Workshop: Redesign your door
as a access port, barrier and representation of yourself
class: 9-12 Swiss gymnasium project week, half-day class series or summer workshop. Workshop duration: 5 x 6 hours
topics: usability and ergonomics of handgrips, design process in cycles, hand and digital rapid prototyping, presentation media.
materials: The new door design will be made on 12 mm paint ready Mdf. board to fit the bedroom door of the student. Suggested materials include, paper, printed canvas or photo prints, 3 mm felt. wood framing profiles, papermache (Kleister), found objects and iconography. Special materials or technologies are not supplied by the school are the responsibility of the student to find and purchase.
Karim Hadid
The task is to re- make the entrance/exit of a private room.
Each participant will photograph and map how they use their door. A video of how one comes to the door, knocks and hears an answer, ceases the grip and opens and moves around or past the door. A sketch of where the door is in the room and in relation to the other students will be made and displayed so the group can discuss the parameters<: public private, access to sacred space, shared space and media and people who undesirably move into ones private space. Space, time tables, relationships in family and house will be considered and several sketches about what the user want to make new in their door. We will discuss the concept of each student and then move on to 1: 1 development. and Prototype
The final door will be exhibited as a show. The resulting door should still work when you get done.
a little context
A door is a connector between the two spaces, people, lifestyles. Usually a door is without character, naked, banal with only one function and no uniqueness. Only the front door of the house is considered representative. Teenagers sometimes like to do a door make-over and show who lives there. I choose the 16 year old because they are dealing with these issues.
So let’s try to figure out a door.
What does it do, who uses it, why does it function well or maybe not,
what does it look like, what materials and finish does it have?
does it work on all levels, is it an experience?
how do you move when you open it, close it, slam it or listen through it?
could you live without it? If it were glass, soft plastic, too heavy or too light.
if it were too big or too small and didn’t fit the opening how would that be?
maybe you replace it with a curtain so you don’t have to close it anymore
or maybe an old cheep accordion or self-closing swing glass door.
each material, surface finish or image must be considered and fitting not just
to close the space and add some sound insulation but to complete the user experience
Closet doors from Karim Rahid play with 3D from 2D profile sequence.
Connectors 