Lateral Imagination in Urban Planning

Surrealism is defined as “a 20^th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind…” This is relevant  to John Mayows conception of the 17^th century “iron lung”.  The Idea of “Lateral Imagination” entails taking steps beyond tradition in order to conceive of things that are limited by traditional ways of thinking. Mayows transcended the traditional functions of objects which enabled the creation of a device that wouldn’t have been possible if he only used traditional ideas.

“Literal Thinking”, by comparison, uses this same principle to circumvent limitations of traditional thought.  Edward de Bono has been extremely successful in implementing new types of ‘thinking’ all over the world. He defines “Literal Thinking” as “the process of using information to bring about creativity and insight restructuring”.  This is extremely relevant to  Dan Barber’s ted talk. America’s agriculture industry is sidetracked by economic incentive: basically, trying to make things as cheap and easy as possible. Rather than building off this corrupt infrastructure, he proposes (similarly to de Bono) to rethink the framework of the agricultural system, “restructuring the insight” used to implement successful fish farms.  This is all a major part of ‘design thinking’, as finding new approaches to solve physical world issues.

Successful urban planning would greatly benefit from this kind of thinking.  As a design outlet largely dependent on its users, a design for a city plan needs to be extremely informed by actual information  and insight that will assist in successful implementation. There are instances around the world of citys that have been constructed and utterly failed for one reason or the other. 

For example: China’s ghost cities (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3XfpYxHKCo – if you’re interested in further information) China’s government built intricate cities on the premise of giving workers things to do, a.k.a. as a means to stimulate the economy, a.k.a. a completely ill-informed design implementation. So currently China has these ghost cities that exist void of any actual function. 

 

To contrast with this, the city renovations in Bogota, Colombia (Documentary: Urbanized covers this very nicely) The local jurisdiction of Bogota looked towards European cities like Copenhagen to inform their design decisions to renovate city transportation with both bicycle transportation and bus systems.  

 

Rather than just utilizing traditional thought and continuing to develop the highways and/or automotive industry, Bogota initiated a switch to a much more sustainable mode of transportation that will influence the area in a sustainable way for generations to come. This kind of “lateral imagination”, or “literal thinking” needs to be utilized in any instance involved the public masses, as urban planning does.

Response from Fatima:

It is interesting how you implemented lateral thinking to urbanism. After reading a couple of the responses I realized that lateral thinking can be implemented in all types of problems. Going of your central topic of Urban Planning I feel like there is a lot of mimicry and not a lot of thinking. Maybe a system of roads and organization works in one city but it might or might not work in another city. The pattern of a city mainly depends on the day-to-day living of the population and its culture.

An interesting example of lateral thinking in Urbanism is Kowloon, Hong Kong. It was a walled ungoverned “city.” It was originally a military for but after World War II its population extremely increased and it became something similar to a vertical slum. However it belonged to anyone. The population that lived there had to define and learn and think of an organized system of living that could work for the more than 35,000 people that lived there. This walled city had every they needed and the people that lived there did not have to leave the “wall” to get food, entertainment, etc. It might not look like a systematic pattern however there are orders of hierarchy that surround the premise.  

Response from Jerry:

Very interesting. I have heard of the ghost cities in china but never paid much attention to why they were that way. The video you posted explains that much of the rapid mindless urbanization done in china is due to governors being heavy headed in “one-upping” western civilization. They see what the western world is doing with urbanization, and rather than learn from their own patterns of living, they copy it. This introduces a different style of living to what they already are used to – Forcing their citizens to adapt to a new form of living. For example: the farmers on the video whose houses were being demolished to make room for high-rise apartments. This ties with what de Bono mention on the interview article; for his methodology of higher thinking (6 hats thinking) to be taken in effectively, the minds of the hierarchy need to open. In my opinion, open mindedness seems to be what is lacking in china’s new age urbanization. 

Response from Chloe:

When I first learned about those ghost towns in China it completely blew my mind. Crazy. So crazy. And I love urbanized. I think it shows some great examples of how governments can help with urban planning and change.

I completely agree that urban design needs an update. I lived in Copenhagen last semester and their urban planning is amazingly efficient. Over half of people bike to work, and bike lanes are just as big, or in some instances bigger, than the portion of the road for cars. And their public transportation takes you almost everywhere (working on it at least). BUT stemming off of what Fatima said, applying what worked there would not always work in other locations. Trying to push a biking culture in insanely hilly Lawrence just isn’t going to work. Designers need to be site specific with their urban planning, which seems like an obvious thing but its not. Identical suburbs all over the United States are a great example of this.

