Design Diversity: Produktkultur abseits von Beige, Best und Gold

Translated title of the contribution: Design Diversity : Product Culture beyond Beige, Best and Gold

Publications: Book / Anthology / Thesis / ReportBookCommunication

Abstract

The publication 'Design Diversity', an exhibition catalogue, focuses on aging and design – a product culture in transformation that aims to help change conventional notions of the later years of life. Age is positioned as a generational issue that has the same relevance for all age groups. The exhibition is oriented along disciplines such as inclusive design, which calls for products to be designed in such a way that they are equally attractive to people of all ages. Despite the existence of innovative design concepts, the number of well-designed products available on the market is low. While many courageous projects for "best agers" and "golden agers" never get beyond the prototype stage, products that paint a more "beige" picture of everyday life can be found in large numbers. This fact raises some key questions: Does the existing product culture reflect today's views on old age? Do contemporary design projects not devote themselves to the actual challenges of aging? Do the channels of communication between designers and their target group perhaps not work?

The exhibition is organized into four showcases along the themes "Housing," "Networking," "Supporting," and "Moving." Exhibition visitors are invited to contribute, and to answer for themselves the questions posed by each showcase. An accompanying program of workshops, panel discussions, lectures, and film screenings will expand upon these answers and open them up for discuss within a broader framework. The aim of the exhibition is to create awareness of the fact that material culture shapes our view of aging, and therefore is also capable of changing it.
Translated title of the contributionDesign Diversity : Product Culture beyond Beige, Best and Gold
Original languageGerman
Place of PublicationVienna
PublisherVerlag für moderne Kunst
Number of pages97
ISBN (Print)ISBN 978-3-86984-535-7
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Design and Ageing
  • Design Diversity

Artistic research

  • Yes

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