Internship Final Impression : Elena Festa
October 24, 2011 by elenafesta · Comments Off on Internship Final Impression : Elena Festa
Four months ago, when I started working as an intern at Proboscis, I wrote how pleasantly surprised and perplexed I was in finding myself in such a stimulating and challenging environment. My disorientation sprang from my own unfamiliarity with workplaces in general, having spent most of my adult life either at University or in the company of books, and from the inherent shifting quality peculiar to Proboscis. This crossdisciplinarity allowed me to try my hand at activities I could hardly have done anywhere else: projects I was more aware of and versed in, and a project I was less skilled at.
The outcome of my months spent here at Proboscis are a series of eBooks extrapolated from the visual essay I composed on Proboscis’ wall, loosely based on their work and enriched by my own series of allusions, suggestions and relations. First it developed as a concise mind map which outlined the fundamental design underpinning Proboscis’ long journey and then evolved in different and unexpected directions, feeding on my past knowledge, fortuitous connections and new sources of inspiration. It was elaborated following different paths and along the way I published several posts about themes I found fascinating and prominent. Unfortunately, the result of the other project I followed, Pic(k)ing out London, was less fortunate and successful in terms of stimulating participation but the reflections that were stirred proved to be neat and helpful for future research. Alongside I had the chance to grow more and more familiar and feel more comfortable with Bookleteer platform (absolutely brilliant!), Flickr and posting on blogs.
I want to deeply thank Giles and Alice and everyone at Proboscis for hosting me these months. I am confident and optimistic that my experience here will mature and take shape and, even retrospectively, will prove to be valuable and irreplaceable.
Dia Batal Internship Experience 2009
October 15, 2009 by Giles Lane · Comments Off on Dia Batal Internship Experience 2009
My background is interior architecture, and furniture design, which I’ve practiced in Beirut, Lebanon, before coming to London to do my MA in Design, Critical Practice at Goldsmiths in 2008. I am interested in design work that may function as a device which has impact on people’s lives within both the public and private space, in relation to social, cultural, and political concerns.
In my six months internship at Proboscis (supported in part via an LDA Innovation Placement grant), I had the opportunity to explore further ideas which were of importance to me, through working and assisting the Proboscis team in multidisciplinary art projects. One project I was took part in was Sutton Grapevine, where I was involved in the research and production. The project looked at issues like geography, identity, migration and sense of belonging through using story telling as a medium for creating social spaces, a theme which is of interest to me, and was the theme of my work. Cart-og-ra-phy, a research project based in the Palestinian Refugee camp of Shatila in Beirut. It was fascinating to note the differences between working with communities of two different cultures, that of Sutton-in-the-Isle, and Shatila Camp in Beirut, where issues like perception of privacy, ownership and space are completely different. Story telling however is a common art, and working on ways to record those and creating spaces with them is always very intriguing.
The other project I was part of was Sensory Threads, for which I worked on the identity design as well as designing and building the housing for the ‘Rumbler’, a piece used as a medium to experience in vibration, sound and image the journeys of four sensors in a space. It was quite a challenge for me, as I’ve never been involved in working on pieces for technology projects before, and the chance of interacting and working with people from Birkbeck College, University of Nottingham and Queen Mary was a great experience.
Being part of the Proboscis team was my first professional experience in London, I learned a lot, and acquired more confidence through taking part in discussions, idea generating and engaging in different processes to create a narrative. It was a great opportunity for me to work closely with such great people from different backgrounds, leading to an interesting take on projects, where the intervention intriguingly moves across art and design.
Dia Batal
October 2009
Design Internship, Sept-Nov 2009
August 5, 2009 by aliceangus · 1 Comment
Design Internship
September – November 2009
Deadline 21 September 2009
This internship will be linked to a new commission Proboscis is undertaking that explores peoples’ perceptions and understandings of their community. It will result in a highly visual publication/bookwork.
The internship will involve working with Proboscis on the design of the publication and would suit someone who has an interest in new approaches to communications and design, understanding of design for print, creativity, and willingness to work within a team. You would be part of a small team based in Farringdon.
You can read reports from past interns and view other internship opportunities here.
Timing
3 months starting September 2009 part time 2 – 3 days per week.
This internship is paid (details on application).
Selection
Selection is made on the basis of interest and motivation in working for Proboscis, ability to contribute and commitment to gaining a meaningful work experience.
Application
Proboscis positively encourages applications from all sections of the community.
Please email [interns (at) proboscis.org.uk], post, or fax the following. Please note that applications without the covering letter may not be considered. Interns may be undergraduate or graduate students, in part-time employment, unemployed or freelance.
* An up to date CV
* Brief covering letter explaining:
– your interest in this internship;
– what interests you about working for Proboscis;
– what you can bring to the internship and,
– what you hope to achieve from it.
* 2 References
Niharika Hariharan Internship Experience 2009
June 9, 2009 by Giles Lane · Comments Off on Niharika Hariharan Internship Experience 2009
Internship at Proboscis, July 2008 to March 2009
I am a visual communication designer. I graduated from The Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore in 2006. I am currently completing my masters in ‘Creative Practice for Narrative Environments’ at Central Saint Martins London.
As a part of my study at Central Saint Martins, I interned at Proboscis from July 2008 to March 2009. Working with Proboscis has enabled me to gain a global-local exposure and an insight into the art and design scenario in London.
- As a design student, I have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of multi-disciplinary projects and intend to pursue this approach to my work. Proboscis is an open space that employs such an approach and collaborates with a range of professionals outside the field of design.
- Working as part of an organization that deals with a range of projects from artistic performances to technological mapping, has opened up different avenues of thought, processes and understanding for me as a creative practitioner.
- Being a close knit and well established organization, Proboscis has enabled me to directly participate and gain first hand experience of their diverse work systems.
- Proboscis has enabled me to interact with other practitioners of design, allowing me to acquire knowledge of the art and design industry in London through the experience of others.
- At Proboscis I was given the opportunity to actively participate in workshops and client meetings (Perception Peterborough workshop and Being in Common) which has provided me with invaluable experience.
During my internship I worked chiefly on two projects, Perception Peterborough and Being in Common.
I was involved in the research and production which gave me the opportunity to work and interact with fellow professionals from the industry. I also gained first-hand experience in developing interesting and innovative research methodologies and documentation techniques. This provided me with the confidence to see a project through all its stages right from its inception to final production. I also gained experience in working with a wide range of mediums. For the Perception Peterborough project I worked with moving images and for the Being in Common project we constructed art pieces for installation in Gunpowder Park.
Although, my internship at Proboscis was significant in all respects, two aspects deserve specific mention.
Firstly, the artist versus designer debate. What is art and what is design? How are they related? What are the boundaries that define the two practices? Proboscis is an art organization and their work shifts between design- problem solving narratives to artistic explorations. As a design student over the years my process had slowly become devoid of artistic empathy. Being at Proboscis I have learned to incorporate ‘Art’ into my work again.
During summer 2008 I worked on Perception Peterborough, a project aimed at creating ‘impressions’ of what the city might evolve to become in the following 15-20 years. My approach here was driven by raising issues and providing possible design based solutions. Proboscis viewed the ‘impressions’ more ‘artistically’. They aimed at creating images and narratives that would inspire and evoke thought from the audience. This was an important realization for me, as I had been addressing the briefs from a solution driven perspective. Working with artists enabled me to work with more fluid and experimental concepts.
Proboscis has also given me an insight into London and its people. Through the course of many lunches and tea conversations, I have learnt about the English lifestyle, history, landmarks in London (some that I had walked past unknowingly!). I have had the opportunity to travel out of London, to Peterborough as well as Enfield (Gunpowder Park) and allowing me to learn about experiences and daily lives of people living outside the cosmopolitan city.
