Overview
The cocoon is a covering used in a phase of stopped growth by a larva of moths or other insects. Outwardly, it seems to take a rest, but actually, its tissues and organs continue to mature. One of the wonders of nature is a beautiful butterfly coming into being out of the dark and narrow cocoon. The phenomenon is frequently used as a metaphor, leaving strong impression on us, to describe that there is hope at the end of despair. The homeless issue has been a long standing problem of our civilization, which remains unresolved yet. Though its image seems to be heavy and dark, I tried to replace it with a symbol of hope. The Cocoon - Portable urban shelter for a homeless' is a cardboard bed designed to provide a private shelter for the homeless. It aims to provide a little pleasure whilst facing the harsh conditions of homeless life. The light weight cardboard construction makes it easy to carry and fold into its 3 dimensional bed form. I wish the homeless come back to communities as wonderfully as the larva's transformation into a butterfly, and become another good members who add to the richness. I'm to dedicate this sculpture of a cocoon to them as a small present. Since solving the problem all together may serve to a measure of showing the maturation level of a society, I also used the sculpture, to express that visually, as a symbolic model of our society evolving to a more matured one.
Idea
It was on a winter day, in 2003, while I was in search of my motives for my Exhibition based on my philosophy on Universal Design, when I noticed number of homeless people shivering in the cold and some asleep by streets near the City Hall subway station. And that is when I decided to design 'Folding Beds' for the homeless. I planned to introduce it in my exhibition. This is how I came to design 'Folding Beds for the Homeless'.
Folding Study & Modeling process
2D draft & Prototype
How to use & Promotion movie
Contributing
Universal Design is a new concept that freshly restores the meaning of 'valuing people'. It is a product or an environmental design that fulfills the user's needs to the most. It could be defined as enabling people to comfortably use such products or environments to bring a more pleasant life. Universal design, originating from 'Barrier Free Design', has developed from a design for the disabled and the elderly to a much wider design concept-accomodating the cycle of various abilities and life as a whole. This developed concept tends to view the handicapped people's physical abilities not as exceptional characteristics but as distinct individualities. It is because people's physical size and abilities vary and this diversity naturally changes by age and situation. The environment and product should not be designed just for the average but should include a person's individuality as it is. The concept of universal design dates back to when the 20th century industry longed for an economic jump by mass producing. The manufactured products and architectural environments made for human ought to be mass-produced, so only the averaged people became the subject of use. Thus the 'non-average' people were discriminated from such artificial surroundings and that is when universal design came out from the voices of criticism and reconsideration. As a result, universal design meets the users' various needs, creates an environment that equally embraces the differences in age, sex, physical size and ability, and additionally, the diverse range of economic level and race.
Design Products, Royal College of Art
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