TOIstudio

treachery of images design studio

manifesto-

TOIstudio or Treachery of Images Design Studio is a nod to Rene Magritte's 1929 painting "La trahison des images" (The Treachery of Images) in which Magritte posits that the image of an item and the actual item are of course two different ideas. Designers struggle with this concept through the entire design process as the imagery of an abstraction is at times contradictory to it's execution. In architecture the characteristics of the built form (lightness, material honesty) often belay the technique and craft of the execution.

With this principle in mind it becomes imperative to understand that the process of design can only be successfully achieved by embracing the necessity of compromise. Not in quality or craft but in the purity of the intended idea. This exception allows for playful exploration into not only the intent of the construct but also permutations of the ideology of the design.

Of course as design becomes an exploration of intent and technique it becomes important to self examine, understand the condition of the decision making process, whether personal or informal.

TOIstudio becomes an exploration into these design decisions, an attempt to clarify the logic behind what is good design through an empirical lens. Can we quantify design in a manner to differentiate what is "good" versus "poor"? Can we examine our physical limitations to develop stronger non-verbal communication? Can we use this understanding to increase the efficacy of our built environments? Will a language be developed that will help define not only our design goals but help justify intuitive decisions that reflect the knowledge of our experience?

As TOIstudio moved past the abstract of proposing and making we find ourselves focusing on understanding the success of the design solution, through a myriad of goals, in a way to develop a metric for research to democratize our design understanding.

We research design. Hence, Design Research.

artists + collaborators-

jason turnidge

suzi quilligan

webblog-

design research + fabrication-

	2012 BookBox - design/fabrication Task: Repurpose a Cleveland TM project (designed by Christian Schmitt) for Cleveland Public Library; as a temporary, Pop-Up Library and wifi hotspot deployed in Market Square across from Cleveland's West Side Market. Under direction of CPL and LANDstudio.
	2012 Greening Gordon Square - research installation Task: Develop, install and track an urban runoff remediation installation. Goal is to study techniques of alleviating runoff during storm surge events and decrease pressure on existing sewer infrastructure while protecting local water resources.
	2011 Binoceros - installation + construction barricade Task: Design, fabrication and installation of a new construction barricade along a vibrant commercial corridor to facilitate access to the building (for construction as well as public events) and create an identity for the client and structure.
	2011 RGB - event coordination + installation Task: Activating vacant commercial space during the Discover Gordan Square Arts District (June, 2011) TOIstudio and f i e l d s curated a joint event, combining architecture, art, music and good old fashion community involvement.
	2011 2686 ones - installation Task: An installation made of repurposed materials creating a performance and exhibition space.
	2011 Pop-Up Gallery [red] - installation Task: Design and build out a space that would act as the entry point for the client's building as well as a pop-up (temporary) gallery that will showcase a local artist's work by day and function as an interesting event space at later hours (with dj).
image coming soon	2011 mobile architecture work tables [construction only] - furniture

consulting + planning-

image coming soon - report still in draft form	2011 Launch Lorain Task: Conducted interviews, research, created graphics and particpated in public forums concentrating on improving Lorain Ave. and the surrounding neighborhood between 24th and 52nd. Hosted by Ohio City Incorporated and the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative.
	2011 2019 STAT Filmfest - "Re-Imagining Cleveland's Transportation Future" Task: Helped organize and designed flier for the "2019 Sustainable Transportation Action Team [STAT]" short film festival promoting redeveloping Cleveland's infrastructure to provide a more sustainable Transport System. Hosted by SC2019, NOACA, Access for All and the Cleveland Earthday Coalition.
image coming soon	2010 Rock Ventures Cleveland Casino Discussion Task: Headed a public design charrette team which looked at the potential outreach and public interactive components of the implementation of a casino constructed downtown. Hosted by Cleveland State's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative.
	2010 Lakewood, Ohio Bicycle/Pedestrian Masterplan Task: Design and implementation of a web based mapping system to facilitate coordination of the City of Lakewood's planning efforts promoting pedestrian and bicycling based design. The web map was created from a series of public input meetings and made "live" in late 2010.
	2010 Connecting Downtown Cleveland - Beyond the Burnham Plan [.pdf] Task: Headed a public design charrette team tasked with the assignment of strengthening the connection between the southern end of Mall A and Public Square. Diagrams were presented to the City of Cleveland and the architecture firm in charge of the Medical Mart Convention Center Project (LMN) and were part of a public discussion.

competitions-

	2007 poto:type Sponsors: poto:type
	2007 Lifecycle Sponsors: Lifecycle Building Challenge
	2007 Cleveland Competition Sponsors: Cleveland Competition
	2006 Shelter in a Cart Sponsors: Design Boom
	2005 LivingBox Sponsors: Edil Portale
	2005 Windworks Sponsors: Cleveland Public Art + Great Lakes Science Center

contact-

info@toistudio