MEDS Gallery

WHAT IS MEDSGALLERY?

The aim of MEDSgallery is to represent MEDSnetwork and it‘s people. This means explaining MEDS with all it‘s workshops and initiatives to people all over the world at different exhibitions and other galleries. At the same time we try to find motivated people of the network to exhibit their projects from university, competitions, workshops and work. An other possibility is to do a project, small workshop, a pavillion, an installation, a talk or a performance live at the exhibition itself. All that to show who are the talented people who are a part of MEDS.
MEDS gallery is an initiative which started in 2018. The first edition took place as MEDS exhibition in Milan (Italy) during the Milano Design Week 2018. It was followed by Minsk Design Week 2019 and a charity exhibition in Zagreb 2019 which was held after MEDS travel croatia 2019.

PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF MEDSGALLERY

MILANO DESIGN WEEK '18

Review

General

Milano Design Week 2018 was the first edition for the new initiative MEDSgallery. The exhibition took place in the Isola Design District (IDD) which was also the organizer for the different exhibition spaces and responsible for the communication between the exhibitors and the Design District itself.

Exhibition

The exhibition took place in the Isola Design District, in a courtyard of a housing complex next to the “Bosco Verticale” (vertical forest, green tower in Milan). The location was very well connected with the metro line and pretty close to the centre of Milan and other exhibition districts. The space was a small garage room called “box”, which was given by a contact communicated by the IDD. The 20sqm-box was divided by MEDS and DSGN (one wall for MEDS, the other one for DSGN and one wall for a beamer, which was organized by the owner of the box) and exhibited different personal works from MEDSpeople (Maja Jandric, Florian Van der Voorde, Franci Kaucz and many more). It was planned that a couple of days before the start of the exhibition additional things were bought to pretty up the space and the wall for MEDS, volunteers helped to manage this. The DSGN wall was fixed by their members. There were no problems with buying and printing stuff in Milan. The point of this MEDSgallery edition was to mainly exhibit work of MEDSpeople and not to promote only MEDSworkshop. During the exhibition, volunteers, organizers and exhibitors explained their work and MEDS to some interested people. A few problems: The exhibition at Isola Design District was mainly there to exhibit furniture and products, so it might not have been especially for networks such as MEDS. Also people have maybe been confused a little bit about the exhibition because there wasn’t no real united format/layout in between the box and the walls(Where is the product? What is what? Who is who?). The communication between MEDS, DSGN and the district wasn’t good either. MEDS wasn’t mentioned during a press conference of the IDD and also expectations of getting some divulgation on social media weren’t fulfilled. The IDD even put a wrong MEDS link on the website. A next problem at the location itself was that the box wasn’t that accessible for people because the gate to the courtyard had always to be closed and volunteers had to “catch” people in front of this gate. Also the residents from the housing round the courtyard were making some trouble during the exhibition. Last thing: A lot of things were planned last minute which caused some problems.

What to do better?
- Get in contact with Design District for the next time, more adapted for our network. We are not selling design but promoting an organization and its people!(happened in 2019 with “Futura Ventura Design District”, but they didn’t accept our request for exhibiting at their district)
- Thinking of exhibiting mainly MEDSworkshop and less personal works for the next time!
- The best exhibitions are always installations. Focus on that and make people curious and willing to ask about the work and the network behind it!
- Don’t overdo it with too many different small and confusing installations and panels on the walls, stay minimal and simple!
- Promote MEDSgallery during the exhibition!(Print more panels, sheets or flyers to get people on our website and on our socials)
- Prepare handbooks with designers standing behind MEDS!
- Exhibit has to be planned a lot more in the future!(during MEDSforum)

Teamwork

The gallery was mainly organized by MEDSnetwork member Franci Kaucz and her team at MEDSforum 2017 in Zaragoza. Franci, together with DSGN (Ally Brook, Jack Lehane, Sean Colan Smith and Jason Ladrigan) managed to organize the box of the Isola Design District. Due to the bad communication to the district it wasn’t that easy to organize different things. After the volunteer call with more than 45 applications - most of them last minute - there were about ten volunteers for the whole week, organized in different schedules to work for the design in the box before the Design Week, to stay in the exhibition space to explain during and to clean up after the Design Week. Unfortunately it didn’t work out that well because most of the volunteers just didn’t go to the days to help, didn’t know what to talk to people visiting the space and weren’t able to tell people how to reach websites or look up info. Summarized the communication between MEDS and DSGN organizers was good, but the communication between MEDS, DSGN and the volunteers was poor!

