Design Studio 01¶

Info

FACULTY: Guillem Camprodon, Jana Tothill, Laura Benitez, Roger Guilemany, Tomas Diez

CALENDAR: 03-10 → 19-12

TRACK: Application

Introduction¶

1PP Design Interventions are:

EXPERIENTIAL
CRAFTING
AUGMENTING
SOCIO-POLITICAL

However, the challenges could be working with materials at hand and putting yourself at risk, dealing with real world complexity.

Roles of Prototyping¶

THE PROTOTYPE AS AN EXPERIMENTAL COMPONENT Hypotheses physically embedded in the artifact.
THE PROTOTYPE AS A MEANS OF INQUIRY An instrument to collect, record and measure phenomena.
THE PROTOTYPE AS A RESEARCH ARCHETYPE Research archetypes are physical embodiments of concepts, understandings or design spaces. These prototypes are principally exemplary and illustrative, even (and especially) when they are exposing confrontational or contradictory scenarios.
THE PROCESS OF PROTOTYPING AS A VEHICLE FOR INQUIRY The process of making a prototype is instrumental in doing design research. In these role, the process becomes a means of inquiry, akin to a research method. The process is documented, analysed, critically assessed and written up, and the research contribution is tied not to the artefact itself as much as to how the artefact was crafted.

Roles of Prototyping [Personal Experience]¶

ZIGO- → THE PROTOTYPE AS AN EXPERIMENTAL COMPONENT

ZIGO- is a rehabilitation program focused on hand injuries, where the central component is the homonymous controller, which allows finger contractions with varying resistance levels tailored to the patient’s condition. Accompanied by a videogame experience, the device facilitates consistent exercise and enables doctors to monitor rehabilitation progress. Prototyping has been a fundamental tool that allowed to refine the product design and functionality. Through multiple iterations, we were able to identify the optimal shape, based on hand grip and considerating the respective percentiles. Click here to visit ZIGO-’s page.
GAIA → THE PROTOTYPE AS A MEANS OF INQUIRY

GAIA was conceived in a workshop led by Marisa Satsia, focused on Soft Robotics. This prototype is intended to represent a hybrid breathing entity, crafted from a fusion of bioplastic and electronic circuits. Adopting principles from the field of Soft Robotics, the prototype aims to inquire our perception of technology, examining the intersection of synthetic and organic elements, offering a thought-provoking perspective on the evolution of technology and its integration with organic matter Click here to visit GAIA’s page.
MI·MÈ·SI → THE PROTOTYPE AS A RESEARCH ARCHETYPE

MI·MÈ·SI is a research centered around the combination of different materials, aimed at renew traditional artisanal practices for adaptation to contemporary contexts. Driven by a multitude of experiments, the role of the final artifacts was not to define end-products, instead, it focused on their potential (especially in terms of visual communication) to showcase the potential of the research. Click here to visit MI·MÈ·SI’s page.
SPIRA → THE PROCESS OF PROTOTYPING AS A VEHICLE FOR INQUIRY

During the development of SPIRA the goal was to fabricate closed chambers from upcycled plastic sheets, which would serve as habitats for microalgae cultivation. This aim was achieved through the use of a laser cutting machine to weld the sheets, employing a technique derived from the field of Soft Robotics. Given that this technique has been sparsely documented and experimented with, the prototyping phase was all about exploration.

The initial stages of research have focused in meticulously calibrating the machine’s parameters, aiming to establish an effective welding. Following this, the focus shifted towards enhancing the adhesion between the plastic sheets. Various strategies were tested to improve precision and effectiveness in the prototyping process. The use of acrylic sheets held in place with magnets, the application of preliminary guides, and the implementation of double welding techniques were instrumental in refining the process. These trials and adjustments (and their documentation) helped to understand the machine as well as the fabrication process in the optimization of a technique. Click here to visit SPIRA’s page.

Extended Workspace¶

Click here to navigate my Extended Workspace.

Exercise with Sophie Marandon¶

Sophie’s research provides a comparative analysis of the populist discourse acknowledged in the tweets of Marine Le Pen (MLP) and Jean-Luc Mélenchon (JLM). Key characteristics of populist discourse include: the glorification of the people, estrangement of the elite, exclusion of outsiders who don’t share the same identity, nostalgia for the nation’s symbolic traditions, and a depiction of the leader as the authentic voice of the people. Sophie also used a Natural Language Processing, an Artificial Intelligence model capable of understanding human language, in order to develop a Sentiment Analysis of the selected tweets. Sophie’s project embeds a broader analysis on communication and the utilization of social media by political parties. Therefore, her prototype aligns with the 3^rd Role of Prototyping, serving as a tangible demonstration of her research.

