Diagrams
Using diagrams helps me to record my thoughts, and then order then in someway. As a meticulous documenter of process i find i amass large collections which feed my process as practice approach. I showed Derek my inception to completion diagram from 2006 (from an architecture practice residency) and asked him to draw an equivalent. His diagram helps me to understand a practice based approach to engineering (as apposed to a theoretical one).
I met up with Ben again another engineer and we discussed both diagrams. He talked about APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) which is a very extensive procedural working system used within the automotive industry. As teams of designers / engineers / manufacturers are often in different locations, possibly on different sides of the world, it manages the work flow from design through to supply chain to manufacture to customer. I need to try and locate a diagram of this APQP.
Ben also spoke about when he was employed as an engineer there would a blue book in the office. This book held all the ideas the engineers/designers had when at work, which would then belong to the company. If the idea gained a patent the engineer /designer would get $500 and I assume the company gets to exploit the patent. I know very little about patents, but think they operate to protect ideas and inventions for specific periods of time and cross all kinds of disciplines, from engineering to pharmaceuticals. Our art world equivalent is obviously Copyright. My own ‘blue book’ is actually, currently a black book (with an obligatory post it note stuck to the front) in which I record all sorts of ideas and reflections. I have a whole load of these books in all shapes and sizes, all of which feel very valuable as i image they do to the many artists that use them.
Oh yes and The Man in the White Suit (1951) is an Ealing Comedy which explores the fear of technological change within the textile industry.
