Climate Crisis Pavilion

To commemorate DoUC’s 10 year anniversary, we have organized an interview series highlighting past DoUC projects.

We wanted to take this milestone opportunity to revisit projects in a fun and reflective way, calling on the perspectives of both past and present DoUC team members. Shifting from objective and brief project descriptions, we revisited our work with a renewed intimacy. With more personality. We hope this series provides deeper insight and understanding to past projects. Or, is simply a fun read!

To help you navigate this series, we recommend first reading the project description for context. Then, you can explore the interview dialogue. Enjoy! 🙃

ℹ️ The Climate Crisis interview was conducted with Chris Pandolfi (CP), and Natasha Basacchi (NB).

What kinds of products did you carry in this storefront?

CP ⤳ We had cans of Tuna, Rubber Boots and T-shirts (argh) I can’t remember the slogan…something about capitalism. We also had a special edition umbrella that could detect the amount of acidity in the rain designed by Kar Yan Cheung.

NB ⤳ Rain boots… I can’t remember what else!

Why did you prioritize these products?

CP ⤳ I think we did this as way to represent how large mass-produced things would become valuable, unique, once their ability to become mass produced would no longer be available. Also asking the question…What really is valuable in a global meltdown?

Considering that many migrants are currently escaping a variety of crises, including the climate, do you still find these products to be relevant choices? What else would you include?

CP ⤳ No not at all. What I would include now is open borders and better access for people to be accepted through policy and societal change. The products that we showcased are in some way or another connected to the problem…

“I don’t think many people were expecting to see a booth constructed of tarp and ABS piping at a high end design show. […] To illustrate that the materiality of design is inherently political and to showcase the hypocrisy of good design. Expensive does not mean good and although many in the field would agree with this, it is still something designers do not want to admit.”

How was the installation received by the visitors at the IDS? Can you recall any interesting conversations you might’ve had?

CP ⤳ LOL – Looks of disbelief and heavy interest. I don’t think many people were expecting to see a booth constructed of tarp and ABS piping at a high end design show. I think that was the whole point. To illustrate that the materiality of design is inherently political and to showcase the hypocrisy of good design. Expensive does not mean good and although many in the field would agree with this, it is still something designers do not want to admit. 

NB ⤳ I honestly think some people were confused! It was quite a stark contrast to the other more traditional “design” objects that were in the same room. People were intrigued, but I don’t think they were expecting a statement like that. Unrelated to our installation, but I’ll never forget talking to someone about being at the beginning of my professional career and he gave me advice I’ll never forget. He said that there will never be a “sense of arrival” in your career as a creative, which I resonated with. It’s like as soon as you feel like you’ve “arrived” then you’re settling for status quo.

Let’s do some quick and fun design questions around these products. To begin, we’ll assume that the migrants have been provided with the most fundamental and necessary products to assist their journey (you are welcome to name something that exists, or come up with something completely new!). Now…

You have to include a product specifically designed to keep the young distracted during their journey, what would it be?

CP ⤳ A measuring wheel that can also draw

NB ⤳ Card or board games, crafts

You have to include a product specifically designed to bring the elderly a sense of nostalgia and centring during their journey, what would it be?

CP ⤳ A book of questions that they can ask themselves at moments of rest. Ex. Why have you lived the way you lived? Also include a small recorder (solar powered) where they can leave behind the answers to these questions for the next generation to ponder if there was an ability to rebuild.

NB ⤳ Photo album

You have to include a product specifically designed to keep a pregnant woman calm, what would it be?

CP ⤳ I feel like I am not qualified to design this product.

NB ⤳ Essential oils and guided meditations

You have to include a product specifically designed to help an individual with a cognitive (dis)ability better understand their current journey, what would it be?

CP ⤳ Breathing exercises and prompts for them to help them identify landmarks. Imagine a map of landmarks only. Nothing about directions. Things to look for as opposed to directions to get somewhere.

NB ⤳ Something to trace their steps along the way. For instance, I would collect mementos along the way to them and associate each step along the journey.

You have to include a product designed to strengthen group dynamics that could be used either during a tough event or during downtime to create those foundations— whether it’s a family or a bunch of strangers, what would it be?

CP ⤳ A product that would be able to start a fire everywhere and anywhere. Like a thing you could roll out and a fire would immediately start. People are dynamic, just give them something to gather around and they will figure out the rest.

NB ⤳ Tarot cards and an ephemeris.

“Vote for politicians to tax corporations that are the biggest emitters and profit from the collapse of society and the planet. It’s the most practical thing anybody can do with the most impact.”

What’s something that you do personally to reverse the climate crisis?

CP ⤳ Vote for politicians to tax corporations that are the biggest emitters and profit from the collapse of society and the planet. It’s the most practical thing anybody can do with the most impact.

NB ⤳ Take personal accountability for my impact on a daily basis.

“[We need] a shift from the mindset that the problem is ‘too large’ or so much bigger than us that it’s not worth even trying.”

What’s something you think we could all do to reverse the climate crisis?

CP ⤳ Vote for politicians to tax corporations that are the biggest emitters and profit from the collapse of society and the planet. It’s the most practical thing anybody can do with the most impact.

NB ⤳ A shift from the mindset that the problem is “too large” or so much bigger than us that it’s not worth even trying. To hold corporations and governments accountable and create policy to support the reversal.