What to do better?
- Make a volunteer camp before the gallery, so the people know what to do and how to do it!
- Think about the application process. Make them clear that they are responsible for their work schedules and tasks!
- Keep a good communication between the gallery organizing team and the volunteers!
- Maybe organize an accommodation where everybody can be together during the week (sponsored hostel for a better offer)!

Money

For the given conditions by the Isola Design District the exhibition was too expensive. 2000€ for the box itself and 300€ for “communication” specials with the district (logo on website, mentions on press conferences which didn’t even happen,...). With the help of MEDSforum Zaragoza, MEDSworkshop Gent and some well done crowdfunding money was enough for the box and other tools and materials for the exhibition. Sponsors for the materials are normally possible to find but a sponsor for the exhibition space itself was very improbable.

What to do better?
- Continue with crowdfunding and motivate people to donate some money for MEDSgallery!
- Keep getting some donations from the last MEDSforums and MEDSworkshops as well as from MEDSstudio in the future if possible!
- Collaborate with finance and sponsoring department to keep working on solutions for future MEDSgalleries!
- Avoid high exhibition space costs (changing Design District)!
- Work together with home universities to get some support!

Accommodation and Visa

Visa is fixed with an invitation by the accommodation in Milan (hostel, friend,...). During Milano Design Week 2018 a few people have be hosted by other MEDSpeople and others slept in a hostel organized by DSGN. The prices for hostels and hotels in Milan are increasing during the Design Week comparing to other times in the year.

What to do better?
- Keep solving the accommodation problem with MEDSpeople-couchsurfing. But there are different conditions every MEDSgallery (also in visa things)!
- Find a solution with a cheap hostel to make a special offer for as many volunteers as possible!

MINSK DESIGN WEEK '19

Review

General

MEDSgallery in Minsk was different from MEDSgallery Milan because it was there mainly to represent how the MEDSnetwork is working. MEDSpeople designed pavilions, gave some talks and a lot of people during the Minsk Design Week was told about the network. For promoting the network there is also a MEDS logo on the official website of Minsk Design Week.

Exhibition

A lot of pavilions were designed by MEDSpeople. The beginning plan was to have a special pavilion by Alperen Sahin and his friend Jack (similar installation as in MEDSByblos 2018) and use it as main pavilion and as a platform for a lot of talks, presentations and so on. Also planned was an additional structure around this design. Because of organizing problems and difficult working conditions there was happening only one presentation during the city celebration in Minsk on the 9th of May with a light show, videos and pics about MEDS in the city center. Due to this performance a lot of people were attracted and wanted to know what this show is about. Other installations from MEDSpeople have been a covered staircase project by Franci Kaucz, a pavilion by Artur Nitribitt and a pavilion by Wei Lesley Yang. There was also a pavilion dome, designed by MEDS and EASA people. An important point of the exhibition was also the use of different panels for showing MEDS and its initiatives to the people. It was planned to print 20-30 A2-panels which could be attached and presented in the pavilions. Due to image quality problems the print shop didn’t want to print them, but MEDS volunteers fixed it, even if it was a last minute thing.

What to do better?
- Thinking about and organizing the use of different pavilions (time, what can happen there, different events, when is it in use)!
- Check out for some (cheap) printing offices and tools shops for additional material before the exhibition!
- Be on time with organizing to design and print panels or similar things, nothing last minute! (do it at MEDSforum!)!
- Use good quality pictures and material!

Teamwork

The workshop was mainly organized by MEDSnetwork member Sasha Sudnikovich, who was also part of the organizing team of the Minsk Design Week itself. So it was difficult to for her to organize both the main Design Week and the MEDSgallery at the same time. Creating an extra team from Belarus, the motivation in the beginning was at a good point but was decreasing during the workshop with the result of not having a real responsible group for the MEDSgallery exhibition. The initial tasks like application form, presentations, videos and so on were managed by the Belarusian team. After that, MEDSpeople like Dimitri Leimgrübler, Franci Kaucz and Eduardo Crespo were helping with other organisation things and the design of the panels.

What to do better?
- Form a small and efficient team which will be motivated and responsible to do its work (organizing and going through the main points of MEDSgallery before, during and after the exhibition), this team has to run the whole gallery (curator)!
- People are the most important part of an exhibition → as many good and motivated volunteers as possible!
- Make clear everybody who works for MEDSgallery is always on time and is doing his work in a responsible way, do your job!
- Be clear what is to do and divide the tasks in a clever way to people who have time and are motivated to do it!

