning from a bench. Visualization?
- Forest Gump and Ryan (Animated film) are some examples of films revolving around a bench.


Discussion with Mrs. Sumita Sarkar


- Why not look at all sitting objects, why this one?
- Why not look at traditional Indian seating, like the Chabutra, or Charpai, the Base around the tree.
- How would a Charpai work in an urban space?

a link to some modernizations to the humble Charpai: http://www.design-flute.com/2007/07/09/charpoy-the-art-of-sleeping/

{ WHO IS ON THIS BENCH? }

- People..maybe some animals
- People who are there to do something on and around the bench
- Individuals and Groups of people
- People from and coming to Delhi
- People from different Social, Economic, Political, Cultural backgrounds

{ WHEN IS THIS BENCH? }

- 21th cen.
- 60 years after the country's independence
- When the city is going through a phase of modernization and globalization 
- After a global recession
- After the city has played host to the Commonwealth Games
- Winter

- November, 2010

- All times of the days

{ WHERE IS THIS BENCH? }

- I was specifically looking at Delhi. A city between the modern and traditional, one that is urbanizing fast and in the process absorbing a lot of western concepts (for good or bad).
- I was only looking at how this bench worked in a public space.

{ WHY A BENCH? }

- It was means of understanding how people behaved in public spaces, specifically Delhites (New Delhi, India).

- It was a means of understanding how an object existed within a culture.

- It was a means of understanding how people from different backgrounds interacted, and how it was visualized by media.

{ WHAT IS A BENCH? }

 a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone. http://oxforddictionaries.com/

A bench is a piece of furniture, on which several people may sit at the same time. Benches are typically made of wood, but may also be made of metal, stone, or synthetic materials. Many benches have arm and back rests; some have no back rest and can be sat on from either side. In public areas, benches are often donated by persons or associations, which may then be indicated on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/

and my personal favorite means of reference..

a combination of either wood or steel, it can also be made out of cement, shaped like a long chair with low back support. these are meant for people to sit on and can be found near, around, or inside most public places. most benches are strong enough to support the weight of the fatest person in the world.(well maybe not that strong) http://www.urbandictionary.com/

{ DECISIONS DECISIONS }

after discussion with my mentor and various other people, I knew the decision hinged on whether I wanted a more experimental project, free-range and completely under my control Or one that is guided by a client, one I can get constructive feedback on.


As this would be part of my last college project I decided to go for something more experimental, something I could make my own. Who knows when I'd get the chance to do that again..


*GOES AND SITS ON BENCH*

{ ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT THE PROPOSAL }

Proposal 1(8 votes)


Understanding how people behave on benches, how does it work as a cultural object, how people react to it and other people sitting on it.


This option came as a result of the workshop with Mrs. Sabnani
- It was an intriguing project to take up, one I could take into many directions in my final project.
- The topic allowed me to be experimental and the question was quite open-ended, but possibly limitless.
- The topic relied heavily on my observation skills, something I am somewhat confident about in myself.
- The research allowed me to study human behavior and apply its findings to my project.


Proposal 2 (1 vote)


Understanding Ruskin Bond's poetry, how poetry is visualized and what is visual elements are present in Ruskin Bond's poetry.


This option came about as the result of a discussion I had with Ms. Kalpana Subramanian, where we discussed about understanding some form of storytelling, later finding some means of visualization for it, where ma'am mentioned the fact that I may be able to contact Ruskin Bond, the famed Poet, and understand his form of storytelling for my project.
- This project, if it worked out could allow me to understand and interpret a very different form of storytelling, and attempt to visualize it under quite a prestigious guidance.
- I related a lot to Ruskin Bond's poetry as I was from the same home town as him and had grown up in the same hills and forests that he wrote about.
- There was a big chance that the project may not actualize, since I had no idea how positive the man in question would be to me coming and asking questions and feedback.
- The project would not allow my to be as experimental as I could be with my first project, I would have to follow the path laid down by the content.

{ 4 DAY 'RESEARCH' WORKSHOP with NINA SABNANI }

We attended a 4 day workshop with the esteemed Nina Sabnani, who has taught at NID for over 20 years, including some of our mentors and had recently submitted her thesis on a Visual Research project.

On the first day we ran through understanding the entire research process, then went into detail on each of the segments, performing mock research as we go along.

Day 1

On the first day, after detailing through the process, we discussed Data Collection in which we covered Observation as a means of collecting data. We were divided into groups and sent to various places as Non Participant Observers.