After discussing the project together with Sophie, we became aware of the opacity surrounding the way social media curate information for users. These algorithms, which shape our perceptions of news, politics, and culture, operate within a “black box”, making it challenging for users to decrypt their working. The connections between pieces of information, and the reasons why certain elements are prioritized over others, remain concealed.

To address this, we conceived the idea of a browser add-on, powered by AI, that can deconstruct the interface of social networks. This tool would serve as an overlay, providing insights into why a particular tweet, post, or comment is presented to the user. Contrary to the common belief that social media and technology are neutral entities, our tool aims to shed light on the underlying biases and conflicts. This would be crucial to emphasize a more transparent relationship between users and digital media.

This tool aligns more with the 2^nd Role of Prototyping, as its primary goal is to reveal the underlying phenomena users encounter during their use of social media.

Down the Pipe¶

Team

Anna Fedele, Anthuanet Falcon Quispe, Marius Schairer, Nicolò Baldi, Sophie Marandon

Ideation¶

We began our journey in this very first Design Intervention by sharing our personal Design Spaces. This sensitive phase was crucial, serving as the roots of our project and helping us in recognizing our own interests and capabilities. Despite our varied backgrounds and different aspirations, we discovered that we shared a number of common values.

The challenge then became to translate this spectrum of ideas into a 1^st Person Perspective Intervention, or at least, a collective one. We realized that public transportation, particularly the Metro System, profoundly echoed our thoughts, as this acts as an underground microcosm of society’s broader interactions. Marius then presented us a study which revealed a concerning fact: the air quality within the Metro system is significantly worse than that on the surface, largely due to harmful particulates emanating from the rails. Intrigued by these findings, we delved into further research and quickly realized the gravity of the issue.

This newfound understanding sparked an intense interest in the topic among us.

Abstract¶

We aim to bring attention to the state of air quality in public transport, with a particular focus on the Metro System of Barcelona. While governments and citizens are increasingly demanding for more public transportation systems, it is crucial to verify and expose the ecological implications of these systems.

This complex network spans the metropolitan area and, while it’s primarily used to guide trains, it represents an ecosystem overflowing with untapped potential. The spaces within extend far beyond what is accessible to users, suggesting a reservoir of opportunity for reinvent. The Metro’s network could potentially support a broader ecological community, possibly serving as a habitat for various species that could thrive in these kilometres of underground galleries.

To delve into this challenge, we have equipped ourselves with a PM2.5 sensor: evaluating PM2.5 levels is crucial for assessing air quality because these particles are an important indicator of health risks from air pollution. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. These tiny particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, which can cause significant health problems.

This sensor has been connected to a speaker which provides real-time feedback on the air quality at various stations within Barcelona’s Metro. We then experienced a typical commute to IaaC in the L4 Metro, from La Pau Station to Bogatell, using the sensor’s readings to audibly illustrate the invisible threat lurking in the air we breathe.

References

Process¶

Having defined our concept, the initial step was to prototype a device that could serve our purpose. Our concepts were inspired by the “Smart Citizen” project, which prompted us to seek guidance from the Code lab. We reached out to Oscar Gonzalez, who generously allowed us to borrow a PM2.5 sensor from the laboratory, which is the same model used by the Smart Citizen kit. With the sensor in hand, we connected it to an Arduino board using the appropriate adapter. Therefore, we incorporated an auditory component. A speaker, graciously loaned to us by Minnie, was repurposed from their Triggered machine from The Machine Paradox seminar. This speaker would enable us to transform the data collected by the PM2.5 sensor into an audible experience.

Code for Down the Pipe Experiment

    /* CODE FOR DOWN THE PIPE EXPERIMENT */

    #include "Adafruit_PM25AQI.h"
    #include <SoftwareSerial.h>
    #include "pitches.h"

    SoftwareSerial pmSerial(2, 3);
    Adafruit_PM25AQI aqi = Adafruit_PM25AQI();

    const int speakerPin = 11;

    // definying the melody
    int melody1[] = {NOTE_C2, NOTE_C3, NOTE_A1, NOTE_A2, NOTE_AS1, NOTE_AS2};
    int melody2[] = {NOTE_C3, NOTE_C4, NOTE_A2, NOTE_A3, NOTE_AS2, NOTE_AS3};
    int melody3[] = {NOTE_C4, NOTE_C5, NOTE_A3, NOTE_A4, NOTE_AS3, NOTE_AS4};
    int melody4[] = {NOTE_C5, NOTE_C6, NOTE_A4, NOTE_A5, NOTE_AS4, NOTE_AS5};
    int melody5[] = {NOTE_C6, NOTE_C7, NOTE_A5, NOTE_A6, NOTE_AS5, NOTE_AS6};
    int melody6[] = {NOTE_C7, NOTE_C8, NOTE_A6, NOTE_A7, NOTE_AS6, NOTE_AS7};

    int durations1[] = {4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4};
    int durations2[] = {4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4};
    int durations3[] = {4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4};
    int durations4[] = {4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4};
    int durations5[] = {4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4};
    int durations6[] = {4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4};

    void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    while (!Serial) delay(10);

