KC Design Week kicks off with charity challenge
Eight teams worked on design solution for Harvesters barrels
Area designers gather during the Design Week kick-off challenge.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The first KC Design Week kicked off yesterday with a design challenge intended to solve a practical problem: how to most effectively stack and store the iconic blue food collection barrels used by Harvesters, the local community food network.
As part of the challenge, eight teams of designers and design students representing a variety of disciplines gathered at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) office in Kansas City to plan and present solution to the problem. Trevor Hoiland of 360 Architecture, the self-admitted “brains behind the challenge,” said he wanted the event to benefit a local non-profit organization, and once Harvesters was selected, the Harvesters staff helped fill out the details for the challenge.
KC Design Week Events
Several events remain in KC Design Week. Visit www.kcdesignweek.org for more information and to register for events that are still available (several midday discussions have sold out). Admission to events is free but registration is required.
Tuesday, Feb. 2
Developing KC with Peter Park (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m, Pierson Auditorium, UMKC)
Branding Obama with Sol Sender, VSA (6:30-8:30 p.m., KC Public Library Plaza Branch)
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Afghanistan Textiles, presented by Designtex (6-7:30 p.m., 1801 McGee)
Thursday, Feb. 4
Pecha Kucha Night, vol. 8 (Doors at 7:30, presentations at 8:20, Crosstown Station, 1522 McGee)
Friday, Feb. 5
39 & Counting: Steve Frykholm & Herman Miller (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Epperson Hall, KCAI)
Experience Design Scavenger Hunt (5-8:30 p.m. throughout the Crossroads; meet at 1801 McGee)
Wrap party (8:30-10 p.m., Kemper at the Crossroads, 33 W. 19th St.)
“We wanted to pick a challenge with some meat on it,” Hoiland said.
After spending three hours sketching, building, modeling and experimenting, the design teams presented their solutions at Design Week's kick-off party, which also served as the juried selection process for the challenge. Panel members included Ann Willoughby of Willoughby Design Inc., Dan Maginn of el dorado architects, Jon Kemnitzer of KEM Studio, and KC Design Week Grand Marshal Kay Barnes.
The teams devised a variety of solutions that included barrel redesign, pallet redesign and various storage systems that significantly increase usable, open space within the Harvesters warehouse. For a solution to efficiently stacking the barrels, several teams were inspired by the the rectangular soda fridge-pack which lets a new can of soda fall into place once the bottom soda is removed.
Photo by Katy Ryan
Members of student team 2 participate in KC Design Week's design challenge.
Ultimately, one of the two student teams in the competition emerged triumphant after presenting its solution: host a Harvesters networking event in which empty barrels are configured to spell out “hungry,” and have participants remove the barrels throughout the event to be later filled at a business, store or other organization. The team also suggested a simplistic redesign of the pallet that allows the barrels to be stored in a more stable fashion, thereby increasing the number of barrel-topped pallets that can be stacked within the warehouse.
“It was great to see so many ideas,” said Maginn. “I think what we all agreed on is that we really liked the barrels — they're solid and appropriate, and it was great that many of the teams chose to incorporate the existing barrel design in their solutions.”
Winning team members Shelby Porter (planner), Holly Wright (graphic design), Zachary Bodine (architecture), Rachel Duncan (architecture) and Josh Eithun (graphic design) accepted prizes from AIA, and Hoiland hope that the team members will work with Harvesters to implement the design solution. Eithun said the win was a memorable end to the challenge, despite the difficult time constraints.
“It was a cool experience and fun to work together even though it was definitely a short amount of time,” he said. “We came up with our solution late, but it worked.”
KC Design Week continues through Friday with a variety of programs and lectures, including a presentation on the Obama brand. Dawn Kirkwood, executive director of AIA Kansas City, had the idea to start a local design week and said the events represent not only a collaborative environment for designers, but a chance for others to see how design impacts the larger community.
“We want to get business people to see how design impacts businesses, and also get the general public involved to see how design is important to the surrounding community,” she said.
Planning for design week began in August as members of the KC Design Alliance gathered to brainstorm event ideas and guest speakers. Kirkwood said the week's timing coincided with AIA Kansas City's recent move into their new office space at 18th and McGee, allowing them to “introduce ourselves to the Crossroads District.”
Barnes echoed the excitement for the week, and agreed with Kirkwood about the importance of introducing a larger community to design work.
“It's a real honor to be able to be supportive of this effort,” Barnes said. “It's so important to get the message out to everyone and bring this design community together for the good of the outside community. Everyone here knows the importance of design, and Kansas City is not only the heart of America but also the heart of so much that's important in design.”
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