Study Journal
I CHIEN FENG KISD WS 18/19
Understanding Cologne The Visual Rhetorik of the City long term projects
A long term project with Prof. Andreas Wrede. The city can be understood not only as a specific consolidation of infrastructures and buildings, of trading and services, but also as a visual discourse eld. Controversial opinions, competing ideologies and diverse identity constructions can be identified and analyzed as visual rhetoric. Using the example of the city of Cologne, we want to discover, deconstruct and visualize such rhetoric as well as codes of the formal and informal city processes.
Process COLOGNE TRANPORTATION ASPECT Starting from the structure of Cologne urban planning, our team is interested in how those zones are connected into a whole. This makes us think of the public transportation system. Apart from the private vehicles, U-bahn, S-bahn and bus are the most common transportation in the city (despite its delay everyday). But at the same time, rides are also easily found. It is impressive as we seldom see bicycle rental stations although there are lot of cycling people. Thinking of the relationships between the small rides and giant transportations. We found them complementary to each other. We therefore studied and map out those transportations and relevant sites.
bus stop
ubahn
ford pass bikes
private bike rental
MAPPING SPACES OF TRANSPORTATION After collecting the data about the Cologne urban planning and the landuse setting in which the transportation system acts as the connection, we tried to present it in an image through different visual elements. Using different lines and patterns, we intend to show the phenomenon of the cologne transportation network concentrating at the city centre and extending to the suburb concentrically with the reducing intervals. However, we found it is not effective enough to present the whole transportation system with its complexity. Apart from the horizontal spatial factors, it is also because of the variations among time, environment and people. We then tried to study about the relationship between time and the mobility of transport. And it is an interesting issue that the KVB in Cologne is a controversial topic that we experience everyday.
TIME & SPACES OF TRANSPORTATION Looking into the structure of Cologne transportation network constructed by the trams, inter-city train and the bus, we found the importance of time in this cycle. It is a point for comparing these different transportation among their speed, capacity and the effectiveness, and also results in the transition from giant public transport to the individual bike usage. It is very special to me that Cologne is a cycling city in which bikes and riders are commonly found.We then studied the time and duration between each u-bahn or tram station. Despite the strong KVB/VRS network among the city, there are still many places cannot reach the point with transportation, especially the regional site and suburb. In our mind, it will be better if we can link up those points and extend the whole network with a tighter connection. Therefore, we record the departure times and duration of the trains and trams for each station. From our mapping, we found that the most effective section of transports concentrates at the city centre in which at least 6 lines are connected. It reduces time changing lines so the passengers can reach the destination directly. However, due to the radiographical structure of cologne transportation network, the zone outside the innerstadt are not connected as tight as those in the city centre,When the passengers plan to go to Frechen from Weiden west, cycling will be double faster than taking the trams that tram changes are needed. We are investigating the spaces and time among these two transportation and to map out their relationship in order to have an overview for the whole mobility network in Cologne.
Merkenich Merkenich Mitte Köln-Chorweiler
Schlebusch
Fordwerke Nord
Niehl Fordwerke Mitte Heimersdorf
10 9
Longerich Str.
Dünnwald Odenthaler Str.
10
Niehl Fordwerke Süd
Longerich Herforder Str.
Longerich Friedhof
IKEA Am Butzweilerhof
Niehl Sebastianstr.
Wilhelm-Sollmann-Str.
8
Scheibenstr.
Bocklemünd
Wollfsohnstrasse
Weiden Zentrum
Rheinenergie Eupener Str. Stadion
Mohnweg
Maarweg
Siedlung
Körnerstr.
Ehrenfeld Piusstr.
Dellbrück Mauspfada Dellbrück Thielenbruch 11
7
Christophstr./Mediapark Friesenplatz
Köln West
Neufelder Str.
Buchheim Frankfurter Str.
Gutenbergstr.
DOM Hbf
OskarJäger Str./Gürtel Universitätsstr.
Stegerwaldsiedlung
Deutz Technische Hochschule
Köln Messe/Deutz
Rathaus
Dellbrück Hauptstr.
Buchforst Waldecker Straße
Breslauer Platz / Hbf
Appellhofplatz
Weinsbergstr./Gürtel
Weiden West
7
Herler Straße
Hansaring
Ehrenfeld Station
Leyendeckerstr. Venloer Straße Gürtel
Wichheimer Str. Grünstr.
Reichenspergerplatz
Ebertplatz Liebigstr.
