SEATTLE, WA—August 8, 2019—CallisonRTKL offered a sneak peek today of its installation for the upcoming Seattle Design Festival (SDF). Now in its ninth year, the 2019 Festival will take place throughout the city from August 16 -26. This year’s theme is balance. CallisonRTKL designers decided on an interactive installation and determined that to showcase balance, the end result had to be a win-win. The group collaborated to create an arcade-style game that illustrates the importance of teamwork and inclusion, both in art and in life. An image of the firm’s installation will appear on the SDF Block Party poster.
The Games of Balance team* answered questions about what inspired their installation. An edited and condensed version follows.
Q: Your installation for the Seattle Design Festival is a game. What was the inspiration?
A: The theme of the festival is balance. We quickly realized we couldn’t discuss balance without bringing up imbalance as well. We wanted to show how working in an inclusive environment is a win-win for everyone. And we wanted to do it in a way that was both fun and accessible to all ages.
Our installation is actually four games in one, but all of the games are similar in that the goal is to get a ping-pong-sized ball from one end of the board to the other. Each game is played by two people and constructed so that the players have different strengths and weaknesses, different capabilities. Only when both players work together can they win the game.
Q: Did you have several ideas for the installation, and if so, why did you land on this one?
A: Engagement and interaction drove the design. Right away we determined that we wanted to create an installation that involved participants in an active rather than passive way. We didn’t want to create something you simply looked at or sat on and then walked away from.
We also knew we wanted to create an installation that anyone could relate to and that would appeal to all ages—children, students, adults. We wanted the whole community to enjoy it. A game, or in this case, four games, was just the answer.
Q: What specific games did team members grow up with and did any of their experiences influence this exhibit?
A: Many of us grew up playing at the arcade. We didn’t have iPads or iPhones. Arcade games influenced our design, the shape and the style. The games are physical. You use your whole body, not just your fingertips.
Real life escape room games are very popular now, and they were the inspiration behind our maze design. You can enjoy our maze without feeling stressed, anxious or claustrophobic!
Q: What challenges did you encounter?
A: We had grand ideas, so our primary challenge was taking our big ideas and distilling them into something that we actually had the skills to build. We had to be able to realize our vision collectively.
We are all designers by trade. For construction, each person brought something different—and important—to the table. In that way life imitated art. Our real-world experience showed us that each person made a difference. And everyone was needed to reach the end goal.
Q: You’ve created a logo to accompany your installation. How did you come up with the design?
A: We wanted something colorful and playful, a logo that would delight everyone–children, young adults and families. We decided on bright colors. And the simple shapes we use mimic the lines of the panels in our installation. The use of gradient colors alludes to diversity and inclusion.
Q: What do you hope participants will come away with after playing these games?
A: Through play, we hope participants have a better understanding of inclusion, collaboration and teamwork. Everyone brings something to the game. And that’s true in life as well. We also wanted everyone to leave having had fun.
*CallisonRTKL’s Games of Balance Team, left to right, back row: Eduardo Silva, Hannah Lim, Nicholas Hansford, Shuai Cao, Siyang Li, Yin Lu. Front row: Rodrigo Tarriba , Amy Zhang, Alex Phinney, Claudia Gonzalez.
About CallisonRTKL
CallisonRTKL is a global architecture, planning and design practice. Over the last 70 years, we have created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. Our work has set us apart as the number one retail design firm in the world and a top-five architecture practice across multiple disciplines and sectors. Under the Arcadis umbrella, we continue to expand our sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of our resources. Our team of nearly 1,500 professionals around the world is committed to advancing our clients’ businesses and enhancing quality of life. callisonrtkl.com
About Seattle Design Festival
The Seattle Design Festival is a program of Design in Public, a multidisciplinary nonprofit organization that promotes the role of design in improving our city. Design in Public is a strategic initiative of AIA Seattle, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, founded in 2011 to unleash the design thinker in everyone to illuminate Seattle’s challenges and ignite action. More information: designinpublic.org/about-sdf-faq/
Media Contact:
Tracy Schneider
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tracy.schneider@crtkl.com