The project that captured my attention at Alessi was the “memory containers” workshop, which prompted designers to draw from their cultural heritage or personal experience to design an object (or I’d like to think, to design a memory). It was great to hear our host discuss the rituals of gifting. “Every culture all over the world has an offering ritual.” They had the designers explore the memory of their gifting culture. There was no prescribed goal or object to design—only explorations. Alberto wanted the designers to have freedom to explore and play without any restrictions. This allowed the designers to explore their traditions, cultures and even childhood memories to generate activities. What arose from this activity was a variety of products. The outcome was so successful that 15 objects were produced from this project. Although, I am not an industrial designer, my thesis project closely relates to this gifting ritual and workshop generated by Alberto. The outcome was different than my Cultura within thesis project, but the intention was the same to use one’s culture to strengthen and build connections. My project involved learning about one’s culture to find strength within. The hope for my project is to create agency and perseverance to continue with one’s goals rather than be paralyzed by fear and doubts. Just as Alberto is interested in developing products that encourage development in the public, I am interested in the development of the community through objects—taking it one step further—I’m making a connection between object and subject to build a stronger, supportive and better community.
Another aspect of Alessi’s visit that captured my attention was the designers’ process of creation and design. I was fascinated by seeing Aldo Rossi’s process compared to Michael Graves, Ricardo Dalisi, Ettere Sottsass, etc … I loved seeing the varying making processes of all designers. It was interesting learning about the transition process for all designers, from drawing to paper to wood prototype to stainless steel prototypes. The contrast from progression to simplification of the final product intrigued me. I was enthralled by Aldo Rossi’s “hands off” style of designing, where he allowed the technical team to solve the small, technical details of the object. He was never preoccupied with the minutia of an object, just the larger vision. He was mainly interested in the final outcome. Unlike, Ricardo Dalisi—he needed to visualize every step of the process so, he created prototype after prototype. He was a visual maker—he created varying prototypes from paper to wood to generate a final product. All artists, designers, and architects had a particular process of designing, whether it be collecting, making, writing or drawing, they all followed different processes. Their practice was based on personal style, they all discovered their way of working. There was no prescribed process. They all wanted to make better products for a better living.
