A THESIS PROPOSAL
by
Vesna Pejović:
I live in the country of beautiful, hardworking
and heartworm people.
I live in the society that strives in
socio-political limbo between communism and neoliberal-capitalism, which makes
people lost/lazy/selfish and crazy, marginalizing those in great need.
I intend to question can design
thinking make a change, and create healthy working/living environment for those
deprived.
In my exploration, I will examine this
by juxtaposing “high end” to the “dead end”,
the design field with its glamour to hardship of marginalized members of society.
I intend to show that chosen context will
define concept. I will explore the transformative power of design as a
significant force in challenging everyday perceptions.
CONTEXT:
Serbia 2017; City of Arandjelovac;
families of children with disabilities, in particular, mothers.
RESEARCH:
I contend that the social enterprise
based on the creative industries principles, will improve social inclusion and
the lives of people in need. Short-term, basic goals are working engagement of
parents / guardians, primarily mothers of the children with disabilities, and establishing
modern daily inclusive-creative center for children as mandatory. As long-term
goals, I see the creating of similar systems with an emphasis on the
integration of creative industry and social entrepreneurship as a good and
sustainable model. This will contribute to sensibilizations of society to the
needs of vulnerable groups, as well as to overall cultural and economic
revitalization of the society and the improvement of the quality of life in
whole.
The project aims to set
up a healthy foundation and form a favorable atmosphere for establishing social
entrepreneurships and creative industries on the territory of the municipality
of Arandjelovac. The general plan is work in PROMOTION – CONNECTING –
ESTABLISHING CONTINUITY OF OPERATION with the goal of informing and improving
the local community, stimulating development and environmental consciousness,
through the creation of a map of professional collaboration and stretching the
boundaries of cultural identity.
The conceptual outline is
presented as “The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design”, Royal College of Art of
London, UK – (plan was reviewed as exceptionally valuable, of high quality, and
important for the development of the local community). In 2013, the NGO was
founded and cooperation with the local government of the Municipality of
Arandjelovac was established. At this time Networking on the local level
started, through project “RadAR (inclusive educational-creative workshops and
creative interventions in public city venues.” In 2015, we participated in the
“Seminar for education of social entrepreneurs, establishment and management of
social enterprises in the local community,” Forum of Youth with Disabilities,
held by the “Papilot” Institute from Ljubljana. Cooperation with “InCentar” –
Center for inclusion, innovation, and integration in Belgrade started in 2015.
All mentioned institutes are contributors / mentors / partners in the
development of this project, while the Municipality of Arandjelovac and the
Association of Citizens “Deca u Srcu” are confirmed partners from the local
community.
MISION: we design, develop, create, and manufacture products,
services, venues, and interactive experiences to provide a better and more
exciting everyday life.
VISION: we identify new ways of support for the families of
disabled children, discovering their real behavior, needs and wants.
MAIN /
ALL for
design/design for ALL: socially engaged design as a tool for solving the
problem of social exclusion and improving the overall quality of life
ECONOMIC /
Sustainable
design production:
producing “high-end design” general consumer products, with an authentic
appearance, superior craftsmanship based on local expression, innovative
concepts and ecological principles.
SOCIAL/
01. WORK
ENGAGEMENT/
a.
Parents/guardians, primarily mothers, of children with special needs and
disabilities
b. Young
unemployed professionals
c. Unemployed
over the age of 45
02.
INCLUSIVE-CREATIVE DAY CARE CENTER/
a. Children
with special needs and disabilities
b. Children
from minority groups
c. Children
from all groups under the age of 15
03. REVITALIZATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES/
a.
Educational-creative workshops
b. Projects
for the revitalization of city communities
c. Projects
for the revitalization of rural communities
QUESTIONS for myself:
During last 5 years, I talked,
listened, observed and I gathered information’s, trying to see as much of the
real picture, now, that all need to be systematically explored, framed put in
order to enable real results. …there I
wonder:
1. Will
thinking design improve life here (Serbia) and now (limbo) in this society as
it is today?
2. For
those in need, can design really make a difference, taking into consideration
this particular context, and opposing to local socio-political situation?
3. Does
design field truly connects with socially challenged groups / marginalized /
unemployed / disabled / inexperienced / disconnected and achieve results that
in time to come will bring better life for all?
4. Will
I really finish, or start finishing this never ending project of mine?
Orašac, 15.09.2017