I am keen on developing my work in the arena of education in the future. Through my conversations with Giles who is a visiting tutor at Goldsmiths’ College Design Department, I have gained valuable knowledge in this regard.
My work with Proboscis has enabled me to observe how a studio functions at a systems level, which will be undoubtedly be useful in my career.
Finally, as a multi-disciplinary designer, I have always been interested in being part of spaces that allow participation through different processes. Proboscis allows for involvement and contribution to various aspects of a project which may not necessarily be related to one’s specialization. This allows for a larger learning spectrum in a variety of fields related and non-related to art and design.
I feel, from the above, that my internship and learning at Proboscis will be a valuable starting point for my future projects, goals, and growth as an artist and a designer, in the years to come.
Niharika Hariharan
MA Creative Practice for Narrative Environments, Central Saint Martins, June, 2009
Carmen Vela Maldonado, Internship Experience 2008
June 2, 2009 by Giles Lane · Comments Off on Carmen Vela Maldonado, Internship Experience 2008
Internship Experience at Proboscis, January to June 2008
I heard about Proboscis while the research stage of an information design project at college. I was looking for interesting approaches into social and communication studies, and I noticed them as a group specially involved into different social areas and communities. At that point I didn’t get to understand much of what I was reading about their projects, but their singular way of working, variety of approaches and concepts made me really interested to know about that “small” group of people with lots of work done. At that stage, trying to classify Proboscis was hard to me and I assumed for most of the people who first get in touch with them. They work across disciplines, with high social involvement and lots of collaborative practice. They have a non-commercial look at design and communication and a tactile and playful way to look at either complex concepts or at everyday life. After being with them, working, collaborating, talking, drawing… Is still not easy to classify Proboscis, but I feel I understand them better, not only their work but also the way they have to look at the world surrounding. The environment in the studio is anything but tense or awkward, is an open space and a place for talking, discussing and listening new thoughts, connections or ideas.
During my time as an intern I used to work from two to four days a week, during a period of about four months. My main intention when I applied for it was to get a first contact with a studio in the city, to get confidence in my work while applying my skills and learn. Learn as much as I could from people who could talk and think about my general areas of interest. At Proboscis they were clear about their expectations and incoming projects in which I could get involved and that made the experience for fruitful.
My tasks there were from image making to lay-out, photo editing, illustrations or printing experiments.
I would encourage prospective interns to feel comfortable for developing work into the assigned projects and feel confident to present to the group, as they are really open and appreciate suggestions, ideas and experimentation. And it builds that unique atmosphere in the studio of a high collaborative way of working, where everyone and every project feed the others creating a whole range of interesting connections.
Some of the best outcomes from my internship time were the conversations with the team and the opportunity to experiment into personal interests in a non-stressful environment. I learn about ideas, meanings, connections, process or methodologies.
My experience with Proboscis is a journey that went from being a non enough confident student of graphic design to feel as someone taking part of a group in a interesting and rewarding environment, feeling able to understand and learn from daily work activities. Currently I work some times as freelancer with them involved in different projects, and it is a pleasure to keep that walk next to them.
Carmen Vela Maldonado, June 2009
Peter Timms, Internship Experience 2008
December 10, 2008 by Giles Lane · Comments Off on Peter Timms, Internship Experience 2008
Proboscis Internship Experience May-June 2008
I stumbled across the Proboscis website while searching for creative organisations that worked across disciplines and this is certainly something that sets Proboscis apart from other organisations. Other distinctive features are the close, small team they have within the work space whilst also putting collaboration with others, artists, researchers, academia and communities at the centre of their practice. These elements were some of the positive aspects of Proboscis and that remained distinctive throughout my Internship.
My internship involved working one or two days a week, lasting a period of a month or so. The experience was primarily engineered through my own desire to work with Proboscis in some capacity, whatever the nature of the work. On reflection this was perhaps a little misguided. In future I feel interns should be clear about the expectations of their work and interests and plan for a longer time with Proboscis than I had available to really feel the fruitions of the work.
