Utilitarian Design: Far from Vanity

Design is not the first possibility that comes to mind when challenged with an issue in our communities. Yet, it is the most plausible answer to the wide variety of problems our society can face. Humans are a visual species, therefore a solution that is visible in nature will be able to communicate with society more effectively than policy itself.

 

The Cooper Hewitt’s current exhibition, By the People: Designing a Better America, features an eclectic assortment of sixty projects created by an array of individuals that seek to resolve issues that plague areas of the United States. The designs under exhibition range from as something as simple as placing water stations near the Mexico-United States border for migrants to a complex immigration center to encourage a symbiotic relationship between the two countries.

 

The previous iteration of a probation center in New York City certainly removed any essence of warmth or just plain emotion within its confined walls. Probation Resource Hubs seeks to revamp the city’s Department of Probation as it serves 26,000 individuals sentenced to probation. This is a collaborative project that involves graphic design by Oliver Munday, Carin Goldberg, James Victore, and Paul Share and is designed by Biber Architects. Human sentiment between the workers of a probation center and the actual individuals that they serve is blocked through the clear, bullet proof glass. The project wants human connection to be a cornerstone of a probation center, ridding itself of a translucent barrier. Additionally, the muted decor does not promote any good emotions within people. The project certainly delves into color theory with the mock up as it incorporates colors such as green, commonly associated with hospitality. A service that is meant to rehabilitate individuals into good standing should take into account the human being and this design incorporates this idea fully.

 

Public Access 101 was conceived by the Los Angeles Urban Rangers as an initiative to introduce people to the concept of the urban center as a natural human habitat. These rangers developed different routes throughout Los Angeles’ Bunker Hill financial district and the concrete Los Angeles River. The schema of the word natural usually involves greenery, animals, and other geological formations. However, this project is challenging that notion as it forces people to evaluate their surroundings and understand that the same awe produced by a trail in a park can be found within the complex construction of the city itself. Additionally, it promotes exploration of Los Angeles as many people tend to stay within their confines and not explore other sections of the city.

A project similar to this would be a great asset to New York City as it can easily be applied to the urban landscape. New York has already completed projects with a similar theme, such as the repurposing of the above ground subway track into the High Line. I envision this project as a large map highlighting various public areas that aren’t commonly known or the reopening of closed off areas serving no purpose currently. The city has various subway stations that are out of service, yet they still exist and can be exhibited. Or, it could exhibit routes and buildings not commonly accessed.  New York City has plenty options to implement a similar idea that teaches its residents about what is public and available to them in their city.

Cornerstones of an area certainly become the focal center of society and Greenprint serves to emphasize this idea. Designed by Studio for Spatial Practice, Hood Design and Arup, Greenprint seeks to preserve the identity and character of areas that have become more desolate. The idea behind the project was to take an area such as Pittsburgh’s Hill District and emphasize sites of significant ecological, historical, and cultural value. They coined it “Village in the Woods.” This is a great idea as making sure areas of importance are well kept ensures the survival and legacy of the people in the area. However, this would be incredibly difficult to employ within New York City. One looming issue is the incredibly high population density of the majority of the city, preventing any sort of theme that beckons back to a “Village in the Woods.” Another issue is the lack of available space within New York City, it is hard to justify preservation of an area for nostalgia when the city needs additional resources such as housing. These factors do not deter from Greenprint, but rather makes the distinction that not all designs are universally applicable.