ON QUICKNESS & SLOWNESS
Can you feel it ? Acceleration all around ? We believe the discipline of Interior design is born out of the womb of this acceleration. We look at ‘Quickness’ as a disciplinary opportunity, much like Fashion or the Stock Market. By engaging meaningfully with Quickness we can engage various temporalities, of which we’ve identified at least 3 variant timelines, that we can meaningfully work with, and increasingly must work with. Ignoring these temporal frames is then a lost opportunity for quick iteration, and a lost testing ground.
Design is committed to Newness. There are no random occurrences. Much has been spoken about a cross-subsidy model, where the discipline of Interior design is used to subsidise much more ‘weighty’ Architectural inquiries. We believe this does great disservice to the discipline. Quickness and Slowness are a Universal condition for all disciplines, we are as similar or as different as any other. A Binary way of thinking about Quick and Slow is not constructive, a much more interesting understanding can be gained by considering them as part of the same inquiry, the same thought, at two different speed settings.
The Quick & The Slow Quickness values the Immediacy of the task at hand
Slowness values the Maturation of the process and it’s tools
Quickness Iterates by tangents and the quantity of Iteration is critical.
Slowness Iterates by variation, and the quality of Iteration is critical
Quickness defines styles as a work in progress, slightly unresolved and unfinished, always a fusion or a Mashup
Slowness defines styles by a coherent Summary, tight Synthesis, and Immaculate articulation.
Quickness is subjected to limited resources, time and money.
Slowness enjoys longer horizons, better allocation of funds and a Holistic approach
Quickness is sensitive to small changes in Technology, Aesthetic preferences, Patronage and Cultural climate.
Slowness has a longer span of inquiry, over longer iterations of Politics and Economics.
1 Project. 3 Timelines. 1. The degree to which rapid change is accepted in the Studio’s larger ideology, it’s internal manifesto and it’s worldview ( culture, lifestyle, technology, work culture, identity, craft, material and tectonics ) This allows a Studio to Integrate Temporal aspects into its fabric. 2A. The Process of Design engages with one subset of project time, depending on iterations and responsiveness, to be able to marry tangibles and intangibles to propose innovative and workable design solutions. This measures the Studio’s Temporal response in it’s Internal Climate. 2b. The Process of Construction deals with how the Studio externalises its solutions, and is able to execute solutions in the complex mix of the real world. This measures the Studio’s Temporal response in it’s External Climate. 3. The Life cycle of the project measures the Studio’s response to larger iterations, recurring questions and how invested they are and remain to pursuing the directions tossed up by the Project, and it’s ability to sustain ethical, value-based, longer inquiries as a recurrence within the practise. This measures the Studio’s Temporal response to the Outside World.
Mapping Time The Anatomy of a Studio
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES
THE LIFE OF A STUDIO Consider the Chronology of a Studio’s projects. Mapping these against time shows the random nature of inquiries, influences, aesthetic pursuits, variances in budget, impact and interest-levels. This mapping allows a studio to Introspect, and watch the changing patterns of its own involvement with the larger forces that influence it. This map also reflects developments in other disciplines, collaborations and cultural movements, both controlled and uncontrolled.
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES THE LIFE OF A STUDIO The larger Ideological inquiries that the Studio tends to pursue from time to time, housed in interests and passions, ranging from Craft and Making, to Labour intensive processes, to Tectonics and Material developments form an over-riding narrative that weave in and out of projects in a porous fashion. Some Projects may spike an interest in a larger narrative that then remains on as a temporal relic in the Studio’s mind-space, only to find expression at a later juncture through a Slower project.
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES THE LIFE OF A STUDIO The increasing efficiency of the Studio’s Temporal responses start showing up in this graph. As the Studio gets more conversant with the Ideological positions it is following and exploring, these inevitably start featuring more often in projects, and this starts bringing the studio closer to its larger Ideological position. Projects are more meaningful, and executed better, with more resonance. This presupposes that a Studio is able to now keep constant track of developments in the Craft, Labour, Material and Tectonic domain of it’s practise.
