Harrington Immersion Program

The Countdown Begins by Jessica Lindbloom

2008-06-12T19:09:00.003-05:00

With exactly two weeks left, we have rounded the curve and are sprinting down the straightaway. The amount of work accomplished just in the last three weeks has been astonishing. Walls are painted; the furniture is being constructed, reupholstered and transformed, and the space is finally coming together.

I’m constantly impressed by the creative know-how and the sheer will of my fellow designers. Each day, as I leave my designated space and move through the other rooms, I am reminded of Christmas morning: wonderful surprises around every corner and new things you didn’t know you needed, but love. Every group has managed to come up with an equally compelling room.

The only thing missing now is the Red Ryder BB gun in the corner.

2008-06-11T18:04:00.002-05:00

The entrance of the Immersion Program space will be dedicated to honoring donors with a big thank you on the wall, display of our process designing/building the space, a student work gallery, display of student photos/bio info, as well as a general seating area.

Approaching the design of a space that we're hoping to furnish with donations was initially a challenge...until I embraced the fact that the nature of the project creates a design experience that must be flexible to reach its maximum potential. It's also much more exciting for me to find creative design solutions that use unexpected materials. Anyone can furnish a space with designer furniture and make it look good, it takes creativity and hard work to make free look like a conscious design decision!

More updates on the way, once we find some furniture...

Krystl Brown-Loiterman

2008-06-11T17:59:00.002-05:00

In the Beginning...

To be fair, David warned us. On the first day of class, he made it very clear that this project would require a lot of time, sweat, and most importantly, creation.

The concept presented along with our project was that one can be very imaginative, but without actually realizing that idea, they simply remain imaginative-not creative. Once that idea is realized, only then is one truly creative.

It is fitting that David explained this from day one, because without all of us being truly creative, nothing would have happened. We would have a lot of ideas but nothing to show that has dimension and functionality.

I wholly believe that we have all discovered within these few weeks that we are not just imaginative, but creative as well. Each of us has a different approach to design and different, sometimes opposing opinions on what best resolves this design problem. Our challenge as we collaborate is to come to a general satisfactory consensus. We may not have time to perfect our concepts. Some elements will probably not be entirely successful, but plenty will be excellent. Such is the process of learning, especially for those of us that have little experience working in large groups. However, we have successfully produced physical, tangible results and are continuing to do so. I, personally, have learned a wealth of practical, "real-world" skills in these past weeks.

"An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage."
--Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric

Although this comes from the mind of a businessman, I feel that this translates well into the design world. We have to overcome our differences as a group (which is hard work in itself) and keep in mind that we are all learning as we go. Our competitive edge is growing as we flex our creative muscles (literally!). We learn fast. We act fast. Sometimes we revise. But, most importantly, we are producing. I hope to remain conscious of this throughout my life: I will not let the fear of failure prevent me from creating. I will be prolific and pro-active, and create, create, create until I finally get it right.

Krystl Brown-Loiterman

Action: by David Dunworth

2008-06-11T11:28:00.001-05:00

Getting permission and using the space wasn’t as hard as I initially thought. I just bugged the right people a few hundred times until the “yes” was given. I also lucked out, in that the students in the class really rallied around the concept. Thus far, the biggest pain involved is transport for the materials and furniture being donated by generous firms and individuals. Never mind the basic transport issues involving traffic in the inner city. The level of scrutiny, paranoia and downright xenophobia displayed by building managers (our own included) can only be traced to how overly litigious our society has become. We have missed out on some great furniture and materials due to these folks. The groups donating them aren’t very happy either. We actually help to defray storage and/or moving costs for them. In essence, this could be a great symbiotic relationship that truly keeps things closer to sustainable. Honestly, you should have seen the students pushing wheeled furniture down the streets of downtown Chicago. It was like watching ants bringing food back to the colony. Four city blocks seems a bit longer when you are pushing a file cabinet balanced on a task chair! All in all, this is still a bunch of fun.

We Live Immersed by Jessica Lindbloom

2008-06-03T18:51:00.008-05:00

“Absorbing involvement” is the definition of the word, "immersion," and it has been that definition that has been driving us since May 6th.

The catalyst for us was a simple phrase of five words, “your design will be built.”

What started with nerves and wonderment has grown into a fury of challenges, triumphs and changes. More importantly, we’ve discovered, as we hit the middle marker of our 7.5-week semester, that this project is going to be fully realized.

Along the way, as in every community, we’ve come to understand that the outcome is not determined by the struggles and obstacles we’ve faced, but by how we choose to react to what happens to us. Our teacher, David, knows more than anyone that a positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes and though it’s been a roller coaster of effort to acquire our necessary materials, in the end we’ve learned that if we work tirelessly and positively, we get extraordinary results. The saying is true, “The harder you work, the luckier you get."

We are at a turning point now where the last few weeks are crucial; the more able bodies present or otherwise involved, the more progress to be had. As the days unfold, we are closer and closer to creating the big picture we envisioned from the myriad of puzzle pieces with which we started. We made no little plans because as Daniel Burnham said, “they have no magic to stir men's blood.” Our objective was not to be perfect, but to take part in something greater. Puzzle piece by puzzle piece, we move more confidently in the direction of our goal.

