Why do some places scare us, while others make us feel safe, or sad, or exhilarated? What stories lie hidden in graveyards, alleys, parks, nursing homes, casinos, shopping malls, abandoned buildings? What role can design play in shaping places – and how do stories fit into the picture? As designers and creators, how might we intervene to uncover or alter the story of a place?
This blog tracks explorations by RMIT Industrial Design students for the 2017 course “You Are Here - Exploring Stories of Place”. Drawing on psychogeography, storytelling, mapping, culture jamming, site photography, human geography, sensory experiments, field trips and urban interventions, we explored how stories are embedded in places, and delved into the hidden forces that bring places to life in the human imagination. Staging a series of DIY urban design interventions across Melbourne, we sought to prompt discussion and debate, highlight particular social issues, enhance the urban landscape, provoke surprise or delight, and question dominant narratives of place. We also had a shitload of fun. [Meg Mundell]