A Collaborative Design Proposal
BY
Jeanette Wells
Chanina Katz
Marielle JakobS
Robin Willems
Sophie Van Binsbergen &
Robbert Van Binsbergen
back to collaborative
Imagining Tomorrow
Students from all different kinds of art studies have come together from the imaginging tomorrow International 2018 Seminar. This seminar has provided the opportunity for those involved to work on a social issue with a team and real-life clients. For our project, we worked with the Netherlands Red Cross. The question given to us was,
“How do we bring back the inspiration within the local communities where we- as the red cross - work in Haiti?”
The aim of the Red Cross during this project was to restore Haiti back to the “Green Pearl” it once was, through techniques of educating the people of Haiti on the environment and integrating them into the restoration process. They hope to work together with the Haitians in order to rebuild the country.
The NETHERLANDS Red Cross
Initial presentation
Meeting With the Red Cross
After initial meeting with the Red Cross to learn of the assignment, debriefing, and doing extensive research of our own, we proposed a few questions for the representatives of the organization:
Where does the RC get information about the needs of people in Haiti? Are you currently working with local people who have influence within Haiti? (meaning role models, people who are engaged, stand up for the Haitians)
In what ways are you currently taking actions to build connections between the Red Cross and the people of Haiti?
Specifically, how do you organize the local population within the projects? What specific roles are Haitians given? What percentage of them take up leadership positions?
Has there been direct interaction and relationships formed with the people there? Do you believe there is proper communication?
What is the structure of the Red Cross? Is there a research team focused on the people’s abilities, ideas, culture, etc.?
How do you feel about your reputation?
Imagining Tomorrow participants meeting with Liselotte and Iris at the Netherlands Red Cross headquarters.
The team
TWO weeks, Three countries, Six students
The Collaborative Process
Chanina in front of brainstorming post-its.
Brainstorming notes regarding the trust between the Red Cross and the Haitian community.
During the process we discussed several issues regarding the Red Cross in Haiti including the white savior complex, trust, inspiration, communication, respect, environmental concerns, community, the culture and people of Haiti, and more.
Inspiration images taken at the Nijntje children’s museum in Utrecht, Netherlands.
our answer? A Playground AND Soccer field
We believed the better question was, “How can we re-ignite the inspirarion that already exists?”
The concept we proposed to answer this question was to build an education playground paired with a soccer field in Cotes-de-Fer. Connecting with the children would be the best approach for success in the future. The play aread and field would be a place for children in Haiti can work together and indirectly learn how to care for their home. By learning through playing, children will be better prepared and inspired for the future, and to be involved in the Red Cross’ mission. The space would provide access to the generation that will inherit the space in the future. Learning by playing would deal with current issues in Haiti, such as flooding- waste-management, and goat population control while building teamwork skills and community awareness.
The soccer field is an important addition to space because we believe using an inspiration they already have - soccer - will both attract children the play area and give them an environment where they can work together.
We believe children are the future of Haiti, and the ones who will ultimatley inherit the issues as home. The earlier they learn about teamwork, the nature of their country, the more likely they are to be informed and inspired to take action in Haiti.
The Playground Games
Game 1: Learn to Recycle Bean Bag Toss
Game 2: Build a Dam Building Blocks
Game 3: Plant a Tree and See How it Grows Stacking Game
Game 4: Green Pearl Matching Puzzle
Game 5: Fence the Goats Outdoor Skiball
Illustrations by Chanina Katz
Game 1
The purpose of this game is to teach children the importance of keeping their environment clean. The board, divided in two, prompts children to sort the pile by throwing the beanbag to its correspiding side. Each bag has a symbol and color associated with either trash or recycling.
Game 2
This game is meant to make the idea of building a structure is a familiar one. Not only does playing with blocks improve the children’s ability to think creativity, but also introduce an aspect of the Green Pearl project directly to children. Oversized blocks enable the children to creativley solve the problem of stopping the “water.”
Game 3
This objective of this game is to teach children the importance of planting trees and restoring the environment to what it was. Each section of the tree has a different stage of growth pictured. The pieces link together by coordinating shapes on the top and bottom of connecting pieces. When stacked correctly, the pieces form a physical tree and display the process of growth.
Game 4
This game exists to familiarize the children with the important symbols and topics of the Green Pearl Project. It is composed of a turnstile, where each block spins. One side containing an image of a goat and the other a tree. Children get to know and see these images while playing with the rotating blocks to solve the puzzle.
Game 5
This game is a fun way for children to learn the importance of fencing the goats and preventing them from consuming all the grass. Each hole in the board symbolizes a place for a goat ball. The objective of the game is to place all the goats in the fence area to prevent them from eating grass.
Presentation MaterIALS
Physical Render
Rendered by Robbert Van Binsbergen and displayed during the final presentation.
Informational Pamphlet
LEARNING BY PLAYING Final Presentation
Presented to the Netherlands Red Cross
Final presentation setup for the Red Cross at HKU.
(left to right) Robin, Mariella, Jeanette, Chanina, and Robbert, giving the Learning by Playing final presentation to the President of the Red Cross, the Red Cross representatives, and the other participants of Imagining Tomorrow.