After reading through the Slow Design Principles the first design project that came to mind was EarthShip Homes. The Earthships homes in New Mexico are homes that are self-sustaining in nature, making them eco-friendly options for people to own or rent. These homes use design principle 4, because the homes are created on shared blueprints. These homes are often built collaboratively in a community for people who want to live there. This creates a shared knowledge base on how to create an Earthship. Another design principle that is used is principle 6, these homes show the people who choose to either rent or own them how eco-friendly aspects of the home help the environment reap the benefits. One of the ways the earthships do this is by using the toilet flushing as irrigation for the plants within the house. This in time helps the plants grow and flourish in the environment while reducing the carbon foot that is left behind. One thing that I find impressive about this design, is the overall look and feel of the earthships. At first glance the earthships look like something out of a sci-fi movie, but when looking inside they have all the comforts and luxuries that most people would want in a home. Another thing that I find impressive about the Earthships, is the fact that they are completely self-sustainable from heating to growing fruits and vegetables to eat.
The other project that came to mind was the paraSITE project we had discussed in class. The paraSITE project in New York by Michael Rakowitz uses design principles 2 and 5. This project focuses on collaboration between the artist and the user. People who use the paraSITE homes are brought into the design process in order to better curate the home to the users needs and wants. Another slow design principle that is used principle 2, this is due to the fact that the homes are made from trash bags. This is a way of taking a material with one functionality and giving it a new one. One thing that impresses me most about the paraSITE project is the way it uses resources that people who face homelessness can easily access due to either low cost or availability. The paraSITE project not only creates art with these homes but also strives to help people who are facing hardship.
My fantasy project revolves around displaced water and the environmental impact plastic water bottles have. This project would use different types of water bottles and when a camera on an phone or tablet is held up to it the user would see how far the water had traveled to reach that particular destination. The project would highlight impact displaced water has on the environment and also show the process of how water bottles are made. This project would use the design principles 1 and 3.
Principle 1 is used because a water bottle such as ice mountain or nestle is used frequently in everyday life. However, most people don’t think about how far the water within the object has traveled in order to reach the person. By showing the distance water can travel people would become more aware of the environmental impact single use water bottles have on the planet. Principle 3 is used because the project would force users to reflect on how displaced water impacts the environment. It would also cause people to think about water sources close to them that can be used instead of using single use water bottles.
