Eleonora Barbareschi Designer

ITS APERITIVO TIME - DESIGNBOOM

2009-09-29T12:07:00.001+02:00

Menzione/shortlisted al concorso internazionale di design "Its Aperitivo Time" organizzato da Designboom in collaborazione con Alessi e Peroni, per il progetto "Tino" firmato studio AMeBE. 3208 partecipanti.

Designboom "Its Aperitivo Time" International Design Competition. Project "Tino" by studio AMeBE was shortilisted among 3208 partecipants.

Tino: Inspired from standing Aperitivo’s, when there is no room to sit, when both hands are busy, and often eating and drinking becomes a challenge. Tino is a mono-use plate designed to fit bottle necks. With Tino plate, drinks and food can comfortably stay together in one hand, leaving the other hand free for additional food picking, smoking, gesturing and more. Its looks remind of the classical plastic mono-use plates. Its innovation simply stands in a hole, right at the center of the plate, that allows it to fit onto bottle necks. The plate’s hole is designed to adapt to different bottle neck diameters, in order to fit an infinite variety of bottles. Tino is functional and practical. When eating, Tino firmly stays on the bottle. When drinking, it can be simply slided out. Without its bottle, Tino can sit on the table just like a normal plate! Enjoy your Aperitivo and slide on your Tino plate!

DESIGNBOOM & MACEF 2009

2009-03-03T12:06:00.006+01:00

Menzione/shortlisted al concorso internazionale di design "Beyond Silver" organizzato da Designboom e MACEF 2009, per i progetti "Steckino" e "Daysilver" firmati studio AMeBE. 3566 partecipanti da 89 paesi diversi.

Designboom and MACEF 2009 "Beyond Silver" International Design Competition. Projects "Daysilver" and "Steckino" by studio AMeBE were shortilisted among 3566 partecipants from 89 different countries.

Bradi-Po' for Alcantara Extraordinary, Every Day Travel Contest 2008.

2008-12-15T09:38:00.006+01:00

The project "Bradi-Po'", in collaboration with Alessandra Mantovani, was selected among the special nominees for Alcantara: Extraordinary, Every Day Travel Contest 2008.

1st Prize Award: DeiSign International Design Competition.

2008-12-10T21:22:00.006+01:00

Project "Un Altare in Festa", in collaboration with designer Alessandra Mantovani, won 1st Prize for the International Design Competition DeiSign: "THE CHALICE AND THE LITURGICAL OBJECTS FOR THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION". For more details and exhibit information please see the competition website. www.deisign.it

1º PREMIO per il progetto "Un Altare in Festa" in collaborazione con Alessandra Mantovani per il concorso DeiSign: IL CALICE E GLI OGGETTI LITURGICI PER LA CELEBRAZIONE EUCARISTICA". Per maggiore informazioni e mostra del progetto si puo' visitare il sito del concorso. www.deisign.it

Finger-Dip

2008-06-05T11:23:00.003+02:00

Finger-Dip publication June 2008 edition on Style Magazine (Corriere della Sera, Italy). The project was also finalist for the International Design Competition launched by DESIGNBOOM "Dining in 2015". This project was in collaboration with designer Alessandra Mantovani.

Siggraph SpaceTime Exhibition

2007-08-30T16:57:00.002+02:00

SIGGRAPH SpaceTime Exhibition Award Winner. August 5-9 2007 Installation at Siggraph student SpaceTime gallery. The interactive installation Meridian 2007 was selected as one of the SpaceTime Student Exhibition Winners for the Siggraph 2007 SpaceTime awards. A scaled model of the original installation was exhibited at the gallery. For more info on the project please visit the DT Thesis Website .