17
5
Riehl Boltensternstr. BF Mulheim Zoo Flora
Subbelrather Str./Gürtel
Äußere Kanalstr.
7
Wiener Platz
Kinderkrankenhaus
Geldernstr./Parkgürtel Bilderstöckchen Escher Str.
Nußbaumerstr.
4
Bickendorf Akazienweg
Köln, Riehl Slabystr.
Nippes Lohsestr.
Lenauplatz
5
Keupstraße
Amsterdamer Str./Gürtel
Nippes Florastr.
Iltisstraße
Schaffrathsgasse Vogelsang Westfriedhof
Niehl Nesselrodestr.
Mollwitzstr.
Köln, Nippes Neusser Str./Gürtel
8
5
Mülheim Berliner Str. Von-Sparr-Str.
Rektor-Klein-Str. Ossendorf Margaretastr.
Bocklemünd Ollenhauerring
Im Weidenbruch
Niehl
Meerfeldstr. Altonaer Platz
Alter Flughafen Butzweilerhof
Görlinger-Zentrum
Am Emberg
Niehl Geestemünder Str
10
Sparkasse Am Butzweilerhof
Leuchterstr
Höhenberg Höhenberg Fuldaer Frankfurter Straße Str.
Deutz Koelnmesse
Weiden Bahnstr.
Junkersdorf
Alter Militärring Clarenbachstift
Aachener Str./Gürtel Melaten
Moltkestraße 4
5
Wüllnerstr.
3
13
Zülpicher Platz
10
Kartauserhof
Barbarossaplatz
3
Lindenthal Brahmsstr
Stüttgenhof
Haus Vorst
Lindenburg 6
Köln, Sülz Zülpicher Str./Gürtel
3
Eifelwall
Eifelstr
Sülz Arnulfstr.
Bonner Wall
Frechen Rathaus
Poll Baumschulenweg
Schönhauser Straße
Westhoven Kölner Str.
Marienburg Bayenthalgürtel
Herthastaße Hermeskeiler Platz
Porzer Rath Str. Heumar
5
Pohligstr
Klettenberg Sülzburgstr.
Sülz Mommsenstr.
SeverinsbrüSteinwegcke Röttgensweg
15
Raiffeisenstr.
Ubierring
4
Heinrich-Lübke-Ufer
Sülzgürtel Gottesweg
Berliner Str.
Rodenkirchen Bf
11
Gilgaustr.
Siegstr.
Klettenbergpark Mühlengasse, Frechen
11
Salmstr.
Weisshauss- Eifelplatz trasse 4
Chlodwigplatz
Ulrepforte
6
Frechen-Benzelrath
Ostheim Autobahn
10
2
Weyertal
Marsdorf
Suevenstr.
Frechen Kirche Frechen Bf
Kloster
13
Zollstockgürtel
Rodenkirchen Michaelshoven
Porz Steinstr
Zollstock Südfriedhof
Efferen
Sürth Bf Kiebitzweg, Hürth
Porz Markt
Zündorf Rosenhügel
Hürth Hermülheim Godorf
Hürth, Fischenich
Wesseling Nord Vochem Brühl-Vochem Wesseling Brühl Nord Brühl Süd Wesseling Süd Badorf Urfeld Schwadorf Walberborg
Merten
Waldorf
Dersdorf
Brück Flehbachstr.
Ostheim
8
Deutz Drehbrücke Poller Kirchweg
Kalker Merheim 10 Friedhof
Vingst
Bf Deutz /Kölnarena
Severinsbrücke Severinstr
8
6
6
Deutzer Freiheit
Poststr.
Mauritiuskirche
9
DasselGleueler str./Bf Süd Str./Gürtel Sülz Universität
Dürener Str./Gürtel
Neumarkt Heumarkt
Rudolfplatz
4 8
Brück Mauspfad
Refrath
Frankenforst
Kölner Str.
Bensberg
5
Kalk Kapelle Weiden Schulstr.
10
Zündorf
Königsforst
Refrath Lustheide
Frankenforst Kippekausen
Lückerath Neuenweg
Bensberg Im Hoppenkamp
INFO GRAPHICS FOR MAPPING TIME & SPACES In order to depict the time-spatial relationship among the different transportations clearly, we have different tests for using various types of graphic elements and effects in order to visualize our studies. The different length and thickness of lines imply the time intervals between each transportation unit. In order to protrude the time-spatial relationship, we tried to use simple forms of point and color for the transportation units so that the time intervals stand out more effectively. However, we are still thinking of the whole layout which presents the complete Cologne transportation network in a clear and obvious way which is able to show the factor of time.
