Museums and Justice

Museums and Justice

Thursday 29 December 2016

IMM as in IMMer Hoffnung*(eng: Always Hope) … for Design and 2017.



Image above by:  Furnishing Cologne, IMM 2017, Product: Grand Weave, Exhibitor: Gloster 

http://www.imm-cologne.com/imm/press/image-database/Cologne-furnished/index.php 

It is widely claimed in design theory that throughout history, design and its related fields thrived and flourished in times of riches. Prosperity seems to be a crucial factor for design development, while art is fuelled (as it is customarily pronounced) by pain, misery and conditions of constraint.

Industrial production, as it is advancing nowadays, goes through many fundamental changes and product design imposes heavily its virtual presence, either as a material object or as an online service.  Universal financial turmoil and lack of stability, show clearly the struggle for endurance but most importantly: what needs to be done, what kind of amendments will be initiated in order to attain a new Economic Order. The international “Crown of Thorns” – type of circumstances do not prevail creativity, as it is an essential part of human consciousness.  The IMM International Fair in Cologne, Germany is taking seats among its global competitors, again this January 2017- with obstinateness, dynamism and pivotal events- against all odds. It is the first design feast of the year- here follow the most important IMM 2017 chapters to explore: 

1. IMM Cologne Congress 2017: Virtual worlds and smart technologies in furniture e-commerce. The sector remains of extremely high revenues in Germany and elsewhere, therefore many topics will be discussed in the Congress, by the industry’s most prominent animators. Colossal. 

2. Fourth round of the Pure Talents Contest: IMM supports the young designers and design professionals the last 14 years with the launch of this initiative. A tradition, complying with the country’s policy to seriously support and sustain, central Europe’s best, young creative talents. Excellent. 

3. Furnishing Cologne: The event and the campaign, re-picture the city through the product installations of internationally famous, guest-manufacturers. Both an attraction and a trendsetting  capacity, lay beneath. Furthermore, for 2017, the producers of "Furnishing Cologne" are preparing a book as an anthology of all of the photos from the campaign, with accompanying texts about the locations. Joyful! 

4. Designers Market by “blickfang” and “Heimatdesign” (in collaboration with IMM): Open to the public for on-the-spot purchases, Hall 1 will host  a “shopping paradise” for visitors the last 3 days of the fair. A commercial boost for local production and an even more extroverted democratization of the exhibition. Clever. 

We mentioned back in early 2016 that IMM is the first, major, international, house-and interiors exhibition of the year, embracing the design production, operating as a mirror for the entrepreneurial communities and as an initial depository of ideas, before upcoming April when the design world will gather its full, capital forces in Milan, Italy. 
In IMM we trust, thank you Cologne! 

For more information, dates, details, press releases and statistics, please also visit the IMM official website:  

http://www.imm-cologne.com/imm/index-2.php

Happy new year 2017 to all of you! 
Warm regards and best wishes for peace and great endeavors! 

A4D-D4A?-)) 

  

Monday 19 December 2016

Salone del Mobile: Milan Trend Lab December 2016.



Picture above from: https://fuseproject.com/blog/a-gentle-robot-for-babies/ 
SNOO, a robotic crib designed to offer babies (and parents) quality sleep, by Yves BĂ©har. 
More explicit information about the project also on:  
https://fuseproject.com/blog/a-gentle-robot-for-babies/ 

A4D-D4A has campaigned in multiple occasions throughout our posts, the meta-futuristic necessities in contemporary living interiors. It is since last year’s IMM and Salone del Mobile editions 2016 and later in Web Summit, that we illustrated the era's new stigma and its multiple facets. Artificial intelligence (Robotics), Augmented reality, Domotics, Internet of Things, Internet of Everything, Intelligent furniture, Ultra-Digitization objects….are some of the new terms introduced to describe the new foundations of design production, a generation of makers combining the object with the code in it, and eventually its multiple uses and participative nature within the urban community.  

