MA Interior Design Dr Anastasia Karandinou Programme Leader
Design of any scale responds to – and in parallel leads – cultural, political and social change. Our everyday living changes rapidly. Changing demographics and the emergence of new technologies shift the way in which we inhabit, use and share spaces. What is the role of design in the rapidly changing contemporary world? What is home in a future of densely populated city centres? What is the shop of the future – when e-commerce is changing the role and the experience of the high street? What is the office of the future when patterns and media of collaboration change? What is the library of the future? What is the school of the future – in times of an overload of information, and of numerous online resources and social networks? How can design activate what is important about physical proximity and interaction? How does contemporary design responds to the above issues? How can the historic context and typologies be studied and reactivated in new ways? Through our new MA programme in Interior Design we address the above questions in a rigorous, experimental and creative manner. We challenge the limits of the role of the designer and we explore how design pertains to different aspects of our everyday living. Political and cultural debates are re-articulated and expressed through a hands-on poetic and creative making approach. Hackney Pirates Live project – Interactive Theatre Stage set design: The UEL MA programme in Interior Design collaborated with the Hackney Pirates on this community-engaging
live project. Our MA students designed and built a realscale interactive stage-set; an imaginative immersive environment, which hosted the events organised by the Hackney Pirates in March 2019. The design project of the stage set, as well as the video art, was done by our MA Interior Design students, led by the programme leader, Dr Anastasia Karandinou. The sound design was done by Lalvin, UEL Sound Design student. The project was supported by UEL Civic Engagement team. Museum of London moving to Smithfield Market – Reinventing the Threshold between the museum and the city: Museums and cultural organisations are increasingly concerned with the issue of social inclusion. How is a museum of the 21st century addressing the broader public and not only a small specific part of the society? The vision of contemporary museums is to make sure that all citizens feel welcome, and that the museum exhibits, curation and relevant events and facilities are relevant to their everyday living. How does a museum become a vital part of the city life? In this context, the students redesigned the derelict Engine Building, situated next to the entrance of the new Museum of London (currently relocating to the Smithfield Market). The students redesigned the programme and form of the building; and this project was a medium for reinventing the threshold between the museum and the community. For further information please visit: www.uel.ac.uk/ postgraduate/courses/ma-interior-design or find us on Instagram at #UEL_MAinteriordesign.