    Serial.println("Adafruit PMSA003I Air Quality Sensor");
    delay(1000);

    pmSerial.begin(9600);

    if (! aqi.begin_UART(&pmSerial)) {
        Serial.println("Could not find PM 2.5 sensor!");
        while (1) delay(10);
    }
    Serial.println("PM25 found!");

    pinMode(speakerPin, OUTPUT);
    }

    void loop() {
    PM25_AQI_Data data;

    if (! aqi.read(&data)) {
        Serial.println("Could not read from AQI");
        delay(500);
        return;
    }

    Serial.println("AQI reading success");
    Serial.println();
    Serial.println(F("---------------------------------------"));
    Serial.println(F("Concentration Units (standard)"));
    Serial.println(F("---------------------------------------"));
    Serial.print(F("PM 1.0: ")); Serial.print(data.pm10_standard);
    Serial.print(F("\t\tPM 2.5: ")); Serial.print(data.pm25_standard);
    Serial.print(F("\t\tPM 10: ")); Serial.println(data.pm100_standard);
    Serial.println(F("Concentration Units (environmental)"));
    Serial.println(F("---------------------------------------"));
    Serial.print(F("PM 1.0: ")); Serial.print(data.pm10_env);
    Serial.print(F("\t\tPM 2.5: ")); Serial.print(data.pm25_env);
    Serial.print(F("\t\tPM 10: ")); Serial.println(data.pm100_env);
    Serial.println(F("---------------------------------------"));
    Serial.print(F("Particles > 0.3um / 0.1L air:"));
    Serial.println(data.particles_03um);
    Serial.print(F("Particles > 0.5um / 0.1L air:"));
    Serial.println(data.particles_05um);
    Serial.print(F("Particles > 1.0um / 0.1L air:"));
    Serial.println(data.particles_10um);
    Serial.print(F("Particles > 2.5um / 0.1L air:"));
    Serial.println(data.particles_25um);
    Serial.print(F("Particles > 5.0um / 0.1L air:"));
    Serial.println(data.particles_50um);
    Serial.print(F("Particles > 10 um / 0.1L air:"));
    Serial.println(data.particles_100um);
    Serial.println(F("---------------------------------------"));

    // Determine which melody to play based on the particle count
    if (data.pm25_env < 5) {
        playMelody(melody1, durations1, sizeof(melody1) / sizeof(int));
    } else if (data.pm25_env < 10) {
        playMelody(melody2, durations2, sizeof(melody2) / sizeof(int));
    } else if (data.pm25_env < 15) {
        playMelody(melody3, durations3, sizeof(melody3) / sizeof(int));
    } else if (data.pm25_env < 20) {
        playMelody(melody4, durations4, sizeof(melody4) / sizeof(int));
    } else if (data.pm25_env < 25) {
        playMelody(melody5, durations5, sizeof(melody5) / sizeof(int));
    } else {
        playMelody(melody6, durations6, sizeof(melody6) / sizeof(int));
    }

    delay(1000); // sensor delay
    }

    void playMelody(int melody[], int durations[], int notes) {
    for (int thisNote = 0; thisNote < notes; thisNote++) {
        int noteDuration = 650 / durations[thisNote];
        tone(speakerPin, melody[thisNote], noteDuration);

        int pauseBetweenNotes = noteDuration /** 1.30*/;
        delay(pauseBetweenNotes);

        noTone(speakerPin);
    }
    }

Video¶

Laura Benitez¶

To emphasize the concept of entanglement, Laura asked us to choose a particular figure from our experiences that we believe led us here, now.

Reflecting on my past, one in particular came into my mind, displayed in the picture above. You might have recognized it as its shape is the personal logo i’ve chosen. This is the first piece of bio-plastic I ever created and one of my initial experiences into working hands-on with materials, particularly biomaterials. This piece was in fact crafted from a mixture of agar-agar, gelatine, water, and willow wood powder.

At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of this creation. However, looking back, I can see how this moment set off a chain of events that led me here. Since that experience, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for projects involving manual labor, eagerly seeking tangible materials that I can shape using a multitude of techniques. From a personal standpoint, it was during that period that I began to delve deeply into ecological and posthuman theories. My focus increasingly centered on climate crisis and the significance of non-human entities.

This critical approach profoundly influenced my worldview. It reshaped how I perceive my existence and my relationship with the complex ecosystem we are all an integral part of.

Pulse¶