THE SIMPLE EXCHANGE
When visiting the city of Rotterdam I stumbled upon a small project outside of the Markthal. A simple sign reading 'Free coffee and conversations' placed on a small coffee style cart. I discovered that this was a project by a student, Erica, from the nearby art school in the centre of Rotterdam. A student of product design she had been asked by her tutors to create a project which involved connecting with refugees. Her project was simple, yet effective. Free coffee in exchange for a free conversation with two Syrian refugees. The project used the simple technique of exchange to encourage the public to interact with the two men who maybe they would ignore elsewhere. The cups gave catergories of conversation so not to be lost for a subject.
The purpose in the scheme was to connect the refugees with the Dutch population through the means of coffee. In relation to my scheme of integrating homeless people back into society there are aspects of this project which can be learnt upon in order to inspire my design. Through conversation with both Erica and the two Syrian men it was interesting how people had received them. All talked of how encouraged people were to have the opportunity to engage with people who maybe they would not usually. The Syrian men both felt well received by the public, and were enjoying the opportunity to be able to engage with people on the streets. What I found most inspiring about this project was the simplicity in it all. The simple exchange of coffee for conversation but how that conversation can lead to building relationship and almost as an act of restoration in what could be unstable relationships otherwise. I liked how a simple object of exchange has the opportunity to change lives.