This blog provides a forum for students, instructors and others to share information and ideas about the Spring Thesis Program at Parsons the New School for Design in New York City.
Roberto, The more I think about your idea, the more I am starting to see how poetic and appropriate it could be for someone experiencing grief, especially a child. The analogy you create between the object and ritual and the grieving process is very compelling. You claim that the object with in the paper is the "new you", and it is totally separated from the memory that stays behind in the form of the tree or plant that comes from the seeds. But, in the best cases, don't we retain a powerful connection to the person or pet who has died? The goal, it seems to me, is not to leave the memory behind but to discard the grief and retain the positive lessons that come with reconciling with death and moving forward in a healthy way. So, it seems to me, that there maybe should be more of a connection between the object that you retain and the one that stays behind. Also, I am worried that that the object within the wrapping paper has to be more meaningful and personal than it appears currently, and that it needs some more direct connection to the loved one left behind. The answer is not to forget, but rather to internalize the memory and carry on.
Anyway, this is a fascinating project idea, and the fact that you have made so much progress quickly means that you will have an opportunity to really explore these ideas thoroughly and develop a remarkable product.
The market that you should be going after, it seems to me, is parents of kids who are undergoing grief due to the death of a pet. Right now, these parents usually look for a small box (in the case of a hamster, the typical choice is a toothpaste box). But you can imagine the relief these parents might feel if they knew that a product existed with which they could convert the painful experience of watching their child suffer to one which could end up bonding the parent and child, while teaching both of them important life lessons. I am excited to see where you go with this next. steven
1 comment:
Roberto,
The more I think about your idea, the more I am starting to see how poetic and appropriate it could be for someone experiencing grief, especially a child. The analogy you create between the object and ritual and the grieving process is very compelling. You claim that the object with in the paper is the "new you", and it is totally separated from the memory that stays behind in the form of the tree or plant that comes from the seeds. But, in the best cases, don't we retain a powerful connection to the person or pet who has died? The goal, it seems to me, is not to leave the memory behind but to discard the grief and retain the positive lessons that come with reconciling with death and moving forward in a healthy way. So, it seems to me, that there maybe should be more of a connection between the object that you retain and the one that stays behind. Also, I am worried that that the object within the wrapping paper has to be more meaningful and personal than it appears currently, and that it needs some more direct connection to the loved one left behind. The answer is not to forget, but rather to internalize the memory and carry on.
Anyway, this is a fascinating project idea, and the fact that you have made so much progress quickly means that you will have an opportunity to really explore these ideas thoroughly and develop a remarkable product.
The market that you should be going after, it seems to me, is parents of kids who are undergoing grief due to the death of a pet. Right now, these parents usually look for a small box (in the case of a hamster, the typical choice is a toothpaste box). But you can imagine the relief these parents might feel if they knew that a product existed with which they could convert the painful experience of watching their child suffer to one which could end up bonding the parent and child, while teaching both of them important life lessons. I am excited to see where you go with this next.
steven
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