I had an interest in Education as I was going to do a PGCE and thought that some time looking at creative technologies would enhance my understanding of education as situated beyond the classroom. In discussion with the team, my brief was to research into how we might develop some of the projects that had been completed in schools, such as Everyday Archaeology and Experiencing Democracy. I primarily looked at how Proboscis’s current work might link in with the ‘Personalisation’ agenda within education and proposed suggestions for developing the work. By the end of my short time with Proboscis I was able to produce a research document and for me personally, more importantly, an insight into the organisation and how creative organisations work. One thing I did not take the opportunity to do, which I urge all interns to do, is make time for conversations with the team and I think this is best achieved through applying to do intern work that is project and collaborative in nature, not individual research.
I did enjoy the freedom to co-construct my own brief with the team, and did feel supported however I do feel that if I had more time and was also involved in a more hands on project, rather than research I would have gained more from the experience. I would encourage prospective interns highlighting that Proboscis provide an alternative internship, a creative and reflective space and learning environment, where you are a genuine part of the team. This measure of flexibility and the engagement with cross-disciplinary practice provides interesting scope for further work in the arts, education and social policy.
Peter Timms
December 2008
Pic(k)ing out London
September 1, 2011 by elenafesta · 1 Comment
This is the new project I am undertaking as part of my internship with Proboscis.
‘Pic(k)ing out London’ wants to prompt reflection about the ongoing interaction with the urban environment and how this affects people’s feelings and shapes their daily life. By collecting some of these unique gazes on the city and some of its multiple expressions I intend to compose an emotional map which will tell the story of the many moods that daily mingle and overlap in London.
Because of its variegated population, its vastness, its contradictions, London is made of contrasting voices, dissimilar faces, peculiar places and each individual is an irreplaceable tassel which contributes to compose an outstanding mosaic.
Participants will be asked to take three pictures a day and to keep a short diary for ten days. The pictures should be about a place, a thing or a situation they encounter, anything that catches their attention, both familiar or unfamiliar, usual or unusual in their daily life, and about a place or a situation they respectively enjoy or dislike in the urban environment. The pictures do not need to be technically perfect because what I value most important is the act of taking the picture itself, of being a little more aware and awake to our own surroundings.
First Impression – Elena Festa
July 6, 2011 by elenafesta · 2 Comments
This is my third week here at Proboscis, still pleasantly stunned as I found myself catapulted in such a fertile and constructive milieu. My name is Elena and I come from Italy, and although I lived in London before, this new dimension I am going through here has an inspiring as well as touching nuance. A little more than two months ago I eventually got an European Phd in Comparative Literature and Culture from Università Roma Tre including a semester spent at the School of English and Humanities at Birkbeck College. My dissertation was about the representation of London in postcolonial and contemporary European Literature and my analysis basically started from the assumption that urban space is not an inactive and semantically univocal dimension, but a text marked by conflict and personal memories which requires different readings, interpretations and models of literary and political
agency. This in part explains how keen I am on Proboscis’ approach on certain issues such as geography and identity, the relationship between private and public spaces and public authoring. And then this Spring I was lucky enough to be awarded a 4 month internship grant under the EU Leonardo da Vinci scheme and, especially, lucky enough to have a positive response by Proboscis. So here I am, reading and taking notes – I feel quite at ease with this kind of task actually – about the astounding story of Proboscis, running through their brilliant projects, trying to compose a coherent idea in my mind of their peculiar work. Before coming here, peeking at their immense website, I was thrilled to find words and concepts, the harsh terminology of academia simplified and brightly expressed in concrete projects. The more I read and the more I observe the activity going on in the studio – something is still shifty for me to tell the truth – the more the ability to combine thoughts and facts, art and society, the beautiful and the functional strikes me. I am particularly interested in their work and reflection about people’s emotional geography and the individual potential of positively and confidently affecting the texture of urban space so that a more equal society could emerge. I tried to outline the fundamental design underpinning Proboscis’ long journey – according to me obviously – in a concise mind map (see picture below).. yes I know there is a childish tone in it, hopefully I will improve. In fact, one thing I am sure I would be invited to do during my time here is to explore other ways – creative, artistic, ‘technological’ – to translate intangible ideas and make them real and touchable (and hence more effective).