Mythinformation - Langdon Winner

2006-02-12T00:50:00.000+01:00

Mythinformation - Langdon Winner

I agree when Langdon say that " the use of computers and advanced communications technologiesis producing a sweeping set of transformations in every corner of social life". What I thougt was very important is the consideration of techonolgy being heaven when applied to certain contexts. This idea that techonolgy is an instrument, it does facilitate and bring service, but it is important to understand when it brings positive or negative changes.
There is often a belief that technology is "good", though as all tools, it surely does have its limitations. So how do we recognize if technology applications are working in positive or negative way ? maybe we are not capable of defining this and so we will just have to adapt to the changes caused.
For example, "rapid information-processing capabilities" linked to the specific context of up-to the minute electronic information systems, surely fits well in the context. But instead, the idea of computers replacing some educational processes, might still not sound right. Maybe once the technologies will have further research, this will be just as accepted.
The threat to privacy is another interesting topic. Maybe the introduction of technology in our privacy will just induce us to reconsider what privacy is, and lead us into a different notion of privacy, or what it used to be.
Spatial boundries of political societies - really interesting to see how this has changed over the years. The idea of mobility and unlocatability of power. I see this as a great thing that has been brought by technologies.
Defining this a technological revolution surely gives it lots of importance, and I agree, since the opportunities for distruction and advence are parllel.

brings the world closer to everyone.

What is Research?

2006-02-08T06:25:00.000+01:00

I thought this essay was a great articulation of what research really is. things like... subdividing the principal problem into smaller ones, or the process of defining a research problem, a question or a hypothisis are really fundamental steps. when doing research I think that one of the easiest things is to get lost. keeping focused and defining things is really one of the first most important parts.
The elaboration and interpretation is without a doubt what makes the research. I think that this idea of interpretation is the most exciting part. The fact that my personal view, interpretations, or life experience, will influence on the way I elaborate my inputs, and maybe leading be to the creation of new concepts or discoveries, or who knows what... I think that that is what is most powerful.
I really think that if there is not a strong motivation and excitement doing research, then it is really hard to elaborate and build something out of it. There needs to be passion and involvement. and that is why when there is too much of that, it is easy to get lost. the desire of looking and researching at everything we come by becomes really tempting at times!

Surveillance and Capture

2006-02-07T23:36:00.000+01:00

Surveillance and Capture
Two Models of Privacy
Philip E. Agre

The surveillance model verses the capture model.
Surveillance model being a cultural phenomenon – political metaphor and the capture model – acquiring data as input – being a philosophical metaphor. It describes “the situation that results when grammars of action are imposed upon human activities, and when the newly reorganized activities are represented by computers in real time. It is in fact important to keep in mind that they are both metaphor system

The two models of privacy described by Philip E. Agre are unquestionably central when we consider merging technologies.
What I thought to be a very interesting concept was the idea of a “Trade off concept”. Though as in most things in life I think that what is really hard is the way we utilize such system. It is true that in order to offer more, we have to give in more information. Which can be fine depending on the way those inputs are utilized in the second place.

I found this essay to be extremely well articulated although I am not sure I was able to understand exactly all the steps from capture and functionality, to capture in society, to the political economy of capture…

Indeed I agree with the fact that it “provides some tools for placing technical design-styles in larger political and economic contexts… with democratic goals”. Also, “providing “ some impetus for investigations of the underlying structures of design practices…”

On Typologies of Situated Interaction

2006-02-05T21:33:00.000+01:00

On Typologies of Situated Interaction
Malcolm McCullough
University of Michigan

I found McCullough's considerations very interesting. It connects a lot to last week's idea of designing for a context. The definition of types being “generative design abstractions”… it sounds like a very appropriate definition for what he explored. Types being what unites periphery, passivity, phenomenology, adaptability, affordance, facility, appropriateness, and scale. The interesting implications of any social place can be defined better if we consider types. The parallel with architecture was also very revealing and connected to this idea of interaction design.

I think the process of individualizing typologies really helps narrow down to significant objectives for the development and appliances of technologies.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Context - Paul Dourish

2006-02-01T05:15:00.000+01:00

I think that Paul Dourish underlines a very important concept.
I really agree on the idea that people interact according to their perception of things and influenced by their environment, surroundings and who knows what. (it is quite complicated to summarize in a phrase though I hope I made my point).
“context describes features of the environment within which the activity takes place, but which are separate from the activity itself”.
I think that the thin distinction between context and content was very well defined. Context being "the outcome of embodied practice". The idea that the context in which an object exists is not only due to the way it is designed, but rather of how that technology is put into practice by the user.
I think that this can be the core starting point in design.
Being able to make observations and collect data really gives a projects many certainties and strong basis which one can later build on. All the elaboration of the data that occurs afterwards is one of the most challenging steps, but If the basis are strong, then it is easier to construct and trust oneself.
My interpretation of the importance of context lies in the fact that if context is misinterpreted, it can lead into applications that are complete failure. But at the same time, if one can understand and analyze a context and what it implies, then this can turn into an anchor point for the final outcome.

