Exploring the potential of materials to 'fire imagination' and 'advance conceptualisation'

My fellow MA Graphic Media Design student, Andy Dalle Laste, and I have been tasked with conducting an interview exploring key issues that are shaping current and future design practices.

Intention

We are both interested in the theme of social transformation (in relation to completely different fields: genome editing / and econosociolegal peace-building respectively).

We decided to approach Zoe Laughlin, co-founder and co-director of the Institute of Making of UCL who combines extensive expertise in both design and materials science together with a palpable enthusiasm for sharing and learning.

Our intention is to use the interview as the basis for a short film exploring the potential of materials as speculative design tools: to 'fire imagination' and 'advance conceptualisation' (two elements of the Institute's strapline).

Preparation

We prepared for the interview by attending an onsite open day run by Zoe, reading her published work and watching her media appearances.

We then choose a selection of items from the Materials Library that seemed relevant to the theme of social transformation. Finally we storyboarded the shoot.

Interview

What will @zoelaughlin @of_Making reveal on ability of materials to fire imagination + advance conceptualisation? pic.twitter.com/CnkroKSXDb

— Amanda PerryKessaris (@aperrykessaris) August 10, 2016

Totally tempting display of materials

Our favourite four

We first asked Zoe some more general questions about how she thinks and feels about materials (her intellectual and emotional relationship with them), the importance of curiosity and the meaning of transformation in the material sense.

We then asked her to speak about four materials from the collection. Below are some extracts from each discussion.

Muscle wire

Memory metal performed by @zoelaughlin @of_Making shouts legal change to me. Can you hear it? @KLSResearch @SLSA_UK pic.twitter.com/MUnnPAoLei

— Amanda PerryKessaris (@aperrykessaris) August 10, 2016

Bioactive glass scaffold

Bone scaffold w @zoelaughlin A metaphor for how legal reformers hope to effect social change @KLSResearch @SLSA_UK pic.twitter.com/PD9mG0iNMs

— Amanda PerryKessaris (@aperrykessaris) August 10, 2016

Ferrofluid

Magnetic fluid w @zoelaughlin Is law not somewhat magnetic? Are we not somewhat ferrofluid-y? @KLSResearch @SLSA_UK pic.twitter.com/vWD0MASkr2

— Amanda PerryKessaris (@aperrykessaris) August 10, 2016

Self­-healing concrete

I hear @zoelaughlin @of_making saying society = concrete, law = good bacteria. Can you? @KLSResearch @SLSA_UK pic.twitter.com/9HDVI2O0F7

— Amanda PerryKessaris (@aperrykessaris) August 10, 2016

Postproduction

Watch the space for updates as we turn the interview into a short film.