Most of us rarely think about a lifelong routine that we repeat every few seconds: Inhale. Exhale.
In early 2022 the binational research project “CleanBREATHE” – A cooperation between Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences and the University of Skopje in Northern Macedonia – started. The researchers from the fields of interaction design, computer science and social sciences are investigating different approaches to increase the awareness of the problem of air pollution.
As part of the research project, a course with students from the Bachelor of Industrial Design who are investigating ways to communicate air data in public spaces took place in the current winter semester. Concepts emerged that are intended to contribute to a better understanding of air quality and communicate information in an interactive and artistic way. Formal aesthetic interventions give shape to the invisible. The installations encourage reflection and experimentation.
In early December, the students traveled for a 7-day field trip to the Eco-Informatics Laboratory at Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia. The concepts developed by the industrial designers were refined and prototyped in teams together with computer science students from Skopje. The interdisciplinary collaboration served the exchange about the topic from different cultural as well as professional perspectives.
The results of the student project entitled “awAIReness” will be shown to the public at the end-of-semester exhibition Werkschau.Design. On Friday, 03.02.23, the students will present their work on campus Magdeburg in house 9 from 10:00 and talk about their experiences.
