LDF: Making Believe, Goldsmiths University of London

Making Believe Exhibition at Mile End Art Pavilion, London, showcases the freshest talent from Goldsmiths University of London MA projects in Critical Practice, Environment and Design, Research, Design Education, Future Design and Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship.

Making Believe is a regular to the London Design Festival and the 2011 show has a very futuristic theme. Designers are looking to improve the environment, education, business and the general quality of life. Located in the beautiful Art Pavilion the exhibition is relaxing and thought provoking.

Self-Sufficiency Tools for the Urban Nomad is a Critical Practice project by Andrew Heber. With his inspiration coming from ‘an interest in the future, a driving force for many designers,’ Andrew wanted to create something that helps people live more sustainable lifestyles and achieved this through targeting self sufficiency. The kit is designed, to ‘help the user find his own personal path to a sustainable future,’ as Andrew believes that consumption can only be tackled through further, correctly targeted consumption.

Reciepts and Rewards, is an exciting new two-fold concept developed by designer Alison Lee, targeting the issue of paper receipt waste as well as challenging the real benefits of loyalty cards. Both are products that cannot be recycled but that we collect on almost a daily basis, resulting in uncountable amounts of waste. MyRe is a service, in essence, that collects your receipts and ‘points’ in an online account. ‘Responsible’ points are achieved by product locality and packaging which allows consumers spending to be ‘invested back into themselves for their future, so that they really can save as they spend.’

When was the last time that you tried to really feel the world?

Chun-Peng Ling is a designer with a strong philosophy to ‘make designs attach to the mind and memory.’ Perceiving Through Space From the Spirit does just this, tackling our lost ‘sensory ability to experience the real world,’ Taking you out of the real world both physically and mentally, Chung-Peng’s project is an interaction space, a tunnel connecting the three main museums in South Kensington, allowing each traveller to experience their own spiritual journey.

Species to Species is a Design and the Environment project by aspiring mediator Jen Yoohyun Lee, ‘My project is about provoking a novel awareness of the non-human animals in ‘human space.’ Although we often try to re-connect with nature, Jen believes that we are approaching it incorrectly, regarding nature as ‘means, props and background for human actors.’

Species to Species is an Audio Guided Walk, a tour of urban space from the viewpoint of a mouse, to allow society to understand our neighbours and ‘rediscover Nature within oneself.’

Why should we continue following the same path, without questioning whether there might be alternatives?

Everyday Activism is an MA Design and Environment project by Marcela Teran that challenges conventions of sustainability in an urban context. Research undertaken by consumers with a cultural probe kit resulted in the design of a Personal Everyday Activism Support Toolkit.  ‘An instrument to enable conversations, people are invited to enhance or develop it for collaborative support and sharing of knowledge.’  The kit is designed to create a response to your own personal values.

 Sabari Majumdar has just completed an MA in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship in order to find ‘new ways to express my combined creative practice.’ 

Reimagined dreams, targets the burden of culture and tradition, in regards to forced marriage. For these women survivors it ‘is a story of aspirations, hope for lost dreams and re-creation of identity.’ The project continues beyond the MA as a collaboration with charity Asha Project for an exhibition in Alchemy 2012. Workshops to create the pieces will help the women tell their story and showcasing their work will help inspire others.

Design Futures project, Integrative Product Development by Sumiko Serizawa asks ‘What is ‘effective product development’?’ and answers with a combination of ‘design approaches thinking, tools and processes’. Focusing on the study of Metadesign, Sumiko believes it is the quality of the collaboration that needs nurturing, so has targeted this in her project to ensure high quality collaboration is key in the product development process.

Kalika Sharma has created an original Storytelling Menu Design for the Design Education MA. Inspired by learning as equally as inspired about designing learning, this project aims to help food places design a menu that the public want. Teaching the consumer the course of their food as well as the methods of preparation, in new animated ways, this project injects some fun back into education.

Designer and Researcher Ipek Altunmaral looks at the effects of our future habits on developing products in her MA project, Nearest Neighbour. As a research project Ipek has analysed the problems and potential of product service systems and believes we can capitalise efficiently on the ‘design-produce-market-sell-gain’ cycle. Ipeks aim is to ‘re-incorporate the individual into the collaborative.’

Making Believe runs at the Art Pavilion, Mile End Park, London until 24th September. Open 11am-7pm, Wrap Party 24th Sept 11am-9pm. Admission Free.

Contact:
Andrew Heber andrew@heber.com website: http://andrew.heber.com
Alison Lee aliwylee@gmail.com
Chun-Peng Lin j09190907@hotmail.com
Jen Yoohyun Lee reciprocal.living@gmail.com
Marcela Teran startquestioning@gmail.com startquestioning.wordpress.com
Sabari Majumdar majumdarsabari@gmail.com
Sumiko Serizawa sumiko0716@gmail.com
Kalika Sharma kalika.kalika@gmail.com
Ipek Altunmaral www.ipekaltunmaral.com hello@ipekaltunmaral.com