Our group was sent to the Centre Square Mall in Rajender Nagar. I was put on sketching duty. Once in the mall, I chose to remain seated in one place and see what all in could observe from there. After accumulating more general data, I started observing people sitting on this one bench, I looked at their body language, how long they sat, what they did, how people interacted. 

On discussion in class, some people found the observation interesting, and suggested I consider it for my research project. Which I did.

Day 2

We discussed the other means of Data Collection, including unorthodox means such as asking someone to project emotions, or realities to a drawing. We then went on to discuss Ethnography, understanding the considerations when conducting an ethnographic study.

We were then sent back to the mall to attempt to interview people. I chose to go sit on a bench opposite the one I had sat on the previous day. I sat next to 2 men already sitting. I started sketching people sitting on the opposite bench. I noticed the men sitting next to me were interested in what I was sketching. I asked if I could sketch them, they agreed and while sketching them, struck up a conversation with them. This led to a third conversation.. and I gave the men the sketches I made of them to thank them for their time. 

Day 3

We covered different means of analyzing data, particularly Semiotics, Structuralism and Propp's Morphology. We were sent out to find an image/design/poster to analyze, we had to note the foreground, mid-ground, background, size, colour, fonts, etc and draw inference from it.

Day 4

We presented our analysis, I had chose to analyze a 'Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' poster. One obvious detail I wasn't able to catch was that the sepia tones and medieval age clothing gave an idea to a viewer of the old world feel, even though the story is based on fantasy.

Each student in class was then allocated a mentor based on the direction of their research.

I was given to Ms. Ramneek Kaur. The class got divided by their mentors and we went and discussed our research questions. I presented 2 new research questions based on further contemplation *following post*. We then went and discussed them with Ms. Sabnani. 

The research question so far...

"WHAT IS THE EFFECT PLANNED VISUAL COMMUNICATION 

CAN HAVE ON AN INDIVIDUAL"

-  What are the changes in a person that communication can achieve

-  Ways of validation for visual communication and communication strategy

-  Do the different elements of a communication impact an audience

{ 2nd ATTEMPT AT A RESEARCH PROPOSAL }

I attempted to shorten down my area of research into a specific field with the second round of proposals. These I discuss with Mrs. Sumita Sarkar.

Proposal 1

Name Rishabh Arora

What is the theme or topic area that you are hoping to investigate in your research project?
Examining the impact of pro-environmental animation on an audience’s behavior. And thus understanding how an animation designer can cause the most impact.

Can you identify two or more questions that the research will help you go some way towards answering?
- What constitutes behavior change?
- How does a person interact cognitively with an animation film?
- What elements of the animation are responsible in causing change?
- Can an animator gear a film for impact?
- Till what level can an animated film asking people to act pro-environment, work?

What sort of approaches will you employ to collect data for your research enquiry? For example, if you were going to interview students – how many would you interview? What sorts of themes would you be questioning them about?
Interview audiences to such films
Case studies on films and their impact
Testing on film audience
Interview animators gearing films for impact
Literature review
Interview psychologists on behavior and design
Present findings on how to gear a pro-environmental animation film for impact

What is the purpose of your research? Why is it useful?
More and more films are being made with an objective to motivate individuals or communities to pro-environmental action; I want to attempt to understand whether its even plausible for an animation film to cause impact beyond creating awareness. Do examples of such films exist? If not, is it likely for a film to achieve that in the future?

-  Study impact of a design, not just behavior

-  Study the range of impact that can be caused

-  Possibly study the impact of Communication Design on Behavior

Proposal 2

Name Rishabh Arora

What is the theme or topic area that you are hoping to investigate in your research project?
Examining effective storytelling through interaction design in India

Can you identify two or more questions that the research will help you go some way towards answering?
- What constitutes effective storytelling
- What examples exist of effective storytelling through interaction media in India
- How can Indian interaction designers use elements from their culture to better the effectiveness of their storytelling
- How does a user interact with an interactive product, what factors are involved?

What sort of approaches will you employ to collect data for your research enquiry? For example, if you were going to interview students – how many would you interview? What sorts of themes would you be questioning them about?
Literature review
Websearch
Interview TA experiencing Indian websites
Interview Indian interaction designers attempting storytelling

What is the purpose of your research? Why is it useful?
India is a country that is doing well in absorbing new digital media like interactive products, and it has an ever growing population of people using interactive products regularly. But are we being able to communicate through these products? Is storytelling even an objective for Indian interaction designers? What are the implications of either attempting or not attempting storytelling for Indian interaction designers?

