Alternative Design

As our U.S. Olympian, Simone Biles, reminded us during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, we must prioritize the fitness of our minds and our emotions. Much like the "spikes" in viral cases during the pandemic, we are now encountering a "spike" of those who are struggling with mental illness and require treatment. The numbers are staggering, and some predict a wave of patients that our already taxed healthcare system will struggle to accommodate.

What we need is an alternative solution that rethinks what short-term and long-term treatment could look like. We also need a solution that breaks down stigmas traditionally associated with this type of care. In this episode we chat with University of Toronto students Bronte Morris-Poolman and Damian Kercz about how their Senior thesis project Art x Pop-Up could be the exact solution we need. Their idea is to design "crisis stabilization units" that are strategically placed in communities to provide critical mental health services. We also speak to Stacey Root and Stephanie Vito from Cannon Design on how to design for mental health spaces, the history of mental health stigma, and the future of "Wellness Campuses" that combine care and amenities for a more equitable experience for all.

https://ankura.com/insights/whats-driving-the-trend-toward-healthcare-villages/
https://www.fastcompany.com/90638988/why-mental-health-awareness-is-here-to-stay
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/business/mental-health-facilities-design.html
https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/healthcare-architecture/behavioral-healthcare-cannon-design/
https://designgroup.us.com/expertise/unveiling-new-hybrid-model-healthcare-architecture
http://www.koozarch.com/interviews/art-covid-19-test-centre/

What if the technologies and innovations that we have deemed as low-tech, primitive, and unsophisticated could actually hold the keys to solving climate change?

In Episode 6, we look at Radical Indigenism as a movement that seeks to explore indigenous philosophies in relation to design and harness that wisdom to build a more resilient world. We talk with Designer, activist, academic, and author Julia Watson who just released her bestselling book, Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism.

We also speak with Sam Olbekson, Principal and Director of Native American Design and Planning at Cunningham. Culture is tied to place and Sam brings insight on how to support culture with community building and design practices that are rooted in authentically listening.

Further Reading:

https://commonedge.org/the-power-of-lo-tek-a-design-movement-to-rebuild-understanding-of-indigeous-philosophy-and-vernacular-architecture/

https://www.fastcompany.com/90651986/extreme-heat-is-becoming-more-frequent-and-our-infrastructure-is-going-to-need-to-adapt?cid=eem524:524:s00:07/02/2021_fc&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Compass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:07/02/2021_fc

https://sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-innovation/the-shift-from-sustainable-to-regenerative-design

Kimball International's ESG Report

Al Tahla Islands Video

Julia's Book Lo-Tek: Design by Radical Indigenism

In Episode 5, we go beyond the current exploration of space to unveil the first potential settlement on Mars. We chat with Alfredo Munoz, architect and owner of ABIBOO studio, and Miquel Sureda, Master Coordinator of the Space and Aeronautical Engineering program at Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya. Alfredo, Miquel, and their team of scientists have brought their creative dream into reality by proposing a vertical city that is innovative, inclusive, and will be stunning to look at. We discuss the newest technologies that will be implemented and the challenges that citizens will face to survive. You'll also hear their thoughts on why pioneering a new planet is both relevant and inspirational to our design initiatives on Earth. And, we are introducing our first ever "docu-drama-pod"! Get ready to be immersed into the future through the eyes of an aerospace architect travelling to Mars for the first time. Now, back to how this relates to us Earthlings…as designers, we encounter challenges and limitations on virtually every project. What if I told you that those constraints actually create opportunities to unlock some of the greatest solutions? And, that self-imposing those restrictions could leverage our imaginations in ways we never thought possible! Now, that’s outta this world.

In Episode 4, we look at a Meditation Chamber, a Museum of Ice Cream, and a Sensory Cocoon to understand the value of experiential design that immerses the user into the narrative of the built environment. The case studies will shed light on the intersection of technology and architecture, revealing how the right mix of both can engage the physical senses and create deeper emotional connections to spaces we inhabit on a daily basis. We chat with Lane Rick and Katie Stranix from the Office of Things, Arik Lubkin from the Museum of Ice Cream, and Adelia Schleusz from HKS on how to incorporate experiential design strategies into various markets and how to safely implement them post-pandemic.

In Episode 3, we're taking our listeners back to the days you could be "Dancing In the Streets" before you had to "Stop In the Name of Love". It's no secret that Motown had repeatable success in creating some of America's top hits. Join us as we reveal some key learnings from the hit making factory and compare their creative songwriting process to our industry's building design process! We speak with Allen Rawls, Board of Trustees member of Motown Museum and the legendary Funk Brother Dennis Coffey.

https://www.brazen.com/blog/archive/job-search/6-tips-for-incorporating-multiple-interests-into-one-career
https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/when-did-design-stop-being-multidisciplinary/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-be-happy-work-1000-different-interests
https://www.sxswedu.com/news/2017/what-we-can-learn-from-motown/

In Episode 2, guests Maya Bird-Murphy from Chicago Mobile Makers and Jake Heffington and Edwin Harris from Diversify Architecture help bring light to the often-unseen challenges for people of color in the Architecture and Design industry. From the impact of limited exposure to architecture at a young age to not celebrating minority architects and designers more, we go beyond what you don't see to discuss a range of leaks that occur along our profession's pipeline and highlight those taking action to plug them.


https://www.chicagomobilemakers.org/
https://www.diversifyarchitecture.com/
https://notesoncredibility.cargo.site/
https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2015/01/beyond-eurocentrism/
https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/perkins-will-and-aia-release-a-how-to-guide-for-increasing-diversity-in-architecture_o
https://www.architectmagazine.com/practice/increasing-diversity-in-architecture-barriers-to-entry_o

In this episode, we discuss a concept that perhaps isn't familiar in the design industry, but is thriving in the health and wellness community. A "microbiome" is simply the collection of micro-organisms in a particular environment, whether they be inside your gut, on your skin, or even the chair you're sitting on. I talk to Jack Gilbert, a microbiology professor from USCD on how the microbiome in the built environment can be manipulated and help to win the war for the "good bacteria". I also chat with Rosie Broadhead, a sportswear clothing designer in the U.K. who is pioneering the ability to weave probiotics into textiles. In addition, she's taking it a step further by incorporating vitamins and supplements into upholstery and studying how we could receive these nutrients just by sitting in a chair.