about
In informal urban practices four different disciplines share their interests in informal practices in urban settings. Informed and influenced through case studies from Asia, Europe and Australia we test new ideas for various modes of practices which engage with our everyday urban environments. industrial design (Mick Douglas) and interior design (Rochus Urban Hinkel) are running an undergraduate design studio each, while landscape architecture (Marieluise Jonas) and architecture (Hélène Frichot) are involved with a few master students and as guest critics and presenters.
This inter-disciplinary studio explores contemporary urban conditions by developing designs for ‘devices’ (infrastructures, tools, service systems, actions and events) that show practical and speculative ways of inhabiting cities. How are people making clever use of urban conditions to live? We will seek inspiration from street trading and hawking, guerilla gardening, appropriations of public space and public infrastructure, gift economies, grass-roots social enterprises, open-source and DIY techniques, ‘underground’ social practices and events, public game play and public art. We will be regularly joined via Skype with designers, creative practitioners and activists in Asia and Europe to discuss and stimulate our work.
Our blog is a cross-disciplinary platform in the School of Architecture and Design (RMIT University) for exchange of resources, exploration of methodologies, sharing and discussion of ideas, and the documentation of experiments by individuals and collectives.
Here you find the studio course guides / handouts for interior design and for industrial design, as well as the detailed schedule for the semester