Using “Literacy” for a Wicked Problem

A wicked problem exists embedded in our world’s societal tendency to classify types of minds into specific categories. I have a specific problem with this as, I’ve never been a ‘straight a’ student, not that I don’t find ways to apply myself and work hard at things, but I just have never had great study / test taking skills. Instantly anyone like myself is placed into a category of a ‘sub-achiever’. To make this easier on everyone involved I was placed into a concrete category of “left-brained or an ‘’artsty type”. There’s a cultural tendency to segregate the mind into tangible categories and this pattern proceeds straight through grade school and into college. In college you have to pick if you want to be an architecture major or an engineering major. The distinction and the expected tendency to separate the two is somewhat ridiculous when considering they both are implemented in doing basically the same thing.

In terms of engaging tools based in technology, this phenomenon is seen mirroring issues from Shapiro’s article. The tendency to categorize types of minds has produced two distinctly different formats of interfacing with computers. One that is engineer based: CAD software, equipped with boring graphics but advanced computing and estimating abilities – and then a completely different set of tools for creating something that looks pretty. (3DS max or Photoshop) This example is a simple one but all the better for Identifying a concrete split in the way we identify categories for designing minds of the 21^st century.

Its like Buchanan’s article claims regarding ‘wicked problems’ as a “class of social system problems which are I’ll-formulated…[and] thoroughly confusing.” (pg.15) There’s not necessary an immediate answer to this problem, but it’s certainly worth throwing it out there, and recognizing it as a societal occurrence we should be aware of as it continues to shape systems we deal with on a daily basis such as education and professions. 

From Barry:

Ken Robison writes, in his book The Element

“So it is that we came to think of real intelligence in terms of logical analysis: believing that rationalist forms of thinking were superior to feeling and emotion, and that the ideas that really count can be conveyed in words or through mathematical expressions.  In addition, we believed that we could quantify intelligence and rely on IQ tests and standardized tests like the SAT to identify who among us is truly intelligent and deserving of exalted treatment.” 

He goes on,

“…Some educators and psychologist took-and continue to take-IQ numbers to absurd lengths.  In 1916, Lewis Terman of Stanford University published a revision of Binet’s a IQ test.  Known as the Stanford-Binet test, now in its fifth version, it is the basis of the modern IQ test.  It is interesting to note, though, that Terman had a sadly extreme view of human capacity.  These are his words from the textbook The Measurement of Intelligence:  ‘Among laboring men and servant girls there are thousands like them feebleminded.  They are the world’s hewers of wood and drawers of water.  And yet, as far as intelligence is concerned, the tests have told the truth… No amount of school instruction will ever make them intelligent voters of capable voters in the true sense of the word.’”

Those quotes are from the chapter called “Think Differently.”  He writes about the eugenics movement’s affect on categorizing people through standardized tests.  According to the Robinson, this fallacy leaves out people who are intelligent in other ways.  He states, “We think we know the answer to the question, ‘How intelligent are you?’  The real answer, though, is that the questions is the wrong one to ask.”  It should be “How are you intelligent?”

The eugenicists’ influence runs very deep and touches more aspects of education than many care to recognize:  Standardized testing, letter grades, GPA, Ritalin, etc.  The categories you lament were constructed by people who think liberty and democracy are too messy.  There needs to be systems to control people.

I’ll jump off my soapbox now.  

From Andrew

Nate, don’t feel to bad, I’m the same way when it comes to tests. No matter how much i study, when i get the test in front of me my mind goes blank and i sit there like, when did we learn this? Honestly I can’t remember when i’ve used anything i about the ACT test other than it has many strict rules about taking it, have to answer 40 questions in 30 minutes on I think the english section? and having to write a statement on the back of the test in 2nd grade cursive. It becomes who can remember the most information for the most stressful test you will ever take that will tell you how smart you are under stress. I’m in Industrial design and we have a similar problem with the engineers. Basiclally all the stuff we design looks great but would be impossible to create a real version of it and the engineers can make something that works really well but isn’t visually apealing. I have talked to other designer and friends in the engineering departments and we agree that we need to combine that way both of our creations look great and function great. Too bad the school won’t do it. 

Barry’s follow-up:

Andrew, I don’t recall if you’re an arch major.  If so, just wait until you take the ARE.  Those are brutal.  The vast majority of the questions, and the wording of the questions are created by some sadistic employee with a gift for torturous syntax, locked in a dungeon, who they only let out when they clean his dungeon. 

Wicked Problems & IDEO’s Design Process

Nate Kaylor

Week 3 Discussion Topics

I think one of the main ways design has evolved in the contemporary setting is in regards to the user’s perception. Buchanan’s article covers this basis in depth. He states that the new era of ‘communications’ , “…shift attention toward audiences as active participants in reaching conclusions rather than passive recipients of preformed messages” (Pg. 12) We live in a interconnected age of endless forms of “communications” both inputted and outputted form the public. I’ll take the point of view of businesses that gather intel via cell phones and computers to better target their clientele. An obvious one being, ads that are interspersed at the beginning and throughout youtube or hulu videos. Hulu asks you with each ad if it is a product relevant specifically to you. This information can be tailored both towards the individual user, and the user’s demographic (via information entered in when signing up for hulu such as age, and location) This new form of communication, as the quote from Buchanan states, involves the user in a way that was never possible before these forms of technology were implemented.

The fundamental philosophy of Buchanan’s article resonates on a significant level with me and my naturally multidisciplinary approach to design. The article speaks from a necessity to shift the public impression of design in the world. In the collegiate level this has gotten pretty bad in my opinion, as someone who is interested in something like architecture or engineering who also draws inspiration through art and design classes. It has been my experience that much value comes out of mixing the creative arts with the technical side of collegiate curriculum, and it seems the tendency at universities is to separate the two so that as an architecture student, you’re not necessary required to take any form of creative art classes. So I am in thorough agreement with Buchanan when he states “…that all men and women may benefit from an early understanding of the disciplines of design in the contemporary world.” (pg 9) We no longer live in a ‘tradesman’ society, were you make a living by a single specialization, I think the future at an education level needs to consider these ideas.

My immediate impression of the IDEO design process attachments was that is somehow was hypocritical of the company’s philosophies seen in last weeks video. The whole idea of the new age of design is to no longer confine it in traditional constraints, right?

 

This very specific (40+) page – document of design “instruction” seems like a very limited way to be creative and innovative with any kind of design discipline. This page specifically startled me. The idea of confining the actual creative process into a half page designated block is a scary thought. Especially in my experience with design, it seems like I approach the initial creative stages differently every time: I’ll do page after page of cat-scratch sketches, or a bunch of 3d model stuff on the computer. People need to have the freedom to start from anywhere in design. So now to play devil’s advocate: The IDEO process does do a successful job in promoting the kinds of tangible thoughts from last weeks reading materials. Such as considering the user’s needs. These kinds of steps need to be taken in order to trigger successful design, although I feel a better approach would look a lot less specific than IDEO’s manual.  

 

Chloe Lockman’s response:

1. Love the point about companies like facebook (personal experience) secretly taking your information online then tailoring your ads toward that. Its like forced active participation. We have no idea we are participating in this process. Weird.

2. I also totally agree about the architecture school thing. I think architecture students would benefit greatly if we were encouraged to take classes outside of architecture. I would love to take a marketing/advertising class, as well as graphic design and art or something. We are so tightly wound into this 5 year schedule that there’s no time for anything other than architecture, then they expect us to be well rounded when we graduate. We would be much better designers if we were pushed outside of our bubble.

 

Andrew Meier’s Response

I noticed how on Facebook, all the add on the side of the screen related to me somehow and at first i thought it was weird but then i noticed a pattern in what i looked up on my browser, if i looked up a part for my car, for the next week that part or the website would appear as a tab on my side screen. If i searched for a car i liked, i would see car insurance adds on my side bars. 
As far as the 40+ page IDEO book, i guess i kind of agree with you but i see it a little differently. I see the book as a kick starter; like once you fill out this page, you don’t just stop there, you keep going on another sheet or whatever medium you want to use. I’m also similar to you in that I like to do pages of quick sketches but for me, I can usually produce more stuff if i have something to work off of. But thats just how I work. 

Week 2 Discussion Board: Critiquing your Backpack

Nate Kaylor

Week 2: Backpack Design Study

 

The first thing that comes to mind for me when considering “the common book bag” is the classic Jansport backpack that everyone has owned at some point in their lives. This bag is the poster child for book bags and I think the secret is in its simplicity. They nailed the design as an early proponent for the modern polyester backpack. The classic Jansport consists of one large pocket and a smaller front pocket. In my experience, especially as a younger human, I would always find myself sporting intricate backpacks with a plethora of pockets that were rarely utilized.

I remember that backpack looking something like the one below. A backpack like this is only suitable for certain situations. For a hiking trip, it would be perfect for storing all the things one would need to survive out of doors – but for a daily use bag, its overkill. I remember using maybe two pockets while the rest collected trash and food particles of sorts.

 

On the opposite side of the spectrum are the hip backpacks that have picked up as a trend in recent years. This is the kind of product design that violates exactly what IDEO stands for among other designers from the readings. According to Tim Brown’s ted talk, successful design should originate from “human-centered exploration” in which design tends to the needs of its user.

 

On one hand these type of bags can be really “cool” and “stylish” but they originated out of a purely aesthetic nature. This results in poorly made design that ends up not fulfilling all the needs of its users. In my experience with these, they are cheaply made, tear easily, and hold things very awkwardly while mounted on your back.

In terms of a future design I think it would be interesting to do a thorough study of a military grade backpack. Given the nature, it would be valuable to study aspects of the pack that could apply to an everyday consumer such as: comfort, durability, types of access, materials…etc. In terms of beginning design with the users, military personnel would be a solid source for these questions, in correspondents with everyday backpack toters.

 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JanSport

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=M_ACC_BAGS2