Environment Hacking

 

 

Last friday our class was invited by Matt Ratto, researcher in the HumLab at Umeå university to
participate in a one day workshop, that among other discussions, brought up the hacking activity,
where people adapt or transform objects or the space to suit their needs, specially in a way that
was not foreseen. It was a great opportunity and training to go around the university campus
looking for examples of this kind of activity. In the pictures we see a shortcut being created and
a doublesignage hacking: the new sign that was inserted over the fence was painted over to show
the new direction.

Activities or solutions like that are quite interesting for designers, and a good example of
this is the book by Jane Fulton Suri, from IDEO: Toughtless Acts.  In it, the author shows a great
collection of ideas and solutions, that inspire us to use them and to keep our eyes open.