DESIGNING SPACES FOR LEARNING, INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY -
Extracts from my field notebook of several learning expeditions –
EdTech Master / CRI.
27 September — 360 Learning –
Is a successful start-up company which develops and sells digital platforms for e-learning and digital training. Working with a big range of companies and institutions world wide.
The offices of 360Learning are situated in an elegant building in the 16arr in Paris, occupying all four floors.
Entering the building you are immediately faced with a sight specific installation created by the artists Dominique Jousseaume, Zaira Vieytes and Alain Ayache, named « Le Mobile des delices », extending through and dialoguing with the entire space of the building — from the very entrance up to the general meeting room situated on the top floor, where it reaches its climax. It is a tangled and complex three dimensional collage made out of ready-made found objects, combined with original creations of the artists, aiming to simulate and interpret into visual language our learning mechanism, referring to both it`s neurological infrastructure and to it`s poetic, psychological and philosophical manifestations. I found it to be a highly creative and efficient addition to the space, it is very dominant and is constantly demanding our attention, evoking thoughts about the infinite complexity, beauty and mystery of the human learning apparatus. The installation is composed of endless details some contradictory and unexpected and some complementary just like the learning mechanism itself. Aiming to continuously stimulate and inspire the people who work in and visit the space.
28 September — Samsung showroom and Samsung Academy –
The design of the Samsung showroom is cold, impersonal and un-opinionated, using mainly plastic and other synthetic materials.
Design in the service of a global corporation for technology and communication has proved itself to be a very efficient tool which deliberately and consciously, transforms the playful, innocent, curious and willing actor in our personality into a purchasing apparatus. De-humanizing Design, aimed to decipher our personal cravings and innermost feelings and desires, in order to manipulate and convert them into purchasing actions. Technology which nurtures and enhances our impatience, encouraging us at any given moment to convert any uncomfortable and restless sensation into buying of new products.
I don`t think that the products developed by Samsung could be used for Educational purposes, they are designed to facilitates the interaction with a potential costumer through cheap thrills and are very expensive to buy and maintain.
In line with this impression of the ethical values of the company, the Samsun Academy which was introduced to us with great pride, is not surprisingly an out sourced educational project, separated and foreign to the philosophy and values of the company itself. The entire professional staff involved in the project is not directly employed by Samsung but belongs to several independent organizations that are being paid in order to supply their services. The humanistic values which they promote remain out side the company’s walls and corridors and do not promote any internal dialogue or influence the design process and manufacturing of the products developed.
02 October — Project 750 — SNCF -
Why design which seeks to promote innovation, collaboration and creativity has to be so chaotic, dominant, creating un-ease, suffocating and full of textural and chromatic contracts?
Maybe the designer felt he had to shout out loud his mission, since the SNCF is such an established and firmly structured company with a very limited mandate for innovation and experimentation due to their zero mistake policy and their large international scale?
The second part of the visit supplied me with part of the answer — an exact opposite design experience was manifested in a “back stage” office designated for “Project Nomade”. An open space where a team of developers were in the process of debating a project. Inhabited only by the worker`s thoughts, research results, dreams and passions, sentimental objects and personal imprints, the space was dominated by a huge post-it board, bursting with creativity, and strong intuitions.
The contrast between the official space which was over designed and the actual working space which was bare and simple proved once more that human creativity, which implies the freedom to research and experiment will prosper in a clean neutral space in which it can organically shape and influence the surrounding as the work progresses.
Organic Design manifesting the creativity and innovative nature of the person who inhabits it.
18 October — Liberty Living Lab -
Open Space promoting an Open and sharing Community.
The Liberty Living Lab is an innovative experiment aiming to create a new physical and mental space for working and living together. Merging in one building many kinds of activities and publics. Set in the heart of Paris, this is a private project which rents out working space for organizations and companies with a high social value, together with artists and researches. The 5 story building which used to be a textile factory has been entirely transformed and is now comprised of many and various working, research, performances, artistic gathering and leisure spaces — such as this open amphitheater which is situated on the first floor of the building and is open towards the ground floor, enabling the listening to concerts and lectures. Other open spaces include various offices, library, cinema, bar and sleep/relaxation area.
The design is very functional, humble, elegant and non pretentious. I find it to be very successful, since it doesn’t presume anything and only enables sharing, co working and many other activities that are preformed together, granting opportunity for organic change and development (note the white boards which function as walls and separations between the spaces — ready to be drawn upon and serve as base for thoughts and communication).
The renovation of the building is evident; yet not forcing itself and wisely using simple materials and furniture designed specifically for the center. It provides many solutions for the various types of activities and publics which come to work and attend the social and artistic activities. I particularly liked the series of simply, asymmetrical small benches made of ply wood and used throughout the space in many different constellations.
