Reflections

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Week Two - Examples.Pranks

Our first project was to explore examples of overseas informal urban practises. The aim was for us to try and understand and distinguish between informal and formal. For this I chose pranks. I was able to learn that many informal practises happen given the place or the social economic background. As it turns out many informal urban activities can be seen as illegal.

Week Three - ExplorationBox HillGiven that we now had a better understanding of informal urban practises we were asked to explore a certain part of Melbourne and take photos, noting the examples of informal urban practises. When paired up with another class member we set out to explore the area. I noticed that when trying to spot an informal practise it is rather hard as many are difficult to capture or distinguish which is informal or formal.

Week Four - InterventionAbandoning a phone and invading personal space

Now that we understood informal practises a lot better it was time to stage our own. For this we joined another group and decided that we would try and abandoning a phone in public, also invading there space. From this I learnt that many people are honest and like to stay in there own bubble. They will only concern themselves with what you are doing if you are in there way and preventing them from doing there own activity.

Week Five - Occupation Urban fashion showNow came for the hardest project of all. In this we had to occupy a public space in an area that we had previously visited for our exploration.For this we decided to do an urban fashion show in north Melbourne.We gained from this that people would avoid you on the street by walking going on the other side of the road.When confronted with us people tended to smile when they were complimented.

Week Six - Market TradingSo as part of our first part of our mid semester review we had to make 20 cards that expressed what we wanted to do for our major project. This was in order so that we could trade them and hopefully form a group.The whole experience was difficult partially due to the weather and also due to some of the people only having talked to each other for the first time that day.I think out of all the previous projects this was the project I really felt where I really gained the most experience. It was very interesting to see the different images people had put on cards when they shared the same general ideas.Another aspect that I found very interesting was the publics reaction to a group of people standing around trading cards. From this I decided to work in a group so that I can further my ideas and knowledge.

Daniel Ward S3198413

Street VendorIn

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I found the idea of street vendors very interesting. One thing that you don’t see in Melbourne a lot is many street vendors that take over a public space the same as you do in other countries.

A street vending stand while in some countries are illegal provide a source of income for people and in some cases tourism. People travelling to places just to buy things from the area where the street

vendors are.This form of urban practice can often be beneficial to share some items of cultural significance.

So for Melbourne we can share with other cultures items that make Melbourne a significant place so street art etc.

PROPOSALSo for my project I’m hoping that I can design and build a street vendor stand. I would like the stand to be collapsible and moveable so that its not permanent. This is so that incase of trouble it can be

moved also it can be placed in many locations, legal and illegal. I would also like if it could be made out of a sustainable material such as cardboard.. Either

sustainable or recycled, as keeping the costs down for manufacture would be ideal.I have disguised this idea with a few other people. When talking with another class member who

wanted to do something to do with homeless sheltering we came up with the idea that the street vendor stand could also double as a homeless shelter at night.

This means that this project will cover a wider variety for its target audience and possible gain great public attention.

I think that the combination of the homeless shelter and the street vending stand will prove to be a very fruitful project.

Vendor Stand Sketches

Daniel Ward S3198413