M  A  N  I  F  E  S  T

Designers exist solely via the simple structure of crisis in which solutions, manipulations and incarnations counterbalance perpetual problems, challenges and obstacles.

We are the mediators of fact that regurgitate inarticulate laboratory knowledge into legible three-dimensional translations.

The majority of ‘designers’ are not inventors or innovators, they are alchemists, perpetually searching for a means to create gold from the bare bones of science. Designers appropriate scientific fact and mediate this immaterial knowledge in such a way as it can perform a practical function to both the ‘user’ and big business.

We represent the lens of elucidation through which science and technology are simultaneously projected back onto the human body.

P  E  R  P  E  T  U  A  L   C  R  I  S  I  S

How Can we turn a crisis into a positive opportunity?
The best way is to create a 'domino effect' or perpetual state of crisis.
By instinctively solving one crisis, your resolution could, in turn create the next emergency situation that needs to be rectified.
This takes the refined decision making process of "what to design next?" out of your hands, leaving you unprejudiced and more perceptually aware.



O  B  S  O  L  E  S  C  E  N  C  E

Rather than manufacturing in crisis with "Planned Obsolescence," I want to design for manufacture that is considered obsolete.

George Fereday

George Fereday
/////////////////Royal College of Art, Design Products, Platform 10

george@georgefereday.com


Crisis Shop - Sold Out!

Crisis Shop - Sold Out!
22nd - 27th April @ Milan Salone Furniture Fair 2009

Crisis Shop featured in.....

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Friday, 8 January 2010

Wednesday, 6 January 2010




Slough has a rich history of brick making and brick fields.


The previous Borough of Slough used the arms below, granted on September 3, 1938:

As in the new arms the swan stands for Buckinghamshire, the the flowers for the horticulture in the borough. The brick-axes refer tothe brick-making and the sign of Uranus is from the arms of the family of Herschel of Slough, and relates to the discovery of the planet Uranus by Sir William Herschel. 
The supporters are the gods Mercury and Vulcan and symbolize trade and industry.

Literature : Images and information provided by the Slough Library (AlisonD@sloughlibrary.org.uk)


I want to use the industrial connections I’ve made to produce a brick-making press or extruder (manual and/or automatic) that produces unfired bricks. 

The concept is to emphasise the intelligent use of technology applied to an ancient method of building. This goes back to the relationship between the Progress and Regression I raised in my dissertation.


(iii) Umbrella theme of ‘design as the connections between things.’ 

The localised, cyclical relationship between a dug foundation and the clay soil used to make the bricks that builds the house. This microcosm of industry will be reflected in the way my brick making device is manufactured; namely locally, joining neighbouring processes, suppliers and materials together. 

A locally produced brick press will be used to produce bricks onsite, reducing energy of transportation, firing, and waste materials in landfill. It also means that the lifecycle of the raw material is still intact and the process becomes ‘closed loop.’ 

A reconnection between the activities of brick making and brick laying which have been separated through industrialisation of the process over last 150 years. This localised brick press device could have ramifications for the tools used to build brick constructions and for the corresponding architecture. Perhaps there is scope to develop these designed languages as part of the project as well ? (time permitting). 
 
 

(iv) Other considerations: 

Sustainable context. Sustainable Slough; 

This project will emphasise the sustainable credentials of a hi-tech trading estate powered by a renewable power station that creates a device for producing local bricks that don’t require firing. 



Many thanks to Dr. Andrew Heath for his insight into Unfired bricks and construction. 

I visited the 'Centre for Innovative Construction Materials' at Bath University to learn more about the different means of pressing and extruding bricks. I also learnt more about the various mixtures and binders the students are working on in the Civil Engineering workshops.







Extruded unfired clay brick on the market current. This is passed through a heavy industrial extruder that use vacuums to compact the material further.






Experimental mixtures and billets for testing :



Various binding fibres are used including hemp spiv. 


Older manual press for compacting and pressure testing: