Dutch Design
Going Dutch? Design pros and cons of the Netherlands
By John Thackara of Doors of Perception on how the priorities of governments and a country’s existing design culture affects what’s designed (and how it’s designed). I’d love to work in another country for a few years after graduating, so the little bit of intercountry comparison left me wanting to know more.
The article also mentions STEIM, a music and acoustics research/design lab whose work was shown at the New Interfaces for Musical Expression conference I went to in June. Hearing Michel Waisvisz perform has been (at the risk of overstatement) one of the sonic highlights of my life.
There’s lots of other good stuff from John’s In the Bubble series of articles and mini-essays.
If time and money allow, I’ll hopefully be checking out the Doors of Perception conference next year. Others I’m thinking about include DIS (Designing Interactive Systems) and possibly HITS (Humans | Interaction | Technology | Strategy). Others I’m missing? I wish there was a conference out there that was a bit less formal, a bit more hands on, but that’s a conversation for another time.
Dan said,
July 23, 2003 @ 8 pm
These all look cool (esp. HITS). But where you getting all the $$$ for these conferences? We’re starving grad students!
chad said,
July 23, 2003 @ 11 pm
Yeah, funding is a problem, but most of them have reduced student rates, and the design department helps out with one conference a year, which is nice.
I also feel like the value of spending a couple of days in a culture that really wants to explore a set of problems with a particular approach (or many) usually justifies the investment. It’s a nice way to mix things up without overcommiting. After three conferences this summer, I’m definitely going back to school a different person than the one who left in May. Plus, I love meeting people, so it’s fun to make new friends and ask lots of questions.
udanium235 said,
July 24, 2003 @ 11 pm
yep, the investment is totally worth it…take it from someone who will have attended 6 conferences by the end of this year!! not boasting, just saying–and that’s where the value of credit cards come in :) but seriously, yes, dept funding will help, with student rates, etc. you may also want to find corp sponsor, like current employer, or find a connection to your grad thesis, for extra funds. proposal writing skills will come in handy for that…
of course, i don’t intend to attend so many confs every year (this year was really a fluke) but i agree, the level of exposure to ideas, people, companies, etc. will pay off down the road as we strive to become knowledgeable and known people in this field. gotta take advantage. at least, just tell yourself that when the monthly bill arrives… :)
udanium235 said,
July 24, 2003 @ 11 pm
oh, feel free to read my conf reviews at my site! (thanks chad for letting me advertise for myself :) you da man…
Marc said,
July 31, 2003 @ 8 pm
My capsule summary of this year’s Doors of Perception:
The conference is cooler to read about than to attend. But AMSTERDAM is cooler to be in than to read about.
andrew said,
August 1, 2003 @ 12 pm
No way, Doors is much cooler to attend than to read about. I had a really good time there last year. You can go to Amsterdam anytime without also spending $$$ to sit in a conference hall, if that’s what you want. (And why go there in November for a vacation?)