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW PROJECT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPLORATION
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES THE LIFE OF A STUDIO One here starts seeing the internal reflection of Project specific iteration, between the twin trajectories of Professional work and Larger Studio Ideology. Every project creates new questions that are reflected off the ideological thought framework, and form part of the next iteration. Every Feedback frames the next Exploration. The ever-tightening feedback and exploration loops allow a Studio to be more consistent, and eventually, more relevant.
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW PROJECT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPLORATION
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES
TIGHTER LOOP BETWEEN WORK AND IDEOLOGY THE LIFE OF A STUDIO
Exploring tighter loops between Work and Ideology, the Studio’s practice oscillates with a higher frequency, and is able to put out it’s thoughts and practices in a more cohesive fashion. Magical alignments occur at this stage, since the external world is now able to clearly identify what the Studio’s work and ethos mean. Resonance occurs in form of collaborations and partnerships, all following a path of mutual gain, with like minded partners, corporations, patrons and also natural events.
INCUBATION WORK TIMELINE : IDEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT / INVIGORATION
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW PROJECT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPLORATION
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES
TIGHTER LOOP BETWEEN WORK AND IDEOLOGY THE LIFE OF A STUDIO
At this stage, Studios are able to clearly map out an Incubation-based work timeline. This allows for a certain clarity of Ideological position, based on selfassessment, and clarity of purpose. This sometimes comes on the back of catharsis, where studios shift direction or get super-specialised into a new area of work, allowing them to be more meaningful internally. The timelines flatten out, since this phase gets insulated from Market forces, and one is able to chart a longer inquiry on a longer horizon.
INCUBATION WORK TIMELINE : IDEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT / INVIGORATION QUICKER ASSESSMENTS QUICKER TURNAROUND TIMES FEEDBACK LOOPS ARE HEIGHTENED
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW PROJECT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPLORATION
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES
TIGHTER LOOP BETWEEN WORK AND IDEOLOGY THE LIFE OF A STUDIO
Another round of acceleration occurs once resonances begin between the incubated work and the market forces of Craft, Labour and Tectonics. This results in quicker assessments, much faster turnaround times, and a general acceleration of all Studio activities. The studio is able to externalise faster than ever before, and manifest it’s intangibles in a faster, more meaningful way.
INCUBATION WORK TIMELINE : IDEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT / INVIGORATION QUICKER ASSESSMENTS QUICKER TURNAROUND TIMES FEEDBACK LOOPS ARE HEIGHTENED
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW PROJECT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPLORATION
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES
TIGHTER LOOP BETWEEN WORK AND IDEOLOGY THE LIFE OF A STUDIO
Within this continuously responsive, seemingly chaotic atmosphere, the Studio is now able to navigate efficiently, selecting it’s approach more relevantly, and being continually responsive to it’s internal, external, tangible and intangible environments. Projects tend to reach a sense of ideological completeness, and a level of internal satisfaction and clarity for the Studio.
INCUBATION WORK TIMELINE : IDEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT / INVIGORATION QUICKER ASSESSMENTS QUICKER TURNAROUND TIMES FEEDBACK LOOPS ARE HEIGHTENED
CRAFT, LABOUR, IDENTITY, TECTONICS, MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT / IDEOLOGIES / VALUES / WORLDVIEW PROJECT SPECIFIC FEEDBACK
PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPLORATION
PROFESSIONAL WORK TIMELINES
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT INQUIRIES
TIGHTER LOOP BETWEEN WORK AND IDEOLOGY THE LIFE OF A STUDIO
It is then towards the twilight of the Life of a Studio when certain macro patterns become visible, and there is the luxury of retrospect. This is when the Studio is able to look back at the life it lived, and the resonance it caused and enjoyed, to be able to assess it for the last time. At this stage of synthesis, the Studio’s eyes shut.
Interior Design should be a training in dealing with varying timelines of a project; to engage with them at will, and not necessarily based on the inherent logic of a project.
There is little or no relation between each timeline of a project whether default or assigned. Quickness and Slowness are speed settings relevant to any ideological position, for any life cycle of project, and for any kind of design and construction process.
Quickness encourages Over-production and Redundancy which create tighter feedback loops and inform the practice at various levels
Although being private spaces of consumption, Interiors are also spaces of nurture, familiarity, safety, preservation, and incubation. They have as much potential as public space to affect societal change.