This is one of my experiments towards navigating the possibilities “open-source design” made possible.

I began with devising an “idiot shack”, a kind of shelter that anyone in any part of the world could make using their two barehands & standard tools (saw, hammer, nails, drills, bolts). I utilize mainly 4' x 8' (1.2 x 2.4 m) panels, and 2" x 3" balusters, to plan and construct standard modules which could be configured based on any user's need.

For the competition, I worked together with four friends at Kandura, “Indonesian artists and designers who create ceramic functional objects”, based in Bandung & Jakarta, Indonesia. They came to me a couple of months ago, asking me whether I could design a pop-up store for them. We will start utilizing and operating this pop-up store concept in January 2012, although the first prototype is being built at the time of this submission.

Their specifications are:

1. Size: biggest tableware piece—20 x 20 x 20 cm, smallest jewelry piece—2.5 x 1 cm.

2. Display table is a must for tablewares, display cabinets for jewelries.

3. Packing materials: paper wraps & cardboard boxes.

4. Location: indoor—malls & unused spaces, outdoor—flat parking lots & public parks in Bandung & Jakarta (distance between the two cities is two-hour by driving).

5. Future material for in-fill panels: recycled beverage tin cans & plastic bottles, in abundant supply from local scavengers.

My approach to this project was to create a game for them to play, both in digital format (using SketchUp—original .SKP file attached with this submission if anyone wants to play their own game for their own purpose), and analog (A4 print out with model cut-out patterns). I ask each of them to dream up their ideal pop-up store configurations using my standard elements. I also provided them with configuration examples preconceived by me.

After they replied with their iterations, I started honing their ideas further. This will be a project which will constantly be “work in progress.” It is my intention to question my job description as a designer/architect to understand the people I'm working with fully, utilizing the open-source/open-ended design method by taking the notion of collaboration to its fullest extent.