Community Design Community

Are you part of a community? Is your community defined by customs, rituals, and events? Does it correspond with a belief system or religious ideology? Is it defined as a social activity? Does it consist of neighbors? Over the last 150 years of industrialized history, the world of design has dealt a lot with the essence of a product and ways to industrialize it. However, in doing so, the heart of the matter has shifted: the fact that the products are intended for people. At the same time, there were some designers who were concerned by the cultural and psychological needs of individuals and groups in crises. Designers such as Henry Dreyfuss, Tomás Maldonado, and others, lay the foundations for social design – one that is truly influential. The last two years have raised our awareness to the basic human need for a supportive community, both emotionally and physically, and for a sense of belonging and shared identity. However, there may come a time when it will be necessary to construct and define new communities, different from those known to us. To explore the value of community, the project employs a Japanese custom relating to the holiday of Tanabata, during which wishes are written on pieces of paper (tanzaku) and hung on bamboo trees. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to choose a card and write out their wish: for themselves; their country; or the world. The card is then tied to a tree, allowing viewers to participate in the creation of a community with shared wishes.