Heidegger's thinging

Back around September last year, I came across an article in design philosophy papers by Anne-Marie Willis which opened up the perspective for my research.  The article, “Ontological designing” (2006) helps in expanding my perspective on the agency of consumed objects through the comparison of a tetra pack juice box with Heidegger’s thinging jug.  In the essay “The Thing” Heidegger’s jug gathers, holds and outpours a drink that gifts a shared experience (Heidegger & Hofstadter 2001).  Conversely, the ‘juice box gathers fruit juices and packaging materials from different parts of the world... it quenches thirst and nourishes, but...it is not part of giving or sharing.. it designs individual consumption on the move...and drinking as an individualised, rather than communal activity’ (Willis 2006, para. 42).

This started  a chain of thinking and making around the ideas of what design gathers or in fact gleans.  More catch up on this subject to come! 

p.s. Peter Downton made the point, and I agree, that Heidegger's jug is more solid and of the earth - probably an earthenware jug, but this was the only jug I happened to have on hand at the time!

surprise poppies

Back in early November a poppy plant bloomed which had self sown.  The plants from my father in law which I planted last year hardly grew at all, but must have at least sprinkled out some seeds from the couple of flowers they had.  This plant was a complete surprise - it must have been growing in a perfect spot as it grew to shoulder height!  Oh, and btw, it is an opium poppy, but an ornamental sub-type called papaver peoniflorum, which is a common cottage garden plant.
The first flowers were like beautiful big pom-poms, then there was a succession of lovely flowers.  The last flush of flowers were strange - pale pink and only lasted half a day.  I was lucky to get some photos of them!