Tasman Munro is a Sydney based designer who specialises in Social Design. The ‘Intensive Learning Centre for Maximum Security Prison‘ is a collaborative design project between Designing Out Crime (DOC) and Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) to design and construct a therapeutic learning centre within the context of a maximum security prison.
During the design process inmates, teachers and CSNSW staff were consulted heavily as well as invited to attend co-design workshops which provided opportunity for stakeholders to voice their needs and develop the design through all stages of the process. Beyond this inmates were engaged in the entire construction, fabrication and installation.
The Wildebeest Workshop is a pair of movable workshop wagons designed to facilitate community building projects, travelling workshops, roving men’s sheds or wandering art projects. The aim is to engourage communities to engage in hands on problem solving through skill sharing and DIY construction. The wagons were constructed entirely from found materials (mostly from an abandoned key factory around the corner). Since it’s launch at the Powerhouse Museum in 2013 the wagons have helped art spaces grow, assisted in construction at community gardens, built wedding chuppahs as well as installations at art festivals.
Play Up is a humour therapy program run by the Arts Health Institute, utilising play to stimulate memory and encourage people to “Play Up to one’s potential”. The program has had comparable results in reducing agitation levels as achieved by antipsychotic medications…without the adverse side effects. To assist the program, Tasman Munro Design held a toy making workshop to equip the performers with a range of toys designed to stimulate memory and provide a little tactile magic.
The event was kicked off by a multi-generational performance night which included performers ranging from 6 – 92 years old. We saw mime artists, magicians, musicians, and story tellers, followed by discussion around age and it’s impact on memory and creativity.
A two day toy building workshop followed, creating a range of ‘tactile memory aids’ and ‘mini-escapes’ within suitcases. The creations are currently being tested by Playup performers.
