Velowala.org
Design Studios: Quicksand , CoDesign Studio, BOX Design + Research, Basic Love Of Things:B.L.O.T
Velowala.org is a media archive for bicycle dependent commerce. It provides a platform for people across the world to contribute images, video or written words on people selling goods and objects from bikes. A mobile entrepreneur is free from the constraints of land and property and is sustainable and economically sound.
What was the significant innovation in approach or thinking behind the project/artwork? How can this be recognisably attributed to the involvement of creative practice?
A key emphasis of this project has been on establishing the value of accessible, rich media content as a format for research, design thinking and public engagement.
The group is embedded in creative practice, and this is evident from the approach and outcomes of this project.
"There is a need to think about and provide content that is tangible, accessible and usable, and feeds inspiration and transformation in new ways – this attitude can be attributed in large parts to the presence of creative practice within the project." Avinash Kumar (written response to this survey)
Collaboration
What were the disciplinary contributors to the project? What model of research / development was followed? What were factors leading to success / problems?
The project is coordinated by the following design studios:
Quicksand Design Studio : Research, Photography, Website Design
CoDesign Studio : Graphic Design, Illustration, Print Collateral
BOX Design + Research : Brief Development, Project Management
Basic Love Of Things (B.L.O.T.) : Sound Recording and Design, Films
Research and development included travel to the various locations, documenting velocommerce in each location using photography, film, sound recording and conversations, then archiving this content for the website.
Values
What were the outcomes of the project? How were these disseminated to outside stakeholders? What models of value are implied by this project? What was the Impact of the work?
The two primary outcomes of this project were The blog www.velowala.org: A Rich Media Archive of velocommerce and An AV installation 'The Sounds of VeloCommerce' at John Thackara's Doors Of Perception exhibition, a part of the French Design Biennale November 2008.
Dissemination took place via presentations at the Design Beinnale at St. Etienne, the website and its promotion supported by sites such as www.core77.com, printed collateral: posters, postcards, studio presentations and portfolio presentations of the participating studios
"The outcomes of this project exist in what the participants describe as "the fuzzy front end of innovation" and apply equally well to urban planning as they do to microcommerce." It proposes using inspiring media content to engage debate, as opposed to conventional ways of communicating or proposing concrete resolutions to problems. Avinash Kumar (written response to this survey)
The impacts of this project include the "presentation an emerging paradigm in research process and presentation that has been seen as a useful education resource for academic institutions." Avinash Kumar (written response to this survey)
Links and Resources
www.velowala.org
