The RSA is a charity based in London, whose aim is to encourage the development of a principled, prosperous society and the release of human potential.
Every year they hold a student design award competition, which is entered by design students from all over the UK. They propose 8 differents subjects. I choose to work on “Everyday Well-being – how we can embed preventative measures for mental health into our daily lives”
http://sda.thersa.org/en/challenge/rsa-student-design-awards/phase/ideation-phase/tracks
Happy people have better physical health and less depression. That’s why I started looking into what would make people happier without consciously involving them into an activity meant to improve their well being.
The location of the project was a important point. It was clear to me that it would be something happening outside, on your way to work, shopping, or school, which would surprise you.
In the process of finding a solution to help people feel better, I realised that music would be a very powerful tool. It effects on both emotion and behavior, making people happier, more relaxed and less anxious. It is even said that it could match up to the anxiety-reducing effects of a massage therapy. Curiosity was the second aspect I was interested in. When we are curious, we see things differently, we feel alive and engaged.
My first idea was to use the Phone box offering the possibility to discover a new music every day. I realised that the space itself is not very welcoming and you would have to initiate the discovery. So I moved on to what is my proposal “The Musical Umbrella”. It consists in a series of installation of directional audio loudspeakers under polyethylene umbrella in the street. Walking under the Umbrella you would be surprise by a new music every day.
Encouraging and promoting creation, the project would be linked to an app allowing bands and artists to upload their own creations and have the ability to select where it should be played. It would also be able to find what song was being played at a set time and place...
I believe that this project would encourage curiosity, convey happiness and positive energy.
THE MUSICAL UMBRELLA
RSA competition
4th year Interior Design ECA
ECA, Edinburgh, Scotland 2013
