In a multitude of everyday duties, we frequently lack time to stop and reflect on things around us that do not function well – in our relationships, in a local community or in our town – and what we can do to make them work better.
As a part of the campaign “We care for a better daily life”, Citizens Network Watchdog Poland invited Polish designers of functional art to create a series of objects which would provide an inspiration for a moment of stopping and reflection every day.
These objects are aesthetically pleasing, functional, but also – on purpose – flawed.
Their imperfection is supposed to remind their owners every day that when we reflect on the things around us which do not work perfectly we can actively change our reality.
Authors:
Kamila Niedźwiedzka and Nikodem Szpunar (designers) - graduated from the Faculty of Industrial Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, they also studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. They have cooperated since 2013. They work on designs dedicated to industry but also on special projects for individual needs. Winners of several awards, including the most important: Make Me! Their designs were presented at international fairs and festivals: Tent in London, DMY in Berlin and Salone del Mobile in Milan.
Monika Bienias (watchdog) - a housekeeper who started to act because her village, lying out of the way, had slight chances for any investment. She monitors the decision-making processes concerning construction of roads, waterworks or places of leisure for local inhabitants. Monika publishes online the recordings from sessions and meetings of the district council. She asks about documents which are important for the community and cooperates with the local media. Monika shows that the local people can influence decisions of the authorities and that they are empowered by law to decide on a part of the district budget.
The mirror covered with a pattern produced in a technique of screen printing which makes a reflection visible in it uneven and shredded. Dimensions: 52 x 42 cm; thickness: 5 mm.
“Our task was to design an object which would make us ponder every day on things around us which could work better. We thought about a mirror as an object which reflects our face.
The mirror designed by us is unique: it is covered with a pattern which makes an image vague and shredded. In order to see our reflection in this mirror we must make an effort, come closer and look at an appropriate angle.
Then we can ask ourselves if we are all right, if we act fair and whether we are doing everything to make the world a better place.
We wished to create an object which would hang on the wall and everyday would remind a person looking in it that reality is not perfect but worth improving.”
- Kamila Niedźwiedzka, Nikodem Szpunar (designers)
Exhibited at Lodz Design Festival 2016 - International Design Festival
Polish Ad Creators Club KTR 2017 / PR&Event / Charity&Non-profit PR / Nomination
Idea: IRL
Art Direction: Jakub Koźniewski
Client: Citizens Network Watchdog Poland (Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska)
Foto/video: Katarzyna Sawicka, Bartłomiej Sołtysiak (HolaHola Film)
Designer: Nikodem Szpunar, Kamila Niedźwiedzka
Watchdogs: Monika Bienias
Client: Citizens Network Watchdog Poland (Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska)
Foto/video: Katarzyna Sawicka, Bartłomiej Sołtysiak (HolaHola Film)
Designer: Nikodem Szpunar, Kamila Niedźwiedzka
Watchdogs: Monika Bienias
PR: Magda Garncarek / Empty Room
Photography: Marcin Żuberek
Other objects designed for "We care for a better daily life" campaign:
