UCLA Department of Design | Media Arts Desma 10 – Design Culture Professor Huhtamo Fall Quarter 2010 FINAL ASSIGNMENT: TIME CAPSULE Your task is to design a time capsule to preserve the most significant achievements of design culture. Consider yourselves the top design historians of our time, hand-selected by Professor Huhtamo in order to choose design objects worthy of preserving for future civilizations. This is a challenging job that requires multiple perspectives and skill sets, and is best achieved in collaboration with others; therefore we ask you to form groups of three (3) to five (5) members in order to complete this assignment. COMPONENTS: 1. The time capsule Option A: Create a three-dimensional model of the capsule (maximum size: one cubic foot, 12” x 12” x 12”). or Option B: Create a two-dimensional representation of the capsule using original drawings and diagrams. 2. The contents of the time capsule Curate a small selection of design objects that represent the most significant achievements of design history thus far. Compose your selections carefully. Include seven (7) items that fall into the following categories: 1. a design related to how/what we eat or how food is produced 2. a design solely used for entertainment/ornamentation (not for function) 3. an object designed to keep humans/animals safe 4. an object that combines lightness and heaviness 5. a performance enhancing design 6. a design that your grandparents already used and that is still in use 7. a disposable design 3. A text with the following elements (not necessarily in this order): a. Group name: name your all-star design historians’ group. b. Time capsule name: name it and explain the meaning of the name. c. Location of deposit: explain why you will put your time capsule where. Be specific. Will it be above ground? Urban environment? Middle of nowhere? How will it be left undisturbed until it is time to open it? d. Timeframe: explain when your time capsule is meant to be unearthed and why. How will you control this? d. Identification system: explain how humans or extraterrestrials will be able to locate and identify your time capsule. Hint: Use design semiotics as a guide.e. Design principles: describe and explain the contents of your time capsule and any overarching theme that you have developed. Make a case for why each object deserves to be placed in the time capsule over any other object. Each object should be unique in terms of its important achievement within the history of design. How does each object differ from one another in terms of its innovative qualities? What are its historical precedents? How did it affect mass culture? Did it solve any problems? Did it make life easier? Is it timeless? Internationally successful? Specific to one culture? ******** WHAT YOU NEED TO DELIVER: - One text per group; a. 1,500 to 3,000 words b. Cite your sources and include a bibliography. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. c. Typed and college-level English d. Must be delivered in a folder e. Folder cover must include title, group name, names/student IDs - One model/representation of time capsule per group. If you chose option 1B, the capsule design may be included in the folder with the text. ********* LOGISTICS AND HINTS: 1. Choose your partners wisely. The design process is a collaborative effort—work with people of different skill sets. Register your group by Meeting 7 (Nov 5) by posting your groups on the class blog under Final Project groups. If one finds him/herself without a group, look for groups with less than 5 members. You may be able to email them through myucla. Alternatively, contact your TA if you would like to join a group but cannot contact them. Please re-post the group with the additional member(s) after you’ve made contact with your group. 2. Research time capsules for past precedents. 3. Reminder: the history of design goes back quite far. Consider choosing items from different time periods and different categories. The contents should reflect the development of design, not only contemporary examples. 4. Hand in the final assignment on Friday, December 3 (Meeting 10). There will be no exceptions or extensions. You will be informed by e-mail after the winter break as to where and when the projects will be returned. Until then we will keep them in a safe