MAPPING THE SPEED Due to the time of different transportation that takes, the city shrinks and extends. We can see the city in a different way in an elastic concept. No longer the distance, but the time. Our outcome presents the space of Cologne in terms of time. Unlike the traditional map with the focus of physical dimension of space, we tend to present the space through the measurement of time with different mobility within the city. Various speed and travelling time are resulted due to the different transportation. Therefore an obvious contrast can be found in the mapping scale. It presents the city in a flexible way in which the time units are the main informations for the audiences.
LEGEND Public Transportation AutoBahn Federal Highways Foot passengers
Reflection It’s actually my first time started such a big topic. It’s a challenge that we had to define cologne, a city in our own perspective. We learned a lot during the whole process. In every course, Prof. Andreas Wrede gave us some suggestions and even ideas. We spent a lot of time confirming the topic, and a lot of time figuring out our directions. Through our mappings, Cologne changes into different shapes when we change the distance into times. Teamed up with Conny from Hong Kong was really a special idea. Conny studied architecture and I studied industrial design at my university, we found out accidentally that we both were interested in public transportation. That makes a really cool cooperation. It’s really interesting when we were having discussion.
Participatory Design Clinic workshop project
A one week workshop with Prof. Diego Alatorre/ UNAM (Mexico) During a week long project we explored design as a means to interact with others. Based on an experimental framwork, we chose an intentionto elicit, defined a hypothesis, built an artifact and tested it.
Process The topic of our group was fellowship, social. Based on the word, conviviality. We started of thinking that eating is a activity that brings people together. Then we came up ideas as lazy susan and started to think if it’s possible to make people have more interaction while they’re having foods. We decided to focus our target on the people who might know each others but never had a real conversation, such as places like companies or schools. We discussed about shapes of the tables, such as western’s rectangle, eastern’s circle table. Then took the hypothesis that the shape of the table would facilitate conversation between people who wouldnt usually talk by breaking up groups who might approach the table together. We even discussed of which type of food and which time we should provide them. Then we started our experiment on Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday Breakfast Our Wednesday Breakfast our first test, where we wanted to test the theory. We had some people stop and talk at the table, and often some conversations started. The most interesting development was when ‘triangles’ formed - two people in a conversation would draw someone on the opposite side of the table into their group because of their proximity.
Walking path Correct
Incorrect
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People Peoplestopping stopping Stopped
Didn’t stop
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People Talking Lorem ipsum Talked
Didn’t talk
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Time spent Long
Medium
Short
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Food eaten Biscuits
Muesli
Juice
Bread
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Room 12
Wednesday Lunch Lunch on Wednesday was less successful. There wasn’t enough food to draw people in, and there are better lunch options such as the Mensa. There were people even sit down in our tables. Having lunch might not be the best choice, because people might want to sit down with their friends, have a long talk or they might had plans. A lot of people also don’t eat breakfast, so providing it at KISD was better. The people who did come to the table stayed longer, though, which could have been due to the new shape. This was also more obstructive so we got more passing interest, though people didn’t stop. We did felt that the people who did stop stayed for longer, which may be because of the configuration. Walking path Window
Pole
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People talking |||| | Triangles formed |||| Time spent Long
Medium
Short
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Food eaten Biscuits
Juice
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Bread |||| |||| |||
Room 12
Thursday Breakfast We used the ‘S-shaped’ table again, but positioned it so that it was more obtrusive. After having it from the day before, people were more confident to approach the table and take food from it, and it helped that the experiment could be a conversation starter. We had more groups approach the table, which took longer to break up, but when the table became more crowded the groups began to mix.
Walking path Window
Pole
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People talking |||| |||| |||| Triangles formed |||| ||| Time spent Long
Medium
Short
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Food eaten Biscuits
Muesli
Juice
Bread
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Room 12
Results On the friday presentation day, we presented it in the s shape. Having the presentation in the hallway made a little diference than before. We actually put the s table in a quit straight angle, not tilted. Because the hallway already narrow down the place, with putting in the tables, two ways showed up naturally. After introduced our project, we then provide our work. Letting people having conversation around our table. Offering the food such as biscuits, bread with cream, jam, letting people make their own snack. People gathered around when they’re having the same food, and it started to show up several triangles. Since this is actually the forth time we provide like this, some people ingaged in and started their food right away.