I was still pretty unclear on how to focus down my research.

{ MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL }

I knew 2 wide fields I was interested in researching:

-  Analyzing stories and story structure

-  Behavioral understanding of people, in context to Communication Design

I gave 3 proposals which were discussed and voted on in class, and people's opinion was gathered.

Proposal 1 (0 votes)

What will you research?

To study the relevance of storytelling in communication design today. What is its impact on the viewer/audience?

What will I try to answer?

What is storytelling?

What is the history of storytelling?

How has communication design been impacted in various fields by storytelling?

How culturally relevant is storytelling?

Does storytelling’s affect an audience?

To what extent is its effect on the audience?

What is digital storytelling? What principles from historical forms of storytelling are carried forward, and which are not? What new principles does digital storytelling involve?

Is storytelling a human phenomenon?

Does an audience benefit from storytelling?

Are their adverse effects of storytelling?

Where all is storytelling relevant? And where is it not?

What constitutes a good story?

Where will you go? Who will you talk to?

Libraries, theatres, design houses, advertising agencies, traditional artists, storytellers, writers, filmmakers, animators, art historians, people from different age groups, different communities, countries, backgrounds.

Why is it of use?

Since we are getting into an increasingly faster paced society fewer thinkers are taking the time to develop stories, fewer people are taking the time to notice stories, paying lesser attention to them. Movie’s are being dumbed down, Companies becoming more and more generic and separated from audience, globalization is causing cultures to fade away, the need to understand the importance of storytelling is urgent.

Proposal 2 (6 votes)

What will you research?

Is it important to have story structure? Have structures evolved or changed over time? Are story structures over different media (book design, film, animation, etc) correlated or distinct and different of each other?

What will it answer?

What is a story structure?

How many different types story structure exists, which ones are common where?

Can the absence of a structure be a good thing?

Is big companies adopting set story structures a good thing?

Understand the history of the development of story structures.

Have events in history shaped story structure?

What are the differences of story structures across media and situations?

What principles are involved in a story structure?

What constitutes a good story structure?

Do audiences notice story structures at some level? How much are they affected by it?

Where will you go? Who will you ask?

Filmmakers, Stroyboard artists, Writers, Scriptwriters, Movie lovers, Book readers, Art directors, Editors, Comic book Artists.

Why is it of use?

Story structure segregates different parts of the story and makes it understandable to an audience, It provides movement and impact to a story. It is required to carry forward a story. I want to try and understand the arguments of story structure, Is experimentation in structure dying? Where companies like Dreamworks, Pixar, HBO, Fox are now set in stone about their story structure, and experimentation lies on the edges of independent cinema. Is it growing? As the print media becomes more and more of a luxury, book art is growing in momentum as a movement.

Proposal 3 (11 votes)

What will you research?

How can design facilitate learning? Is the value of design more than just improving visual aesthetics? To what extent can design help improve accessibility and input of information or behavior?

What will it answer?

What constitutes learning?

To what extent can design help one retain and spread information?

Is the learning caused, operant or conditioned?

Has design changed courses in trend and history?

Where does one segregate visual appeal from effective design?

To what extent can design cause behavioral change?

Are present generations more affected by design than others?

Is the learning effect of design different in different communities, age groups and peer interactions?

Is there a divide in design that has proven effective in the market and that which is awarded?

Is design responsible in the viral nature of advertising?

What are a designer’s responsibilities if their design is causing behavioral change in people?

Where will you go? Who will you ask?

Conducting surveys, Talk to Psychologists, Advertisers, Art historians, Design critics, designers in various fields.

Why is it of use?

What segregates design from art? Art the 2 intermingling too much that design is losing its purpose? Is design being judged by how beautiful it looks or by effective it is?

People are moving or being manipulated by design more than ever before, we as designers have to understand to what extent people are behaving towards design, and there in understand our responsibilities.

-  Too vast

-  Too Vague

-  Well thought out proposals

-  Each question could be a topic in itself

I then discussed the 3rd proposal with one of my mentors Mrs. Sumita Sarkar to understand how one goes about studying Behavioral change. She in turn discussed it with someone with knowledge the area of study.

-  Behavioral change cannot be measured over a short period of time.