“…Just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” - Pierre de Coubertin, "The Olympic Creed"

-Jessica Lindbloom

Kitchen Concept Sketches

2008-06-01T14:34:00.003-05:00

These are the kitchen conceptuals produced by Inga Brusokaite using CAD, and rendered in Illustrator by Jessica Lindbloom. If you check out the kitchen photos in the painting set on flickr, you can see the beginnings of the realization. The space looks amazing, and soon we will be moving on to the adjoining quiet rooms, which are the two sketches on the right.

—a.

20 Linear Feet

2008-06-01T14:29:00.003-05:00

Well, sort of. Here is a bit of the "twenty linear feet of trace David was referring to.

—a.

Reshaping the Approach

2008-06-01T09:43:00.009-05:00

Our differences make us stronger. Each person in this class contributes unique experiences and talents that extend our capacity to design an educational environment from what started as an empty collection of rooms. I'm continually inspired by the drive and passion my classmates have for this project, and amazed by how well everyone is working together. Of course there has been tension. There are a lot of creative "cooks" in the kitchen. With only two months to move mountains, there is no time for egos. No time for competitive conflict. No time for selfish design decisions. As long as we remain focused on the same goal, there is no doubt in my mind that we will exceed our own expectations.

Our excitement for this project is sparked by our individual experiences. As a student who has previously graduated with degrees from a different university, I have yet to meet a college student (design oriented or other) who has not had a list of things they would have changed about their education. Why is that? With a little research you will find that your instincts are likely accurate...different generations respond to different learning environments. So when educational programs are conceptualized and executed without looking through the eyes of the student, an opportunity is missed. I am thrilled to be a part of reshaping the way we approach design education, and while I am certainly enjoying the journey...I can't wait to see the results.

— Sarah Reaume

Meghan's Vision

2008-05-28T22:54:00.002-05:00

We are hoping to create a space to foster a sense of community as well as inspire these students through an intense immersion in the design world. These students will have an educational experience that no other students will have, and walk away with not only a degree, but a deep insight into their industries and all aspects of design.

— Meghan Keener, Interior Designer

Adapting Design Education by David Dunworth

2008-05-28T22:01:00.002-05:00

"Evolutionary Prototype" ... when I subtitled this project, I think I was being a bit glib. Now I know that sometimes truth reveals itself in just those types of moments. The idea for a school within a school had been floating around in my head for a long time, but the opportunity to bring it into a material existence proved a bit too elusive. My interests in design, collaborative environments, hands-on learning, anthropology, and collective intelligence in design, all seemed to converge at a point five months ago when the space we are currently working on was made available. I had been ranting about the need to change the way we teach design and engage the students when I heard the space might be available. That catalyst unleashed a ten hour purge of ideas onto about 20 linear feet of trace. After it was done, I remembered how exhilarating that kind of rapid thinking could be. I was immersed. Perhaps, the students needed to be immersed as well. Now I had to get my bosses to buy in. To be continued...

Introducing...

2008-05-28T21:31:00.003-05:00

David requested that I write a brief introduction for him before I posted the first of what will hopefully be a long line of submissions. The problem is, what can you say about a man who is so many things to so many people? Simply, he is the Foundations Chair at Harrington College of Design, and our instructor for Experimental Design. He is also a family man, partner in his design firm Code, very educated and intelligent, a math geek, a comic book nerd, a talented designer and copywriter, an artist, funny, down to earth, a realist, a scientist, ad infinitum. Basically, he is a creative, and he is passionate. For us as students he has been a cheerleader, mentor, and collaborator.

So there you have it kind reader. Consider yourself lucky to have met David.

—a.

2008-05-26T13:32:00.002-05:00

What an amazing opportunity! I don't think this is what any of us expected when we walked into class a few weeks ago, but each of us is putting everything that we have into this project. Our goal is to set the backdrop for the incoming students and really give them an opportunity to learn in an environment that will inspire them.

— Rachel Stanski, Interior Designer

A little background

2008-05-26T13:11:00.012-05:00

We started this immense undertaking on May 5th, 2008. As our deadline for completion quickly approaches (June 26th) the pace has been accelerated, to say the least. Our Experimental Design class is only 7 1/2 weeks, and that isn't a great deal of time to clear, re-design, organize twenty designers, find and repurpose materials, paint, the list goes on and on. The first organizational meetings were a bit tough, but as the leaders emerged from the pack, we took off in new and challenging directions.

One of my first charges, as a communication designer, was to concept a logo for the Harrington Immersion Program that will soon be occupying the space. To the left is one of the concepts that us math geeks really took to, but didn't quite make the cut. I thought convergence and acceleration of time was a great metaphor for the Immersion program itself, which will intensify the experience of first year students at Harrington. I wish I could have found a program like this straight out of high school.

As this blog moves forward, look for impact statements, personal stories, and assorted posts from the rest of the team members, and our creative inspiration (pronounced instructor) David Dunworth.

—a.

Welcome

2008-05-23T11:45:00.003-05:00

Welcome, and thanks for stopping by. I will be your documentarian (is that a word?) and referee for this journey through the minds of nineteen designers and one mentor, teacher, instructor (?). This is our process for building a prototype educational space for the Harrington Immersion Program. So far it has been a fast and furious ride, but the creative and educational high has been incredible.

I will be funneling post from group and instructor here, sharing our process documents, and doing some of the play-by-play commentary. Check back often, and be sure to stop by our Pageflakes and flickr pages; both are searchable by HIP and Harrington Immersion Program. Lots more coming soon, so stay tuned.

— Adam Frommelt, Communication Designer