Sunday, December 6, 2009

unintentional design - human behaviors

While walking around my usual surroundings in Eugene, I began to realize how decisions people make, whether conscious or not, have some type of order to them. Some are more obvious than others, while some are more silent and hidden.



The person who brought this chair outside placed it against the wall, to feel more secure and protected, as well as directly connected to the surrounding space. Placing the chair in the middle would make a person feel vulnerable and detached.

This path was worn by many people, over a great time, choosing to walk this way instead of on the paved path. Whether these people chose to take this new path because of its direction, distance, or just its appeal, we will never know. However, it is now strongly carved out of the ground, equal in relevance to the original.


This cone was placed on the corner. And while no obvious danger seems near, the cone may be cautioning passerby of the close intersection or street traffic.

This cone was most likely dropped in the water as an accident, but now still serves a purpose to warn animals and other creatures in the water of the large, prodding branches extending into the water.


While this cone could have been placed anywhere in the open field, a person chose to put it close to the fire hydrant. It's not near enough to suggest that the fire hydrant is broken. In a way, the two objects being near each other is comforting, so neither of them have to be alone.

The cup placed on the circular seat emphasizes the already present repetition of circles and adds an element of scale and color.

The incline of this portion of sidewalk forces many bikers to break quickly to slow down, leaving behind their mark. All of these incidents, added together, create a flowing pattern which make a mundane sidewalk much more interesting.

A recessed stairway window in my apartment building acts as a shelf for people's rejects - junk mail and a dryer sheet - which don't even manage to make it up to their apartment's trash cans.

A series of pipes would seem to have only one set purpose, but given on object with the right proportions, it can make a perfect cubby hole as well.