For the LOLA shows, I really enjoyed the Sky Factory by Sarah, the Pocket Parks by Mallory, and Melissa’s bark wallcoverings. All three of these were on the same topic as my presentation, interface carpet, with biophilic design. The Sky Factory was very interesting because the creators of the project put so much time and effort into the product with things like going to different locations to record hours at a time of time lapse to get motion pictures for the faux windows, as well as paying attention to the local surroundings of where the sky factory windows are being implemented to make the weather, season, and scenery to make it more realistic. With the Pocket Parks, I was so interested in the simplicity of the idea, but how profound the impact of these tiny parks is. For example, in the NYC location, it not only gets people out of the urban surroundings, but also encourages people to get out, be in touch with nature, and encourages exercise to get to the locations. Finally, with the repurposed bark for wallcoverings, I thought it was such an awesome idea that the company had to take the remaining bark after wood is in production for other uses and makes it into both interior and exterior wallcoverings, not only creating biophilia by bringing in real nature to residential homes but also closes the gap in the cradle to cradle and lessens the amount of waste that is created in wood production. From all of these presentations, not only did I learn the importance of bringing nature into our interior spaces in order to bring up our well-being and fulfill that need that we all have as humans, but also the importance of closing the gap of waste in production of materials.

According to the article, the MaxNeef matrix “provides a view of human needs and motivations that helps us reflect deeply on the industry, design practice, and ourselves… [it is used] to help identify their wealths and poverties and then to work on how these may be best maximized and minimized respectfully” (132). I think one of the coolest things about this matrix is its ability to define the qualities of each need, and also how to implement the needs expressed by all sorts of people. It is also very interesting that this matrix can literally be applied to any industry in our culture, which can of course be very useful in profits, but also in consumer happiness. As for the being, having, and doing process, being is defined as qualities of the need, so for example, for protection the qualities would be care, adaptability, and autonomy. Having is defined as the actual things of the need, so yet again for protection, the things that could be used to implement help for the needs would be social security, health systems, and work for money peace of mind. Finally, the doing is the actions that can be taken to actually put help for the needs into action. For the example of protection, it would be to cooperate with local law enforcement, plan, take care of, and help others who need the protection.

A project that I am actually currently working on that could really use the help of the matrix would be my studio project, an adult daycare for the Stillwater community. For this, we are converting a space in the downtown area to be fully functional to meet general codes but also to be accessible for all types of disabilities, ranging from wheelchairs to mental disabilities like dementia. This project has been really moving and eye opening because I am beginning to realize how much goes into an interior space that really needs to happen in order to make a space safe and comforting for older people, in order to make them enjoy their time and long-term have a better quality of life there while away from their caregivers.