Nicolas Marechal | Royal College of Art (original) (raw)

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Papers by Nicolas Marechal

In this paper, we will present new ways to make, design and experience cinema. We will argue that... more In this paper, we will present new ways to make, design and experience cinema. We will argue that design, including the new methodologies used in interaction design, can be at the source of experiencing film and does also constitute a new aesthetic in design. While aesthetic in design is already well framed, it's not the case in interaction design. Interaction requires time and presence (of human, object, …) to happen and therefore requires a different approach to aesthetic. Looking at cinema allows us to attempt a definition of an aesthetic of reimagination.

In this paper, we describe Rainmaking on Mars, a device developed as a social musical instrument ... more In this paper, we describe Rainmaking on Mars, a device developed as a social musical instrument for the 7-month journey to the planet Mars. The instrument was designed to facilitate and enhance social interaction between the travellers of the Mars One community. Using methodologies in design, ethnographic research and physical computing, we produced prototypes that reflect the need for the imagined environment. We interviewed and worked with some of the community members using empathic design. The instrument enables learning and sharing, requiring hands-on interaction with multiple players. The crew members would encounter spontaneity and fun through discovery. Travelling to Mars would challenge the human condition. The instrument would have to be adaptive to constraints, such as space, gravity and limitation of sound. This paper discusses the experimentation with sensors and sounds for the imagined environment of the spaceship.

Conference Presentations by Nicolas Marechal

Abstract: The neotribe is a sociological concept which postulates the return of tribes in a conte... more Abstract: The neotribe is a sociological concept which postulates the return of tribes in a contemporary form. French sociologist Michel Maffesoli sees them as an emotional community, sometimes ephemeral, changeable in composition and which often lacks organisation and routinisation, in contrast to the original form of a tribe. This paper reflects on 3 interactive design projects made to test this theory, undertaken in 2017 and 2018. The projects were developed around three tribes: the People’s Fridge, the Freegans in Brixton (London) and the Tuskers on the EVE Online game. These groups are of interest because of their strong purpose and shared values. The notion of emergence is of particular interest
in their development as it unites ethnographic and design approaches. This paper explores the research (divergence) and the making process (convergence). The research engages with theory and object analysis as catalysers. Finally, the process allows us to explore concepts such as DIY citizenship, the gift economy, values in an online game community and critique
the notion of ‘smart’ in the Internet of Things. Hence, we hope this methodology allows more designers to contribute to a subject that goes beyond practice.

From its invention at the end of nineteenth century, cinema has been a composite art form, engagi... more From its invention at the end of nineteenth century, cinema has been a composite art form, engaging with a multitude of art and design disciplines (costume, props, sets, credits, etc) often employed to fit or enhance a story. The aura that surrounds the narrative in cinema was created via a unique relationship with technology (filming, editing, projection) capable of creating and revealing a fictional world.