STREET FURNITURE: DISCOURSE OR DISORDER?

Visual perception is complex and not always explicit. On a daily routine we are visually exposed to a lot of objects, especially in the public urban environment. How much do we see of it? and not see? What are the reasons for not seeing? Is this “blindness” a cause of disorder and should security management find solutions for it? Which improvements should be worked on? Should industrial and environment design processes and results be questioned? What recommendations could be given to designers for a clearer discourse of these objects and a better security for users in the street?

PART 1: Visual Perception and Consciousness: concepts and definitions
With the help of cognitive philosophers and neuroscientists  (Antonio Damasio, Pierre Jacob, Stanislas Dehaene, Daniel Kersten) we will analyze the different levels of objects perception and their links to consciousness and culture. We will investigate recent discoveries and knowledge in the act of seeing:

1. Complexity and ambiguity in object perception: the visual pathways of the brain transform the image information into percepts and action. Guesses and interpretation are used for utility and experience
2. Perception constancy despite variations in light, distance and orientation
3. Implicit and/or explicit perception and inattentional blindness: what we actually see, we think we see but do not see, we see without knowing we see ….
4. Consciousness and the importance to memorize to be able to act
5. Perceived affordance and cognitive dissonance

PART 2: Could designers apply these concepts?
We will analyse how philosophers’ and neuroscientists’ recent research might help designers to reflect on how to enhance knowledge and perception in their designs with practical applications. And be more aware of comfort and security impacts of the forms, colours, textures and materials they select.

PART 3: Street environment and perception: examples
We will describe, analyse and test to the public (5 to 10 persons) one or two products recently installed in the streets in Paris following the new urban policy.
What did the designers proposed to enhance conscious perception? 
Can this effort to organise and structure day-to-day urban life succeed to provide order, security and visual comfort?

CONCLUSIONS
The recent research on brain and visual perception can give directions to designers for being more aware of the importance of the choices they make when designing products and environment. We will reflect on designers’ responsibility in guiding the public to more consciousness and better education through public objects.

MAIN REFERENCES:
Damasio, A.R. (1999) The Feeling of What Happens. New York : Harcourt Brace &Cie.

Dehaene S., Naccache L. (2001), « Towards a cognitive neuroscience of consciousness : basic evidence and a workspace framework », Cognition 79, 1-37

Dokic J (2004) Qu’est ce que la perception. Paris : Vrin.

Jacob P et Jannerod M. (2003) Ways of Seeing, the scope and limits of visual cognition, Oxford : Oxford University Press.

Kersten D., Mamassian P., Yuille A. (2004) “Object perception as Bayesian inference”, Annual Review of Psychology, 55: 271-304