For Admission
DESIS Lab Presentation
• DESIS Lab at Emily Carr University
Emily Carr University
Faculty of Design and Dynamic Media
1399 Johnston ST. Vancouver BC, Canada, V6H 3R9
604-844-3800
• Coordinator/ Louise St. Pierre,
(604) 630-4579
lsp@ecuad.ca
• Operations manager: Helene Day Fraser
(604) 844-3800 loc 2906
hfraser @ecuad.ca
Background and objectives
Emily Carr University Faculty of Design and Dynamic Media has programs in Communication Design, Interaction Design, and Industrial Design. In 2006, the Design programs crafted a curriculum vision that addresses socially & sustainably responsible design grounded in cultural contexts outside of the campus. Social innovation and community engagement has been an integrated aspect of that transition.
Design at Emily Carr University builds on processes of experimentation and collaboration via participatory methods, scenario building, rapid mock-up and prototypes, experience prototypes, and multiple modes of engagement in design. Faculty research encompasses apps for social innovation, community engagement in design, artifacts as a locus for conversation and engagement, ethics and values, design activism, product-service-systems, and service design.
Faculty and researchers at Emily Carr University build understanding and awareness that social innovation is a valuable field of application for all of the design disciplines. They are also committed to dealing with the pressing need to transition to new sustainable ways of living. Faculty and researchers endeavor to develop further research in design for social innovation and sustainability entrepreneurship.
Primary research areas and Activities
Community-based enterprises, health care, neighborhoods, social services, cultural initiatives, small enterprises, Product-service systems, food, elder-care, cultural resources, craftsmanship, mobility, DIY.
Main partners include the Natural Sciences Engineering and Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Powertech Research Labs, Guard RFID, FP Innovations, Lululemon Athletica, Architecture For Humanity Vancouver, Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School, False Creek Elementary School, Village Vancouver Transition Network.
Curricular Innovation: Design faculty have developed an introductory lecture class that introduces students to an understanding of global environmental issues, the relationship to social equity, politics, and alternative economic systems. The Ecotank Undergraduate research studio deals with direct issues such as design of alternatives to purchased bottled water, reduction of toy consumption, reduction of power use, and transition to electric vehicles, and enabling food security in the local transition network. Other courses focus on Design for Social Change, and Design for Democracy.
The Design programs at Emily Carr University also collaborate across campus with other Faulties to support a minor in Social Practice and Community Engagement (SPACE).
List of projects and research
Made on Adanac; 2014-15 Maia Rowan (MDes 2016), student lead from Emily Carr, in collaboration with the Simon Fraser University Business School. This research project investigates the relationship between hyper-local and mass manufacture, focusing on the design for locally made sustainable products.
cloTHING(s) as conversation; 2014, Devloping prototypes for new clothing propositions, novel mechanisms for clothing construction, and systems for shared expression on the body. Helene Day Fraser and Keith Doyle. funding: SSHRC. http://www.clothingasconversation.com/
“Who is Social?” Emily Carr Philosophy talks. Social innovation that focuses exclusively on people-to-people overlooks the important relationships people need to build with nature. Student and faculty collaborations focus on finding ways to build reciprocal connections with the natural world. Louise St. Pierre, faculty lead, Lisa Boulton, student lead.
Local Futures; Engaging Citizens in Recycling. Partnership with Metro Vancouver, local government body. Student lead: Andreas Eiken (MDes 2015)
Material Matters; 2013, Funded by multiple industry partners. rapid prototyping, localizing manufacture, personalization and customization. Funding, NSERC. http://research.ecuad.ca/associatedprojects/projects/material-matters/
CorlamTM, 2013, Dematerializing plywood. Lightweight and free of toxins, this locally manufactured corrugated veneer plywood was developed by Emily Carr University faculty member Christian Blyt, http://www.corelam.com/
Okala Practitioner, 2014, funded by IBM, Autodesk, and the IDSA. This book is offers accessible strategies and resources for professional designers wanting to work in sustainability. Develped by Philip White, Louise St. Pierre, Steven Belletire, www.okala.net
People (faculty)
- Louise St. Pierre
- Helene Day Fraser
- Deborah Shackleton
- Bonne Zabolotney
- Chris Hethrington
- Craig Badke
People (student leaders)
- Maia Rowan
- Lisa Boulton
- Andreas Eiken