How are positions most effectively developed and demonstrated? Discuss this in relation to a creative practice or text. Then explain how this has helped you think about developing your own emerging position.

Forensic Architecture’s Grenfell Media Archive is a platform that compiles footage of the catastrophe that took place in West London on 14th June 2017. The deadliest structural fire in the United Kingdom since 1988 with 72 deaths and more than 70 people injured.

Hundreds of thousands of witnesses recorded the event with their smartphones or cameras. This project gathers these clips and brings them together to recreate the event. The different videos are synchronised, joined and mapped onto a 3D model of the building which is then presented as a 3D video. Users can navigate through time and space attaining a deeper understanding of the events.

Being a public open-ended research fed by users, it will continue to develop future findings over time that might reveal valuable information on how to prevent tragedies like Grenfell’s. 

In this case, Forensic Architecture has engineered a communication tool that allows the user to act both as sender and receiver. Their role is not to tell a story from their perspective but instead to enable an expansive user-generated one.

“FA works in partnership with institutions across civil society, from grassroots activists, to legal teams, to international NGOs and media organisations, to carry out investigations with and on behalf of communities and individuals affected by conflict, police brutality, border regimes and environmental violence.”

Forensic Architecture

This approach where the affected group or individual are invited to be part of the making process takes the concept of collaboration further. Not only it shows respect towards the people affected by the issue but also extends the possibilities by making sources limitless.

Using communication design as a way of research on socio-political issues rather than for commercial purposes fits within the position I’d like to take moving forward as a designer. Another example of user-generated design for social issues is Rebecca Ross’ London is Changing, where she captured the voices and stories of people either moving to, within or out of the capital. The responses were then displayed on digital billboards.

This project brought public opinion into public space by subverting devices allocated for private commercial purposes. Billboards were used to amplify voices rather than to advertise products. 

Grenfell Media Archive and London is Changing focus on topics around locations with a sense of belonging for their people. Both Forensic Architecture and Rebecca Ross have considered this by using spaces to display their research: 3D model in the case of Grenfell and the actual streets of London for London is Changing. Talking about space through space is coherent and mindful and adds that 3rd dimension to the research.

With and on behalf
Collaboration is key, not only with other technicians but also inviting anyone affected by the matter into the process.

Private into public
Using communication tools and skills usually at the service of commercial purposes for a greater good can benefit us as a society.

Coherent and mindful
Design needs to be thoughtful about how and where it’s displayed. Topics shouldn’t be detached from their origin. ie. Issues to do with location should be presented in a format that respects this.