“Furniture and furnishings thus “learn” to dialogue and connect with technological devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), becoming an integral part of the new digital ecosystem. Technology introduces an “intelligence quotient” into furnishing, providing items with actual superpowers that enhance their functional performance and enable them to communicate with each other.” … 

“…In this new domestic scenario, design weaves an invisible web that seamlessly connects the on and offline dimensions in an experiential continuum. This seamless, junction-free network turns the habitative space into a dynamic, thinking ecosystem, capable of almost “magically” understanding and responding to the wishes of its inhabitants…” 

(Extract from Living Scapes-Salone del Mobile- Milano Trend Lab relevant  press release - check all recent press releases on the Salone official website:) https://www.salonemilano.it/en/media/comunicati-stampa.html

Salone del Mobile Living Scapes-Milan Trend Lab launched a series of products and platforms, modifying our habitats as destinations of hyper-interactive comfort: search by name or by site: 

August Home Access System: 
https://fuseproject.com/work/august/home-access-system/?focus=overview

Silk: 
https://www.silk.co/

Lift-Bit:  
http://lift-bit.com/ 

June:  

https://juneoven.com 

Beddi Intelligent Alarm Clock:  

http://wittidesign.com/en/beddi/ 

Amazon Dash Replenishment Service: 

https://developer.amazon.com/dash-replenishment-service

Caia Smart Mirror:   
http://solenica.com/ 

LaserEgg:  

http://originstech.com/products/laseregg/

Ecoisme:  
http://ecois.me/en 

Savant home:  

https://www.savant.com/

FurniQi: 

http://www.fonesalesman.com/products/furniqi-side-table

Sony Multifunctional Light:  
http://www.sony.co.jp/Products/multifunctional-light/ 

Yumit:  
www.yumit.io/

Controversial? Those technologies exist the last 18 years, (far from being chimbrids= chimeras and hybrids) and will constantly produce an abundance of new items from now on, destined to respond to every (new) human task. It is an industrial revolution no2, it is 100% happening NOW and it is reshaping the future of design- as society it self is remapping people’s domestic interfaces. 
To be continued! 

Best regards?-))

A4D-D4A  



Wednesday 7 December 2016

A System of Global Accessibility: designing Tomorrow with the European Accessibility Act.



Image above: A board game-based idea in the official brochure of the Hellenic Guide Dog Education and Development Center “Guide Dogs Greece”. The Snakes-and-Ladders inspired, playful design (also ideal to simulate on a mobile app), raises awareness about Guide Dogs Fostering and Training program through a series of basic, necessary steps in order to become the accomplished Volunteer Foster Trainer of a fully operational guide dog. Find more information on Guide Dogs Fostering and Training program‘s terms and conditions in Greece- plus relevant links on :  

www.greekguidedogs.com 

e-mail: info@greekguidedogs.com 

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a extremely important set of laws, (under the form of an E.U general guideline), that will change EVERYTHING in the design of products specifications,norms and services on European ground, (mainly regarding the digital market), so those products will become accessible to all, including people with disability or other type of impairment. The EAA concerns primarily the re-design in software, terminals, ticket publishing, art, publications and e-books and e-commerce sectors. The final voting in the E.U parliament for the implementation of EAA as official E.U legislation, will take place in March 2017. 

This November 2016 a congress has been held at the Eugenides Foundation- Athens Planetarium exploring the EAA traits and presenting its many different angles, originally initiated by Syriza MEP Konstantina Kouneva, key introductor in E.U Reports Committee and also rapporteur in EAA Equality and Employment Plan Committee. Mrs Kuneva, an activist and an emblematic figure in the defense of Human Rights defined the purpose of the EAA, which is the obligation to design for all, emphasizing on the various stakes of the Act such as the 3-yr life period of electronic products, the synchronization of local laws, ministries, administrations  and services in each E.U member state, the strict safety regulations, the copyright and intellectual property challenges including patents etc., the complications with guilds and industries that oppose to EAA due to short-term financial interests.

http://kkuneva.eu 

Representatives by many organizations in the wide spectrum of disability, mental or physical – exposed different angles of the Accessibility for All issues such as discrimination, educational reform (no more “special schools” please), economic criteria such motives for companies that apply accessibility norms (ex. Expiry date on alimentary products also in Braille, audiovisual  facilities such SDH subtitling and audio description (AD)), adequate legal framework for security and data protection, deinstitutionalization and investment. It is vital for global economy the transit to new digital infrastructures, made by all, for all and it is expected from E.U to respond to the task. 

Greek Vice-minister of Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou elaborated on digital engineering and how the new on-line platform of the ministry will attempt for the first time to register all citizens with disability and the disability care units, so to create a unique, accurate and legitimate record of all people facing a physical or mental condition of some degree of impairment in Greece (note: the estimates for the actual numbers are based on old statistics, giving an approximate of 200.000 cases in the country)- and eventually claim additional funds if needed, for their sustainable living in society.  

