Studio Largo is the research and practice of designer Jenna Hall. Jenna is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) at Monash University, Australia. Her practice-based research explores social engagement in museums through design, with a focus on the relationship between slow forms of engagement, inclusion and wellbeing. Inspired by the slow design movement, the name Studio Largo is drawn from the style of largo – a classical music term with Italian origins describing a ‘broad’ or ‘slow’ tempo.
Slowness is expansive. When considered in relation to design slowness provides space to consider the broader implications of design, identify relationships between design challenges and the interconnectedness of design possibilities. Slow design (Strauss and Fuad-Luke, 2008) isn’t about doing everything slowly, but rather about making socially and environmentally sustainable design choices – to encourage mindful engagement with design artefacts and facilitate meaningful experiences. Slow design shares its philosophical origins with other slow movements, such as slow food or slow fashion, employing slowness as a method to rebalance the rate with which we consume resources, products and media. It calls for designers to ensure adequate time and space is granted for design as a field of cultural practice to consider its ethical responsibilities before intervening in the world.
Strauss, C. F. and Fuad-Luke, A. (2008, July) ‘The Slow Design Principles: A new interrogative and reflexive tool for design research and practice.’ Published and presented at Changing the Change: Design Visions, Proposals and Tools, 2008, Turin, Italy. (www.slowlab.net/Resources-PUBLICATIONS-Slow-reading-s)