WHAT MADE ME was designed by Dorota Grabkowska and Kuba Kolec for the Birmingham Made Me Design Expo (15-22 June 2012) at the Mailbox, Birmingham. Commissioned by the Idea Birmingham and Birmingham City University, the installation was created to provide an interactive experience for visiting members of the public.
The project was based around a concept of information visualisation in a form of a large scale, complex data map, generated by visitors themselves.
The aim of the project was to explore what shapes the people of Birmingham by asking them these five simple questions:
Each question was assigned to a different colour and could be answered by connecting relevant words together with a coloured thread. Almost a hundred words were displayed alphabetically in a grid, giving the participants a wide choice of possible answers.
Through this visual language, the participants were able to share their feelings, influences, thoughts and inspirations, which made them who they are today.
I really like this piece, and think it is an example of exercise for engaging personal commentary and reflection, which converts into an opportunity for a beautiful outcome. One of the theme I always find fascinates the individual is their own process and how independent or collective it is.
The subject of this exhibit focuses on a more emotional plot points which helps the audience to engage without being perturbed by something too scientific. It allows the participant to indulge in the experience and how they are/were feeling at the time.
This focus on reflection will be a good source of inspiration for any participation pieces I can devise in order to educate about Sustainability.