Comments on: Pratt Students Design For One Dollar http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/21/pratt-students-design-for-one-dollar/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:39:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: stevenmatthttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/21/pratt-students-design-for-one-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-196954 stevenmatt Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:34:28 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=29814#comment-196954 Brilliant, Pratt. I love it. Good job to everyone involved. We need more inspiration for innovation using the sustainable materials we have and with less money. I wrote about it here: http://bit.ly/3M7gH1 Brilliant, Pratt. I love it. Good job to everyone involved. We need more inspiration for innovation using the sustainable materials we have and with less money. I wrote about it here: http://bit.ly/3M7gH1

]]> By: patis1kmhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/21/pratt-students-design-for-one-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-195708 patis1km Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:45:20 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=29814#comment-195708 The idea of making works of art and effective design on a budget interests me greatly. Along with what TGOR already touched on, I would like to see some artwork made with materials and equipment for under $1.I believe it is possible to assemble some of the works above with such a limited budget, but aren't some of the constructions dangerous? For example, the felted shirt sleeve lamp shade covers a plastic container; wouldn't the plastic melt after extended exposure to the heat of an incandescent bulb? Even if the plastic did not melt straight away, I imagine that it would still be a fire hazard.The "Design for a Dollar" exhibit is a good example of critical thinking and problem solving in action; both of which could be successfully implemented at our university. A similar exercise in our college art department would do wonders for our inspirationally-deficient student body. The creativity behind each of the works from Pratt reminds me that there is still great (and environmentally-conscious) design out there. The idea of making works of art and effective design on a budget interests me greatly. Along with what TGOR already touched on, I would like to see some artwork made with materials and equipment for under $1.

I believe it is possible to assemble some of the works above with such a limited budget, but aren’t some of the constructions dangerous? For example, the felted shirt sleeve lamp shade covers a plastic container; wouldn’t the plastic melt after extended exposure to the heat of an incandescent bulb? Even if the plastic did not melt straight away, I imagine that it would still be a fire hazard.

The “Design for a Dollar” exhibit is a good example of critical thinking and problem solving in action; both of which could be successfully implemented at our university. A similar exercise in our college art department would do wonders for our inspirationally-deficient student body. The creativity behind each of the works from Pratt reminds me that there is still great (and environmentally-conscious) design out there.

]]> By: TGORhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/21/pratt-students-design-for-one-dollar/comment-page-1/#comment-194512 TGOR Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:17:42 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=29814#comment-194512 I saw this same Pratt design project on p34 of the Oct 09 issue of Dwell and I thought to myself that it would be nice to know the actual design requirements that were given to the students. Yes, several of the designs are interesting prototypes, yet many of the designs have been done before, for example the magazine stool and all of the designs would be difficult to actually make for $1. Maybe the materials were purchased for less than $1, but the labor time, the laser cutting of scissors, the thermal energy used to melt bottle caps and the cost of the light bulbs, sockets (I hope those are not Medium B Base sockets + Incandescent bulbs) and wiring all add up very quickly to a net cost higher than a dollar for each product, especially if manufactured in the US. I understand the concept, but wonder if the students are feeling a false sense of accomplishment? This might have happened, but what if the students also presented an analysis of the true cost associated with each product, not just the pocket change spent at the thrift store, the exercise may be a more valuable learning experience for the next crop of future designers. MFA ID I saw this same Pratt design project on p34 of the Oct 09 issue of Dwell and I thought to myself that it would be nice to know the actual design requirements that were given to the students. Yes, several of the designs are interesting prototypes, yet many of the designs have been done before, for example the magazine stool and all of the designs would be difficult to actually make for $1. Maybe the materials were purchased for less than $1, but the labor time, the laser cutting of scissors, the thermal energy used to melt bottle caps and the cost of the light bulbs, sockets (I hope those are not Medium B Base sockets + Incandescent bulbs) and wiring all add up very quickly to a net cost higher than a dollar for each product, especially if manufactured in the US. I understand the concept, but wonder if the students are feeling a false sense of accomplishment? This might have happened, but what if the students also presented an analysis of the true cost associated with each product, not just the pocket change spent at the thrift store, the exercise may be a more valuable learning experience for the next crop of future designers.
MFA ID

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