From Computing Machinery to Interaction Design

2006-01-30T02:01:00.000+01:00

From Computing Machinery to Interaction Design
by Terry Winograd

I really like the definition of Interaction Design as not only computer interface, but also its environment or habitat. I really like the idea of an "interspace" that is inhabited by multiple people, workstations, servers, and other devices in a complex web of interactions. and that "In designing new systems and applications, we are not simply providing better tools for working with objects in a previously existing world. We are creating new worlds. Computer systems and software are becoming media for the creation of virtualities: the worlds in which users of the software perceive, act, and respond to experiences."
I like seeing human computer interaction under a human perspective. meaning that we design machines closer to humans. For instance more organic.
I am sure that we will encounter different problems and it will take time for humans to full adjust to the increasing intrusion of computers, though it is up to us to decide how.
We have the power to decide to what point and in what way interaction should take place.
Time plays a very important role. As long as there is the right balance between change and the time people need to adjust to that change, I don't think there will be too many problems.
What frightens we is the idea of losing control and not being capable of keeping up to the pace of technology and its applications.

The Coming Age of Calm Technology

2006-01-30T00:57:00.001+01:00

The coming age of calm technology
by Mark Weiser and John Brown
October, 1996

I think that what Mark Weiser and John Brown are trying to say is that one of the biggest issues regarding the interaction man/computer, is that most of the times we don't have a direct contact with what occurs inside our computer. We don't see and we don't know what is going on. So, when something unexpected occurs, all we can see is a container with some irrelevant content that we don't understand.

What I think, is that our knowledge regarding the way our computers work, is not enough edvanced for us to solve problems. At the same time, it is relatively easy to work on many applications.
Designers and engeneers have been working on making computers very friendly and easy, working on the design and functionality of basic and simple interfaces. In this way a user is induced into certain aspectations on the functioning of his or her computer.
Therefore, when something goes wrong, we don't expect it, so we panic. In a way, its as if we were tricked into thinking that we know how to use computers because we can interact with the interface, but we actually know very very little. In order to learn and interact in a basic way is something that people have learned and achieved very easily.

If I think of a calm approach to computers, I think of a person that has control, that knows what the actions and reactions of a computer can be. By adding more information onto computers, could be a solution, though, what I see to be the central problem, is the capability of the user to read and fully understand the information that she or he is given. For example, in order to drive cars, people have to have a driver's license. People need to lear basic knowledge on the cars functioning, traffic, one needs to learn how to interact with the steering weel, pedals and so on.

I think that in order to interact with computers in a more natural confident and calm way, people need to know more. People need to have the tools to feel more secure and comfortable with what they do. Panic takes place when we are lost, when we don't have enough knowledge to know how to take the next step.

Future Interaction Design Research - Professor Erik Stolterman - Sweden

2006-01-30T00:34:00.000+01:00

This article really made me think about the problems of the interaction between people, and not with technology. I agree on the perspective of the technological societies moving really fast and the change of our environments. From my point of view the interaction between men and technology is undergoing different styles and we seem to learn and live with these changes without much difficulties.
What I feel to be loosing is the human connection, person to person, not mediated my technology.

The Construction of Change by Roy Ascott - New Media Reader

2006-01-30T00:32:00.000+01:00

Ray Ascott definitely touches a theme that is still now up to date. I actually had not imagined that the issues involving art and cybernetics began in the 1960's. I really like the distinction between the idea of "participation" verses "interaction". It sounds like the first clarification on the difference between the relationship between man and man as oppose to man and AI.
The idea of art being the coordinator of an experience I think is another very important point he makes. Being the coordinator is a very powerful role. You can communicate and induce a person's behavior in whichever direction you want. This makes me think of some of the issues involving ethics and the huge responsibility an influence an artist carries in his works.
Roy Ascott really predicted a situation that is very much like things are now. Our environment is composed of people and machines and the more we go along, the more men seems to be strongly tied and dependent off of technology.
At the same time as a result of the strong wave of technology and AI, there is now a tendency of going back to slower rhythms. A rediscovery of values of the past, romanticism, and reaching a better quality of life not necessarily using tech. Organizations such as Slow Food represent strongly what I'm describing.