Design Charette 2007

The content for this intervention at the dining table was developed briefly in a design charette. In the Spring of 2007, we had a day long design charette. The entire Design department participated. We invited a local activist Herb Barbolet as a guest speaker and to deliver a project brief.

The theme was:
Design the modern dinner table.

Our group of 7/8 participants made a series of table cloths which displayed and encouraged social interactions; in terms of conversations at the dinner table. The content was generated in an arbitrary manner, appropriating themes and scenarios from the everyday social setting. We made 6/ 7 categories:

Friends: potluck
Family dinner
Business lunch
Dinner for 2
Eating alone

There were various prompts and topics to discuss/ talk printed on the table cloths in order to facilitate and help engage in conversations. Below are a couple layouts of the table cloths.

The family dinner:



The business lunch: