The Thought That Counts Blog

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Recently, a curious posting by NYTimes columnist and writer Rob Walker appeared on his blog (www.murketing.com), a story of the Makapansgat Pebble. This anthropomorphic stone was found in what is now South Africa, and is estimated to be about 3 million years old, writes Walker. It was certainly not made by a human ancestor – in those early times they could not make anything yet.  “What’s significant about it is that the experts believe, based on the makeup of the pebble, that the spot where they found it, among ancient bones and whatnot, indicate that some hominid carried the thing several miles.”

“Why was it carried away from its place of origin? Well, obviously we don’t know the precise answer, but clearly it’s not a matter of use-value: The pebble is not functional, it’s not a tool. Whatever motivated the owner of this object, he (or she) certainly didn’t need it. And that is the message of the Makapansgat Pebble: In the history of material culture, it represents the birth of want”, concludes Rob Walker.

Aside from a fascinating insight into history of this little-known artifact, Rob’s posting is worth reflecting on from our designers’ point of view. Throughout the 20th Century, the spread and marketing of “want” was always justified by “need”. A purely symbolic, decorative object (think Philip Stark’s famous lemon juicer) had to be able to perform a function, however compromised, in order to be considered a “legitimate” design product. Most design writers and educators still insist that new products must be based on a new need.  Yet the pebble story seems to imply that in the earliest periods of history the want had actually preceded tool-making and other essential functions, which ultimately made humans human. The first souvenir came well before the first tool.

Today, the old idea of function needs to be re-considered and expanded. Things like souvenirs, collectibles, flowers, or toys enlarge human experience and form an important part of our material culture, even though they do not seem to fit a standard definition of usefulness. Products based on want without need are abound on the market, yet one can’t sell anything founded on need without want.

http://www.boym.com/blog/2010/01/need-and-want_27.html

from Alex

thanks to Mr Rich

oliverlaric.com

behold the gift of a link

Here is a card trick on a website from a tutor at the uni Benedict Sheehan – interesting to consider how digital magic might translate in this medium

http://swcompositor.blogspot.com/2005/07/magic-card-trick.html

TTTC would like to welcome

Dan Eatock

Paul Farringdon

Jason Evans

Jasper Goodall

Marc Owens

Freddie Yauner

Hi all TTTC contributors

You are all formally invited to attend the second workshop for

contributors to The Thought That Counts Project creative,

research and enterprise project.

The Agenda:

10.30am – Introductions – including any new contributors

10.45am – Collaboratively discuss progress and critique ideas

for virtual gifts, verbally supported with visual reference

where relevant

12.30am – Contributors suggest other possible contributors

1.00pm – Lunch (provided)

2.00pm – What’s wrong with the blog!?

2.15pm – Bitwrapped.com – discuss the name of the website

for the project and progress on build

2.45pm – ‘The Thought That Counts’ student competition

3.00pm – Discuss timetable

3.15pm – Any other business

4.00pm – Close

Attendees will receive £200 for attendance plus expenses

(please provide receipts).

Contributors will need to provide invoice made out to The

University of Brighton, consultancy to The Thought That

Counts Workshop for the £200.00 plus the expenses and

the following information (if you have not already) prior to

payment.

Company Name, Address, Phone and Fax

Vat registration number if appropriate

Company web address

Bank Details

‘Warren’ Products

William’s inflatable bunny – Hamish didn’t you guys fabricate a cotton bum too?

As of Monday TTTC will be launching a student competition across the University to win £400 and four runners up will join the winner in being submitted to the site to publish their gifts alongside your own

Students in the second year of 3D Design have been working to an adaptation of TTTC brief to produce a 3D gift with digital origins – we will present some of the results / concepts at the next workshop

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2811868/Brits-spend-500m-on-virtual-web-gifts-like-weapons-for-games.html

Download rabbit fold PDF

This is a sample PDF. the instructions need a bit more work but if you can manage to get to the end it’s worth it. I’m thinking this is pretty low cost. Maybe the price of a stamp.