Money

Money wasn’t as problematic as in Milan Design Week 2018. The pavilions’ materials were paid by the Minsk Design Week’s sponsors. The exact prizes of the constructions aren’t known (Alperen Sahin and Jack’s pavilion costed around 150€, Artur Nitribitt’s pavilion about 2000€, Wei Lesley Yang’s one was the most expensive one because it was built in metal and constructed with some help of craftsmen from Minsk), just that materials like metal are more expensive than a construction in wood. For MEDSgallery in Minsk also fundraising was a option to get some money. The achieved amount of money was 350€, which was enough money to pay the printing of the designed panels. Unfortunately it was (is) always difficult to find sponsors, especially for the MEDSgallery itself in Minsk.

What to do better?
- Try to achieve more money with fundraising by reaching more people and firms willing to help!
- Try to get some money from other initiatives like MEDSforum (MEDSstudio in the future) and the MEDSworkshop!
- Try to work together with the branding, sponsor and finance department if the costs are high!

Accommodation and Visa

The Accommodation in Minsk during Design Week was offered by belarusian friends and volunteers. So there haven’t been any problems. Visa was a special thing because of the country Belarus itself. Belarus is visa free for 30 days when entering the country by airplane but has different visa rules when entering by bus (for example from Poland, it’s gonna be a bit more complicated and less time to be visa free)

What to do better?
- Try to keep solving the accommodation problem with MEDSpeople-couchsurfing. But there are different conditions every MEDSgallery (also in visa things).

Review of the past MEDSgalleries

Review Milano Design Week 2018

Short Brief

• Location

Isola Design District (courtyard near the Bosco verticale)

• Communication

external by Isola Design District, internal between MEDS and DSGN

• Organization

Money – crowdfunding and project fees
Before – organizing exhibition space, accommodation advices, project call, volunteer call
During – volunteer schedule/shift, accommondation,…

Specific brief

Project Management

• Location

Isola Design District
2nd edition for Isola Design District, too expensive for what has been offered: 2000€ for the exhibition space and 300€ for “communication” which consisted only in a position on the map and a wrong link on the website, not mentioned at press conference.

Courtyard
main gate wasn’t allowed to be open because of internal problems with users of the courtyard and surrounding houses.

• Overall

Good, we made it.

• Advice

Change location.

• Previous Year?

Do it again! Maybe different location especially for students which means at the Politecnico di Milano or “Futura Ventura” (other design district)

MEDSgallery Team

• Location

Isola Design District
Good location near to Vertical Gardens, but not the best location for MEDS purposes (we are not selling design but promoting an organisation and its people).

COURTYARD
Too expensive for what was offered. All the time they were changing prices and possible locations for us. A complete nightmare if you want to organise things in the correct way.

• Communication

Isola Design District
Not the expected. We choose a basic package, they just gave us the name on map and a flag. We were expecting at least a divulgation on social media or press release ours on the website.

MEDS, DSGN and Volunteers
Between organisers it worked really well after and during the exhibition. Between MEDS, DSGN and volunteers it didn’t run so well. Some volunteers just didn’t go to the days to help or didn’t know what to talk to people visiting the space. It was so hard to find an accommodation for everybody to keep staying together so that it could help everybody to stay in the same vibe of MEDS volunteering.

• Notes

FIND A SPONSOR FOR ACCOMMODATION. It’s really hard to deal with people that change their mind all the time. So, deciding an accommodation before the exhibition with serious people and making a contract can prevent to people change mind and charge more in the accommodation each time that you talk to them.
Also, the COMMUNICATION externally between DSGN/MEDS and the public was not as good. We need to print more flyers with information on it (website, Instagram, facebook,…).

• Organization

Economic sustainability (Crowdfunding, Project Fee)
Crowdfunding was the best choice… How we needed money to pay the space, it was impossible to find a sponsor. They just want to give materials. So just projects fee couldn't pay the materials and printings for the exhibition. CROWDFUNDING WAS THE BEST SOLUTION and something that we can keep for next year maybe.

Before (Project Call, Volunteer Call)
It’s always hard, people just applying last minute and asking one by one to apply. Just volunteer call that we had more volunteers that we needed (more than 45 applications).

