design42day

Our globalized world faces enormous challenges in the coming years: fast growing cities, a widening polarity of city versus countryside and an increase of environmental changes. Design can contribute to ameliorate our life conditions in the near future.
On the occasion of 2011 Beijing Design Week, the first Beijing International Design Triennial, Goethe-Institut China invites the department “Hybrid Space” at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne to present an exhibition and a workshop program “Hybrid Design – Autonomous Cell Space” at 751 D • PARK in 798 Art District. This project is also supported by the Beijing Design Week 2011 and Bits From Bytes.
The “Hybrid Design” project, initiated by Prof. Frans Vogelaar, Academy of Media Arts Cologne, approaches technological developments from the perspective of the designer, by “inhabiting technology”, by transforming these technological developments to meet the way we want to live. It introduces the design fields that are emerging through the combination and fusion of environments, objects and services in the information-communication age. While industrial design concentrates on industrially produced objects, Hybrid Design considers objects, services and environments within their networked systems of production, distribution, use and recycling.

Exhibition
At the exhibition from 26 Sep. to 3 Oct, some students of the Academy of Media Arts, Cologne, will present two video installations and a sound-installation that deal with the idea of feedback in spatial perception through digital media technology: Robert Olawuyi’s video loop “Breeze” focuses on the interference of natural and artificial motion as an extended moment of perception. Roman Hahlbrock’s sound installation “Seen Hören” investigates the synthesis of sound produced by water changing its state of aggregation on a frozen lake used by the public for leisure. Jonas Zais installs an interactive video by arranging signals from the exhibition space and the visitors in fractal patterns. The collaborative work “Autonomous Cell Space” by David Hahlbrock, Roman Hahlbrock, Róbert Olawuyi and Jonas Zais is shown as a model. The model of the kinetic installation deals with the idea of space controlled by autonomous technological systems. The installation, represented in a model, scans the visitors’ behavior and uses this information as feedback for the control system that structures the exhibition space.

Workshop
In addition to the exhibition, a workshop will be held in cooperation with Prof. Fei Jun and his students from the CAFA Media Lab, School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts, China.

In the last years 3D printing has developed from a specialized industry to a low cost technology that everyone can use to produce objects. The digital blue prints of the machines and objects are designed in 3D software and can be shared via digital networks. 3D printing allows industrial production on a desktop scale enabling autonomous production for individuals and designers.

The workshop is an experimental laboratory that strongly interacts with the public. During the workshop the participants learn how to use a Do It Yourself (DIY) 3D printer and how to share the digital design information of physical objects through online communities.

The whole project aims to enhance the international dialogue on design, to strengthen design’s contribution to new sustainable lifestyles. It is a Eurasian arc between Germany and China based on a mutual cooperation in design research and innovation.

Programm
Hybrid Design – 2011 Beijing Design Week

Organizer:   Academy of Media Arts Cologne / Goethe-Institut  China

Partner:  Beijing Design Week 2011 / Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)

Address:   751 D • PARK, 798 Art District, Building 5  No.4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Opening      25.09.2011, 15:00 – 17:00
Exhibition Hybrid Design    26.09 – 3.10.2011, 10:00 -18:00
Workshop “Hybrid Design – Autonomous Cell Space“  27.09 – 1.10.2011, 14:00 -18:00
Discussion       27.09 – 1.10.2011, 18:00 -19:00

About Department of Hybrid Space at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne

- Prof. Frans Vogelaar
Head of the Department of Hybrid Space at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne

Prof. Frans Vogelaar studied industrial design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven and architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) in London. He worked at the architectural and design office Studio Alchymia (Allessandro Mendini) in Milan and at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA / Koolhaas) in Rotterdam. Prof. Frans Vogelaar founded in 1998 at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne the first Department of Hybrid Space worldwide. His department has been awarded international prizes: YAHOO! University Design Expo 2007 prize, the Cologne International Design Prize 2008.

- David Hahlbrock
David Hahlbrock is teaching assistant and graduate of the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. He studied history and art history at the Technical University of Berlin, and participated at a month long joined Academy of Media Arts/CAFA workshop in Beijing in 2008.

- Roman Hahlbrock
Roman Hahlbrock studied medicine at the University of Ulm, 2nd year student at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Phd Thesis in 2011 at the Institute of Psychiatry at Prof. Dr. Manfred Spitzer, Ulm.

- Róbert Olawuyi
Róbert Olawuyi studied singing at the St. Stephan Concervatorium of Budapest, (Opera diploma) and art history at the University of Budapest. He is now 4th year student at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.

- Jonas Zais
Jonas Zais worked as a cutter and TV producer. He is now 2nd year student at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.