Reflection This week was totally a new experience for me. We took most of the efforts on testing, not model making as I usually had in Taiwan. It’s really nice that I could teamed up with Alyssa and Federico. I’m glad that all of our members are open-minded, and we started to brain-storming right away. Prof. Diego Alatorre even asked us to slow down. Stepping one step back let us have chances to clear everything up. Define carefully the real issue we’re going to take. It was a nice way to explore. We made the our table with small square tables and cardboard. It’s my first time being allowed to make such a draft prototype. So at first, I didn’t expect that we could made our prototype like this, but I think this is the way that I was looking forward to experiencing. And it actually worked nice in every test! The only part that didn’t come up that nice on the final presentation was probably the place and the time. Due to original space was being booked, the hallway was kind of too narrow to provide a space that people can stop and walik through. So people who were having conversation had chances to be interrupted. And the time was too late for breakfast that some people left right away cause they’re going to have their lunch in stead. But it definitely didn’t change the fact that it was a nice workshop week!
Desktop Video for International Students technical seminars It’s a seminar of learning After Effects and a little bit of Premiere with teacher Stefan Terlinden.
Process Started from almost knowing nothing about After Effects. On the first meeting, we learned how to make more effects for the words. Step by step, we learned how to create a 3D space. We started to make an object then trying to put in a exist 3D video. For example, we tried to put an airplane we drew into a video of desert. We then have to deal with the direction, angle even the speed to let the whole video make sense. We also exercise on several short films, we were shown the well known Chroma Key, and tried to remove the backgrounds. Adding words with shadow in a moving film, we had to recreate a light spot same as the spot in the film originally. Learning hoe to place a short film into a video. For example, replacing the video on a big screen. And we also tried to use the detecting system to target the directions and then place words in it, let the words looked like a part of the video while the camera was changing perspective all the time. We also got a short introdution about Premiere, and learned some useful tips when we want to cut videos.
Reflection I’m glad that I chose this course in the beginning, because I was a little bit confused about learning after effects in English then. I ended up choosing the seminar. It’s really a good opportunity, because we don’t have a course teaches us this software detaily as KISD does. Editing videos is a needed skill though I studied industrial design in my home university. I have known more about what effects that After Effects can do it, it really suprised me a lot. I not only learned a lot, but also knew it more! And actually, teacher Stefan Terlinden was definitely one of the nicest and most patient teacher I’ve ever met. Sometime I would just got lost in the steps, it’s actually the first time I felt comfortable to ask again in the class. And that’s probably the main reason that I have learned a lot in this seminar and really enjoyed it.
Results
KISDtalk “Open Structures. Thinking inside the box.” Thomas Lommée 27.11.2018
OpenStructures is about creating an environment, an open design culture using it’s own language with its own alphabet, words… Then creating it’s own dialogue. It’s a concept based on modular construction. They started to design a shared geometrical grid through several times of tests and works. They discovered, measured, and defined, trying to base on the things which are already existed. Modular construction is actually not a new concept for me since I studied industrial design in my home university. We were asked to do this kind of practice before, one of our classmate even used modular construction on most of his design. So it kind of surprised me knowing someone is putting some effort into doing the work. There are three parts about OS, as ecological, social and economical. It’s about reusing, collaborating, and redistributing the value. When something broken, not throwing them away they then but trying to find out where it can be used. And they let every object and everyone has chance to get together. I’m really appreciate the whole ideal behind OpenStructures. They are designers who actually do care about and even think more about our environment, community. Having the chance to listen to Thomas Lommée sharing all of it actually makes me excited. He let me feel the passion, and his heart about OS. I really felt connected during his speech. There’s a second hand shop idea in the big concept, actually I finally have visited the first proper second hand shop after I arrived Germany in my life. There’s no really a proper shop for second hand stuffs in Taiwan, they often show up as a pop up store or event. The second hand cloths people bought in Taiwan are from some celebrities or KOL. So it’s really nice that they found the issue and tried to solve it by exploring things through their daily life. All objects are designed by different designers. Thomas Lommée showed us some photos about them making their own object. An intern even designed only a object during his whole internship, I know it may sounds weird to some of the people since the object was small. But to me, product detail is definitely one the most important parts. Through times making product model IA good design doesn’t need complex design. Good details really make a better design not only on manufacturing but also appearance. So, OS starts their designs on modular construction makes sense to me. After the talk, I shared it to a product designer and showed her the website. I want to know what will a designer, who works in the design industry. After discussion, it’s a good concept but it has several difference (I won’t say it as a problem) comparing with the product nowadays. Sometimes a perfect product does need a perfect component just for it for better function or looking. Pieces designed from different designer may came out with something didn’t look that balance. But to me, OS is about creating a new system. Why not give it a try and make a better design environment? I think there will definitely be obstacles when it gets into the market, but the purpose is never earning a lot of money, is to make a better design system based on a new perspective.
