Dr Mario Minichiello is professor of Design and Visual Communication, as well as the Director of the Hunter Creative Industries and technology centre at the University of Newcastle.
His research is focused on the role of design and visual communication in issues of climate change, social communication, economic betterment and human behaviour.
Architecture & Design spoke to Minichiello about interactive art projects, where his inspiration comes from and Newcastle’s urban design.
Can you tell A&D about your interactive art project?
There are a number of interactive projects that we wish to develop though the city projection spaces in Newcastle. Unlike VIVID, which has a multi million dollar budget and is applied to a vast city, our City Evolutions project has a fraction of the budget and works in smaller more easily accessible spaces. As a result it has a more personalised feel and allows us to take risks. Working with multiple disciplines at the University of Newcastle allows us to develop meaningful content and in this way we are doing something different and inventive.
My interest in seeing interactive design used in a city space comes from wanting to develop the city spaces as new 48 hour exciting experiences. As a professor of design I also want to gain knowledge about how this might change people's behaviour.
For example, as part of City Evolutions there is a game that can be played on the surface of the buildings that is designed to help persuade people to engage with the city and with each other in more positive ways. We also have interactive art and designs that change or engage in smart forms of behaviour as people interact with them. This can be done through movement, sound, body heat, or by developing an artwork with a particular program. This is a shift from 'problem solving design' to 'experiential design', and repurposes public spaces.
Where did the inspiration come from?
Newcastle is alive with creative people, including song writers, poets, artists, designers, animators, filmmakers, gamers etc. City Evolutions gives them an open platform to showcase their works and ideas. The collaborating organisations, Newcastle City Council, Newcastle Now and the University of Newcastle, have a desire to see the pool of talent developed in Newcastle stay in the city to drive new creative industries. This will breed innovation and disrupt the old order of top cities in Australia.
What is your opinion on urban design in Newcastle? Has it been successful?
It is stunning, organic and cool. The best of the past is here and there are elements that remind me of Cuba or New York when it was full of artists and designers. Newcastle is a young city and the creative use of empty spaces through ReNew Newcastle’s city revitalisation strategy is helping to shift the culture and design of urban space. There is also developer interest in how to 'work the new in' with the best of what’s already here – it’s great.
What do you think needs to be done in Newcastle in terms of developing its urban design?
I have met some of the political and business community and they are committed to making Newcastle a special place. This approach makes good business sense. We now need vision, risk taking and an injection of significant cash for the process to start. For me it is key that the university moves its operations into the city – this has to be a university city like Cambridge.
Which area in Newcastle needs to be addressed the first? What would be your solution?
Hunter Street and King Street. There are too many long roads that need to be designed into spaces that encourage trade or social intentions. The University of Newcastle needs to be a very strong part of the city's unique selling proposition and we need to develop designated cycleways away from cars and explore mixed transport in the CBD. We have world-leading experts in alternative forms of transport at the University of Newcastle. I would love to see the urban offer reflect this. I would also like to see more art in the city in its parks and urban spaces. I like sport but its not all we do.
The urban environment is a stage. The values of what we enact there has to be more than lifestyle selling. It cannot be merely about exploitation by business or efficiency of movement or the over dominance of an industry. It has to be about the deeper values of being a human in a city and how it can be developed by human interactions over time.
