Workshop focusing on dysfunctional and awkward items- surrounding the theme of children’s toys and how they’ve changed through the years

For this workshop we were tasked to focus on awkwardness and dysfunction within life and products. Repurposing, remodelling and reworking items from home to forms that embodied dysfunction and awkward responses and aesthetics. Two concepts I'd previously not looked to integrate into work and designs I had produced. Allowing me to really delve into what awkward means, feels and looks like in design, my life and the general wider world. Initially, starting by having group discussions within my classmates allowing us to really unpick and develop our ideas within these concepts and begin to think about how we could integrate these within physical forms and designs. Going onto then identify which items or items we wanted to change, alter and reform to display these concepts. Personally, i was really drawn to trying to limit my number of items, allowing me to really challenge my ideas and concepts and how I could integrate dysfunctionality and awkwardness into this product. One too that originally was a very traditional, universal and fairly simplistic form. 

 

Beginning my ideas and concept generation by producing a mind map and sketching some possible concepts, methods and design elements I could introduce to my piece. For example looking at relocating elements, deconstructing key functional structures or even removing elements to unable audiences to use my final item in its original functionality. Consequently, I then went onto a refine my ideas down to just a couple of my design aspects, allowing myself to not overcomplicate and overwhelm my final product, highlighted key concepts in a much less crowded and more considered manner. Much like how Katerina Kamprani chose a few design concepts within her ironic, humorous and succinct designs in her ‘the uncomfortable’ collection.

Jeremy Hutchison Erratum Exhibition 2012

Athens based architect Katerina Kamprani 'The Uncomfortable' collection 

Both designers and artists here displaying dysfunctional and awkward concepts within their designs and work, integrating irony, humour and simplicity into the final pieces. Areas which I was personally found myself drawn and inspired by leading me to develop and integrate these ideas within my own work. I was also really drawn into Hutchisons integration of hidden meanings within his work. Originally inspired by the horrifying and distressing discovery of an article on the welfare and mental health of factory workers within iPhone factories. Going onto approach and task numerous factories and companies for intentionally dysfunctional and awkward objects. Enabling the formation of a collection that embodies and displayed his key concepts. This integration of hidden meanings and messages is something I’ve previously integrated within my work and one I wish to continue to develop within this piece. I chose to do this by looking to display my feelings towards the development and change within children’s educational toys and games. One which was once very hands-on, traditional and educational and is continuously becoming more technology lead, less interactive and 'traditionally educational'. Going onto to consider how I could display this within my finished product, pushing me to look at ways I could alter a very traditional toy, like a spade, into something that physically could not be used for its original purpose, almost unrecognisable in its ascetics and functionality. Much like how an increasing amount of children may not recognise or find the same fun and enjoyment in such a traditional and simplistic hands-on toy like a bucket and spade.

 

Having chosen my key design concepts of removing areas within the space scoop to make it a totally dysfunctional and awkward item to use for its original purpose, as well as dismantling the original pole structure to again make it totally unusable I looked at how I could best produce and create these design concepts. Going on to use a range of tools such as: a handheld saw to portion out the original pole structure, a rotary mini tool and file to remove areas within my scoop and dismantle the pole structure. Then simply using a hot glue gun with some string to reform my, now unusable, pole structure as well as reattach my scoop and handle to my new ‘spade’. 

 

Overall, I'm really happy my outcome and how it displays my key themes of hidden meanings, awkwardness and dysfunctionality within traditional household items and toys. I not only love the simplicity in my design concepts, but also the simplistic geometry and forms that I created not only in my structure, but also the shadows that it then portrayed and created. Something I can look to further develop and integrate within future work. 

 

If I was to rework or develop this piece further I may look to develop and integrate more deconstruction into the handle structure within my spade. Possibly looking to reform or detach elements to create a further dysfunctional item. However, in reflection I think this piece overall has enabled me to really consider how I can present concepts within my work and enable different audiences to have certain responses and perceptions when interacting with my pieces. Something I’ll definitely look to develop and integrate further into future work. As well as possibly continuing to look at how children perceive, respond and interpret artwork and day to day life very differently and often in a much more simplistic and manner. Alternatively, I could look to continue working with household, universally identifiable and relatable items, remodelling, transforming and reworking them into completely new forms to create new artwork or objects with total new functions and meanings. Possibly, even looking to integrate these common themes of irony and humour within my work and how this can be presented and received o and by audiences.