My Final Major Project Titled ‘Here To Stay’ explores human emotional relationships with homes and the physical factors contributing towards a sense or absence of comfort within a dwelling. As my project developed, I identified that the experience of a dwelling could be immensely affected by object to space ratio, and that hostile dwellings generally host significant amounts of clutter. As I pursued this topic further, I was able to define the perimeters of clutter and unearthed unexpected insights into its boundaries related to productivity and the ‘ideal’.
My outcome is designed to help mitigate object accumulation by subverting the archetypal bedside table to encourage the ritual of decluttering surfaces, thus improving productivity and ambiance in the home. The table has two surfaces: one which intuitively dictates the position for particular necessary items and causes any excess objects to fall through to the second temporary surface. The secondary surface can then be removed and these items re-homed to prevent clutter build-up.
My audio piece Titled ’13 Grindstone Crescent’ sits alongside my FMP and explores the emotional memories of two sisters when asked separately to recall their childhood home. Corrinne and Lindsey share their experiences of growing up in a place where their mother suffered from depression and the impact that this had on their perception of home at that time. These personal accounts provide insight into the physical, psychological and emotional relationships we forge with our spaces and how the conditions of the home can affect our behaviours. The interviews in the piece offer personal and sensitive insights into the real-world impacts that cluttered homes can have on our wellbeing which has supported my project research. Interviewees: Corinne Waterfield, Lindsey Morgan Lundie
The making of my outcome involved testing material manipulation to create fluid yet accurate forms. The process of vacuum forming was used to experiment with form before translating my refined design into metal and plastic work tests. The final piece was created by thermo-forming translucent Perspex using CNC press moulds.