Cost of War - Visualised
We live in the age of big data where sometimes truth and emotional significance can be buried in a mountain of information. Communication designer Shobhan Shah has put together a thoughtful installation which shows how clever design can help us to visualise and understand the emotional impact of data.
The Cost of War is a simple installation of two fluorescent light tubes in a dark space. Every second that passes represents a single day of the 2003-2011 war in Iraq. The first light flickers for every civilian life that has been lost in the hands of the US-led coalition force whilst a flicker of the second light represents a civilian life killed by opposing forces. In a darkened gallery the flickers of light present a disturbingly physical sense of the scale of the tragedy in an experience that is deeply moving and contemplative.
Shobhan Shah is a graduate of the Royal College of Art (MA Information Experience Design) and the Cost of War installation is part of his graduation project.
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Product Inspiration
Simple, sober designs are best for thoughtful, contemplative spaces. The Koila lounge chair from Alki is simple and comfortable, as is the 25 table from Desalto and the Synnes chair from Menu.
Lights made with wood veneer can create beautifully warm light with simple designs, such as the I-Club suspension light and Hi-Collar wall light from LZF. The tubular design of the Skylight Tower suspension lights from Frederik Roije is equally elegant and understated.
Simple and streamlined designs work wonderfully well for accessories too. The Bellows tote bag from Nava, the Senz umbrella and the aGroove bluetooth speaker from Kreafunk, for example, all combine functionality with super slick design.