The paradoxical object '20
Course:
Basic Design
Lecturer:
Andrea Maragno
Tommaso Russo
Year:
First year
Students:
(Gnummy) Tiso, Perri, Dondi Dall’Orologio, Rebuschi, Vettore (SpongeBurger) Bertollo, Carotenuto, Crespan, Tence, Vanin (Soapush) Maso, De Valentin, Simionato, Tosato (RePost-It) Griggio, Kourriche, Pavia, Rampazzo (Clipnot) De Marchi, Marani, Missana, Scandaletti, Tonietto (Candless) Bertoncello, Carlesso, Ceccato, Filippin
The brief
Creation of a “paradox” object, that is, an object that contradicts the common use of the object itself by overturning or preventing its function.
The exercise is based on the idea that design dissolves into behavior and that the designer (and his or her design) should become invisible. In other words, it means that a well-designed object becomes invisible when you use it without rationally realizing that you are using it, making the result of the action “achieved, but not intended.”
In order for the form of an object to disappear, one must be able to empty oneself of thoughts by stepping outside the boundaries of the known, and to succeed in this, the necessity becomes to explore new worlds by entering the territory of paradox, that is, to step out of the present moment into the meta-project.
The concept of meta-design is a technique that precisely allows for an outcome through research that improves access to new theoretical developments and/or empirical findings, free from stereotypes that limit our view and perception of reality.
Object Paradox is thus a propaedeutic exercise that introduces these concepts and requires precisely to play on existing stereotypes, altering them, denying them, associating them or emptying them of meaning, creating objects with an absurd function, but able to present themselves on their own without the need for explanation and able to evoke visually familiar but at the same time destabilizing worlds.