charrette...

One thing that I really like about the Industrial Design department here at SU is that we as students (starting second year when you enter the program after foundation) often have opportunities to take part in projects that have real application. There have been sponsored projects in the past by LG and JP Morgan Chase, sometimes our professors will include us in their own projects which can include installations, and most recently we have been doing a lot of work with the Connective Corridor.

The Connective Corridor is a 1.5 mile stretch that goes from the SU campus to downtown. The project began as a movement to connect the university with the city, as well as encourage economic and cultural growth within the city. The ID department has given us projects that range from making the corridor more accessible to people with disabilities to imagining transportation systems that will encourage travel of the corridor, especially during inclement weather.

This week select members of the 3rd year ID class are working on a charrette to develop design proposals for the corridor. A charrette typically is a short period of time of designing to solve a design problem and to meet a deadline. The ID students will be working in teams with students from other majors including Interior Design, Engineering, Architecture and Landscape Architecture. After the charrette is over the teams will present their design proposals to a committee for possible implementation into the city.

Not actually working on the charrette myself I don't know any more of the details, but if you're interested in the project check out the Connective Corridor website:

http://connectivecorridor.syr.edu/

And two side notes:

1) Bill Nye is giving a presentation at SU tonight! For those of you who ever watched him as a kid, you'll understand how excited the geek in me is.

2) If you are in NYC and have a chance go to MoMA to see their exhibit "Design and the Elastic Mind." It's industrial design meets science at its best - an absolutely fascinating show. It's open until May 12th and if you go you can see three projects done by our designer in residence, Susana Soares.