Semester Report winter semester 18/19
My start at KISD It’s my first time to abroad by myself and leave my family. I knew it’s the time that I should challenge myself and leave my comfort zone. And I wanted to explore the world more. It’s so nice that it’s an international school, so I have no problem communicating with others. My start at KISD was so lovely, because I got helps from different people.
Me as an Integrated Designer I have learned different design thinking and perspective from professors, teachers, other students. Due to the variety types of design, it’s the first time that I could actually chose the courses I was interested in. We even have difference between the time that the course takes, short term, medium term and long term. I started to find my own pace of design, I no longer do design in a rush like what I did in my home university. I actually got better experience on living. Being an integrated designer let me experience more, more about different design perspective and more details of my daily life.
Those weird Germans The first thing that surprised me was that stores and markets usually don’t open on Sunday. Then I found out that it’s because that they think people should rest. That’s really a different concept from Taiwan. Comparing the public transportation, it’s really less convenient than Taiwan. And it gets a lot of chance to have some problems. At first, I couldn’t get used to it. But seeing all the Germans accepted the accidents and waited it patiently, I started to adjust myself. I slowed down my pace, and got more chances to look around the lovely places. I also learned that some of the Germans are interested in Chinese Words, some of them told me that he loved Taiwan when he visited Taiwan before, and some of them even ask me about considering exchange to Taiwan, my home university. I think there are really a big amount of people in Taiwan who admire Europe a lot, even dreaming of living here. And even me, got a lot of imagination before I have come here. But after having daily life here, I started to appreciate things in Taiwan. With some classmates and teachers’ curiosity of Taiwan, I started to see Taiwan in a different perspective. I think I have never looked Taiwan in such a nice way. I think the main point is that it’s important to travel around, it let me have chance to know my home in different perspective. Thanks to the weird Germans, they let me have chance to define my own identity again, in a nicer way.
Me & KISD I’m really thankful for the unforgettable semester at KISD. I got the chance to discover myself in a total different culture. I was looking forward to learning more about the process before model making in KISD. I even had a course called Working with Design Concept. Taking through all the courses, I found out the thinking part was actually taken much more time than I expected since I see myself as a designer who think more than others in my home university. We thought of the outcomes much less in KISD, but tried to develop as much as we could in the process. It really took me a lot to adapt it but actually the thing that I appreciate most. I’m also thankful for all the professors and tutors I met in KISD. Because they always got patient when I got questions and really cared about us. They gave me suggestion, direction, in stead of telling me if I suppose to do it or not. I found out that some of the freshman had some working experience or internship before, and the average of age is older than Taiwan. Due to the fact, it shows how different between our thoughts. Because in Taiwan, people usually think that we should finish our studies as soon as possible. It’s nice to work with people who had different experience and knowledge. But one thing I have to say is that, there are still freshman student who entered KISD without any skill or experience. Then there will be a big gap between us and make our work harder. But I tend to take crisis into chances, I got the chances to know how would someone thinks before having any design knowledge. There are many opportunities, such as events, courses, working group that I had chances to meet other international students even regular students. There are students from different places of the earth, even the locals have stories about their immigration stories, such as moving from Russia, Turkey, America… I worked at Gute Stube as the working group. Actually I don’t drink any coffee at all, but this type of AG I have never had any chance to attach. Not only did I learn making coffee, but also meet many friends there. Having conversation with others from different places of the world was a lovely experience, I got chances to know their cultures, stories. I got chances to know other members and to meet people who were ordering. I even met someone who was having his master in my home university but decided to come to KISD after his exchange. And we got a really nice Christmas party, having nice meals together, and the coolest gift exchange activity I have ever experienced. The present I prepared was really popular, and seeing the joy of others made me happy as well. And it’s really nice that we have different courses and projects in KISD, since we’re studying integrated design we got chances to know new people in every course. I even had chance to know someone more in the last month of the semester. I’m so appreciate that I made a lot of friends here. I know that I will definitely meet them again one day when I travel around or when they visit Taiwan. I truly hope that I could stay longer here, I even asked myself why didn’t I exchange to different places every semester. For me, this exchange journey not only broaden my horizons, but finding and explore more of myself.
Vielen Dank