From right to left in the photo bellow, some of the distinctive speakers of the congress: F. Bibassis- Member of the  Education and Rehabilitation Center for the Blind (K.E.A.T), G. Lymvaios- Secretary Member of the Greek National Committee of People with Disability, p. Manthopoulou,-Head of People with Disability Office- Ministry of Social Solidarity, Theano Fotiou- Vice-minister of Social Solidarity, Eleni Tsagka- Journalist –Coordinator, Pwlina Papanikolaou- Criminologist- Researcher. 



Accessibility design, its legal support EAA and eventually the European Accessibility Law- are compensating factors for social recovery and economic rejuvenation. 
Accessibility equals Emancipation and Self-Actualization. Let’s get those ATM easy to use for the partially sighted, let’s help the Down-syndrome teens to enter university and let’s  encourage the increasing amount of population developing PTSD, to overcome anxiety and get back to work with soothing apps! The time is nowPlease check the sites: 





Best regards?-))
A4D-D4A-))  



XLARGE TYPEFACE: A System of Global Accessibility: designing Tomorrow with the European Accessibility Act.



Image above: A board game-based idea in the official brochure of the Hellenic Guide Dog Education and Development Center “Guide Dogs Greece”. The Snakes-and-Ladders inspired, playful design (also ideal to simulate on a mobile app), raises awareness about Guide Dogs Fostering and Training program through a series of basic, necessary steps in order to become the accomplished Volunteer Foster Trainer of a fully operational guide dog. Find more information on Guide Dogs Fostering and Training program‘s terms and conditions in Greece- plus relevant links on :  

www.greekguidedogs.com 


e-mail: info@greekguidedogs.com 


The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a extremely important set of laws, (under the form of an E.U general guideline), that will change EVERYTHING in the design of products specifications,norms and services on European ground, (mainly regarding the digital market), so those products will become accessible to all, including people with disability or other type of impairment. The EAA concerns primarily the re-design in software, terminals, ticket publishing, art, publications and e-books and e-commerce sectors. The final voting in the E.U parliament for the implementation of EAA as official E.U legislation, will take place in March 2017. 



This November 2016 a congress has been held at the Eugenides Foundation- Athens Planetarium exploring the EAA traits and presenting its many different angles, originally initiated by Syriza MEP Konstantina Kouneva, key introductor in E.U Reports Committee and also rapporteur in EAA Equality and Employment Plan Committee. Mrs Kuneva, an activist and an emblematic figure in the defense of Human Rights defined the purpose of the EAA, which is the obligation to design for all, emphasizing on the various stakes of the Act such as the 3-yr life period of electronic products, the synchronization of local laws, ministries, administrations  and services in each E.U member state, the strict safety regulations, the copyright and intellectual property challenges including patents etc., the complications with guilds and industries that oppose to EAA due to short-term financial interests.

http://kkuneva.eu 


Representatives by many organizations in the wide spectrum of disability, mental or physical – exposed different angles of the Accessibility for All issues such as discrimination, educational reform (no more “special schools” please), economic criteria such motives for companies that apply accessibility norms (ex. Expiry date on alimentary products also in Braille, audiovisual  facilities such SDH subtitling and audio description (AD)), adequate legal framework for security and data protection, deinstitutionalization and investment. It is vital for global economy the transit to new digital infrastructures, made by all, for all and it is expected from E.U to respond to the task. 


Greek Vice-minister of Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou elaborated on digital engineering and how the new on-line platform of the ministry will attempt for the first time to register all citizens with disability and the disability care units, so to create a unique, accurate and legitimate record of all people facing a physical or mental condition of some degree of impairment in Greece (note: the estimates for the actual numbers are based on old statistics, giving an approximate of 200.000 cases in the country)- and eventually claim additional funds if needed, for their sustainable living in society.  


From right to left in the photo bellow, some of the distinctive speakers of the congress: F. Bibassis- Member of the  Education and Rehabilitation Center for the Blind (K.E.A.T), G. Lymvaios- Secretary Member of the Greek National Committee of People with Disability, p. Manthopoulou,-Head of People with Disability Office- Ministry of Social Solidarity, Theano Fotiou- Vice-minister of Social Solidarity, Eleni Tsagka- Journalist –Coordinator, Pwlina Papanikolaou- Criminologist- Researcher. 




Accessibility design, its legal support EAA and eventually the European Accessibility Law- are compensating factors for social recovery and economic rejuvenation. 
Accessibility equals Emancipation and Self-Actualization. Let’s get those ATM easy to use for the partially sighted, let’s help the Down-syndrome teens to enter university and let’s  encourage the increasing amount of population developing PTSD, to overcome anxiety and get back to work with soothing apps! The time is now. Please check the sites: 





Best regards?-))
A4D-D4A-))