During (Volunteer Schedule/Shift and Accommodation)
Volunteers did not always arrive on time, did not know what to say etc. The volunteers should probably try to be HOUSED IN THE SAME PLACE and pre-booked well in advance, and have a VOLUNTEER CAMP just where they are simply provided with all the info they need and just how to approach people with the relevant info (such as emphasis on the workshops and the amazing projects already realized). DSGN approves to this.

• Achieved results/goals

We made it. Just the fact that MEDS was part of Milan design week is a big goal that we achieved.

• Overall

A lot of good points and some points to improve for next years. First we need to FIND A TERM that can help until the end, not just in 2 weeks and then disappear. This was something that could help in do better things as a team. DSGN gave a huge support on everything <3 In general, it was a good start.

• Previous year?

Do it again! Maybe different location especially for students which means at the Politecnico di Milano or “Futura Ventura” (other design district)

How?
Thinking about an INSTALLATION. It was pointless to show the products of people in a certain way. We should FOCUS IN PROMOTING MEDS and maybe a HANDBOOK WITH DESIGNERS BEHIND MEDS. The best exhibitions top of mind are always installations. So, we should focus on that and people will be curious to know about the people behind the exhibition and then: give them a handbook and a digital platform to show Meds.

DSGN Team

• Location

Isola Design District
The area in general was very nice- great location via metro and to the Vertical Gardens. But the exhibits themselves were either existing shops in the district or were selling things. It would be better to have a different location if it is attempted again.

Courtyard
was too expensive for what was offered, especially having to deal with slightly stubborn residents above (in terms of ability to use the space to the full, and the main gate being closed 50% of the day).

• Communication

Isola Design District
In terms of Isola DD communication who MEDS and DSGN are- For what was paid, it was very poor. Hardly any info online or in the booklet.

MEDS, DSGN and Volunteers
Communications internally between DSGN and MEDS was very good.
Before Milan Design Week: almost constant communication about spaces, designs, layouts, materials, volunteer lists, accommodation etc. During Milan Design Week: good communication during the days.
Communications externally between DSGN/MEDS and public was not as good.
There was no set information to tell the public provided by either side for volunteers to know beforehand, and communicating how to reach websites or look up info was also poor (both on media and verbally)

• Organisation

Economic sustainability (Crowdfunding, Project Fee)
For DSGN we needed more support, but we had some promising starts- ¼ of our space costs and ¼ of our material costs were paid for by competition fees, and we had interest for sponsorship that eventually fell through. Crowdfunding seemed to work well for MEDS.

Before (Project Call, Volunteer Call)
Unsure as it was MEDS related.

During (Volunteer Schedule/Shift and Accommodation)
Volunteers did not always arrive on time, did not know what to say etc. The volunteers should probably try to be housed in the same place pre-booked well in advance, and have a “VOLUNTEER CAMP” just where they are simply provided with all the info they need and just how to approach people with the relevant info (such as emphasis on the workshops and the amazing projects already realised).

• Achieved results/goals

Having a presence at Milan Design Week is a big plus. Having the chance to also confirm what was promised (especially DSGN End of exhibiting competition winners and collaborators in Bali at Milan). A few contacts with interest but as yet, nothing concrete. Overall, GREAT POTENTIAL BUT NOT REALIZED DUE TO LOCATION AND INVESTMENT.

• Overall

Was a good first exhibit but needs to be PLANNED A LOT MORE IN THE FUTURE for a DISTRICT WITH MORE STUDENT ORIENTATION and a BETTER PLANNED EXHIBITION/VOLUNTEER ORGANISATION - to make the costs worthwhile in terms of return.

• Previous year?

Yes, if the above issues of location and design can be overcome.

How?
Working early on to collaborate with either a) an existing district in Milan, or b) any contacts we made through exhibiting who may want to share space in upcoming years. Perhaps we can APPROACH UNIVERSITIES ABOUT EXHIBITING ALONGSIDE THEM (especially German unis who accept credits to students who attend MEDS, as it is already a connection to their education). Other organisations, perhaps current collaborators or previous sponsors, who would either a) benefit themselves from being at Milan Design Week, or b) benefit to be associated with a student enterprise, who could fund or share space with us.
Emphasis first on location, and who we are sharing a space or building with. Then on the funding issues (crowdfunding but more targeting sponsor funding based on the space we occupy). Then on FORMING A STRONG EXHIBITION that we know will target the right audience (primarily tactile, showcasing workshops as top priority, physical examples of work, and clearer visuals on who we are, what we do, and how to get involved.)