ON HOLIDAY: MANIPULATION

I'm writing this post from Macarran International Airport, in Las Vegas. While not strictly related to my project, there are some observations I have made here which I felt needed to be explored.

The most interesting observation I have made here is that every aspect of the city is designed to make visitors spend money. From the casino's at every step, to the pokie machines in the airport, to the countless greeters employed to guide patrons to various shows and exhibits- if you are in vegas, you will spend. The often beautiful architecture (outside my window was a view of Liebeskind's Crystals shopping mall, as well as a tower by Norman Foster, while a short drive away Gehry's Cleavland clinic was located), was obscured by tacky LED lights and large screens to entice punters, with the aim to extract the largest amounts of cash.  The casino's themselves are designed so that one never has to leave- they are complete with countless restaurants and eateries, shows and exhibits, but are also void of natural light and clocks- you never know what time it is, or how long you have spent. There are countless enticements to gamble, from the shiny machines, to rows upon rows of dealers, and advertisements of those who have "struck it lucky".

Perhaps, however, this is somewhat a reflection on the American culture. As a tipping culture, it is customary to pay each person you encounter from a service level, directly.  From tipping waiters and doormen, to taxi drivers and bellboys, in the states, if soembody helps you as part of their job, you (as well as their employer), are expected to pay up.  As a result, the service is impeccable. Additionally, an interesting, albiet irritating, reality in this country is the fact that GST is state based, and added at the till, resulting in either constant math, or never really knowing what one owes for purchases.  These may seem unrelated, however, as a result, budgeting is difficult, as is knowing what one is actually spending per day, and money seems to constantly flow away.  The vegas experience, then, seems to be a extreme enhancement of this culture. The architecture and design of this city, it seems, has been concieved as a reflection of this culture.

The point of this all is this- architecture and design reflect the society they exist in- certainly this example shows this. 

I'm not exactly sure how to relate this to my project, other than the culture of our society is one in which communication is paramount, and has infiltrated every part of our lives- we are constantly compelled to communicate every aspect of our experience and thoughts with others.  As a designer, then, our designs should reflect this integral part of our society- and this interface, then, acts as an expansion of this to those who would otherwise be left out.