48 Hour Design Challenge

What am I doing in Korea?
What is inclusive design?
Can you create something in 48 hours?
Who am I going to be sharing a room with and do they snore louder then me?
Can it be possible that my back pack weighs less then 20Kg?
How many taxi companies are there in Seoul?
and can I really get an emergency passport before Sunday?

All questions that have been asked to myself, by myself, over the last week.

Firstly.....Korea

I was invited to Korea to participate in the 48 hour inclusive design challenge....a collaboration between the Royal College of Art, London, Design Olympiad, Seoul and the Fantastic, lovely, perfect British Council!!! (you will understand later why).
Where participants from around the world were asked to design a product or systems using an extreme user for inspiration....'extreme user' = handicaped or elderly persons.
I arrived right on time...actually 10 minutes before the starting time of the meet and greet party....to meet with my team leader,Neil from Gusto .... a design firm in the UK...and my team of product designers...marketing managers....graphic artist ....an extreme user as well as me...

We spent 48 hours on this challenge...staying up till the morning both nights...and some not even sleeping to meet the deadline.... our inspiration was presence...and we all agreed the inspiration was being able to identify a wheel chair user in a crowd....how do we make it inclusive? well we applied the same theory for prams, couriers and bicycles. I found it funny that all he wanted was to be acknowledged/ noticed but only to be able to slip into the crowd again.

Last day...we made the deadline....we saw all the other ideas....and presented our own.....we didn't win....and those who know me...know I don't like to lose....but that is beside the point here....

I had an amazing experience...I am a jeweller...I work alone...I question if I need...but mainly work through trial and error..mock ups...material exploration....working in a group environment...brainstorming...being part of a team was foreign and strange to me....To be honest at first I was a little intimidated by this way of working...I later embraced it and really was able to speak my mind, work well within the brief and environment....this was an experience to open my eyes to other ways of communicating ideas and connecting with people....I have an open door to visit with the RCA when I return to the UK in 2010...as well as opportunities in Bosnia and Singapore!
Not to mention the connections I have made with designers living in Korea.....for my return in April 2010.

On the last night....after the party.....me and my new room mate, Natasha from Bosnia....who I only really met on the last day because neither of us were at the hotel....shared a taxi.....totally exhausted from the weeks events...Natasha left her bag in the car....as I went to hand it to her I put my purse down on the seat....as soon as I left the taxi I realised that I had left EVERYTHING in the back....
When I say everything....I mean PASSPORT...ID..CREDIT CARD..KEY CARD..MONEY..LIPSTICK (i loved that colour).....and it was all gone....!

*this came as a surprise to me....but my friends and family weren't......typical Liesl they say....one extreme to the next....
SO after crying......and calling the taxi combined service...this is how I know there are 250 in Seoul...calling the bank.....calling....the embassy...I realised that there is no point getting upset about spilt SoJu.....and went to sleep...

I then spent the next two days doing the world tour of embassy's .....I was helped....when I say helped it doesn't really cover it....I was Saved.....!! by the British Council.....Thank you YoonJoe Park......I love you! there were able to advance me some money...and some peace of mind...
Everything was under control back home thanks to my Parents.....Dad I am sorry for making you go to the post office 3 times to fax the info....and Verity you are everything one could dream for in a friend...let alone a travel agent!

I had a new passport thanks to the embassy...but I am a little upset....I had a little history going on in the old one...and it was a great picture too! which never happens to me on ID cards.....

With all this behind me I checked into a love hotel for two days...and ventured out to the city.... There are a lot of design exhibitions at the moment and I seem to be in the heart of it....great independent stores....markets....and museums.....
I saw a great show on handbags..which really inspired me, at the world jewellery museum...and ate a lot of spicy food off the streets.

I also met with Kwangho Lee....It was perfect actually...because after the stress of the past few days...I wasn't nervous..not that I should have been...but meeting new people makes me. I have to say....what a dude...a guy that rides an orange motorbike and rocks grey box glasses....is grand in my book....and blog...
we went to the studio..which we will work in next year...and I got to see his creations..
I was amazed by the scale and perfection...I was a little blown away....and surprised by his humbleness....
We went for dinner with his wife....who is equally as charming....and shared mageolli, fermented rice beer/wine?...I finally relaxed...and really at this point able to see myself living here next year.....with friends like this.....I couldn't fail to have a good time!
We made plans for 2010....and both discovered that we comes from the same design place....we work in similar ways and are inspired by past and childhood experiences. This is going to be a very exciting time for me....and know that he also shares the excitement!

I met a friend from Slovakia on my final night here...he happened to be travelling Korea for the next 2 weeks....and I got to enjoy the night life a little...
I fly to America tonight....and begin the next part of my journey....
Cynthia Alberto...textile weaving....Brooklyn Artist Gym Exhibition.....It will be full on.....
I hope to slow down the tempo....but running at this speed is really living!

Until Brooklyn!
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