For the time being, this is just a kind of vague proposal from my part to read Proboscis’ work along a trajectory that departs from the individual, who belongs to a society which is always and inevitably locally specific and geographically defined, and comes full circle to the very place we inhabit. In between – what I think Proboscis’ aim is mainly about – the subject is warmly invited to expand his/her creative potential in order to develop personal agency, to challenge monolithic received notions of space and time and collectively exert a positive, autonomous influence on culture and society. This basic map is just the core of a so-called work in progress which will be spreading out unexpectedly and, hopefully, entertainingly as well, with multiple suggestions and influences – I’ll keep you posted about any progression!
Finally, I’d love to thank Giles and Alice for giving me the opportunity in the first place to live this challenging experience and I thank as well my fellow colleagues at Proboscis for the warm welcome. The atmosphere here is unique, calm and relaxing with an electrifying vein streaming underneath.
Final Reflections – Hazem Tagiuri
March 4, 2011 by hazemtagiuri · Comments Off on Final Reflections – Hazem Tagiuri
Creative Assistant
(6 Month Placement, Future Jobs Fund July 2010-January 2011)
Before starting my placement here, I had only vague notions of a career in writing, knowing I would inevitably employ my ability in some way, but entirely unsure what form this would take. I enjoyed scribbling poetry and other writing, usually as a result of my leisurely days, having decided not to attend university or embark on a meditated career path. These jots were the results of experiences I had in place of established life routes, and I never conceived they would shape my creative ambitions for the future.
Working at Proboscis has channeled my writing into a medium that lets it develop and influence others, rather than lurking in scrapbooks that never see the light of day. By regularly blogging – describing what’s going on the studio and my own creative processes, as well as researching inspiring works and spreading the word – I’m honing my craft and developing a work ethic. More exciting however, by creating and taking part in projects that use my scrawls, such as the City As Material series, I’m producing original writing pieces that are slowly forming into a respectable body of work. Although mostly short poems, (albeit with common themes that allow them to be compiled and displayed in their own right) I’m looking towards short stories and longer pieces to spur my development further.
The City As Material series of eBooks I co-designed and contributed to.
Having the opportunity to showcase my writing, and letting the environment and events experienced here inspire it in turn, has influenced what route it might take. I wouldn’t rule out trying to publish an anthology, or at least submitting my work to publications – something I had only done once before, without reply. Even having a hand in a publication which displayed other people’s work, would be of great reward – then again, I’ve been doing that here with City As Material, and barely noticing the ramifications. I don’t think you comprehend the opportunities and possibilities available during a placement like this, until it is nearly finished, or asked to write an account of it. Perhaps that’s just my skewed look at it – motivation has always been an issue and this is my first job in the creative sector. I know there are people who are industrious (and rightly so) when it comes to their creative work – endlessly writing, committing to multiple internships and gaining ladder-holds and experience – yet I’m only just easing into that groove.
I think therefore, placements such as these could definitely benefit from being longer. Approaching the end of the 6 months, after adapting to creative working and learning techniques, I was just settling in and at the peak of productivity. Thankfully, I am being kept on as a full team member, but if the placement had ended there, I fear I might have been at a loss – not able to showcase a portfolio of work which was created in these additional months, and perhaps having to resort to a non-creative job, where it would be extremely difficult on focus on and develop my writing.
On a more optimistic note, as a result of the placement here and the work I’ve been involved with, we’re currently planning and scheduling new City As Material events for this year, as well as more Pitch Up & Publish workshops. I’m looking forward to sharing the techniques and experiences I’ve gained, with people who might now be in the position I was last year, and who are interested in using bookleteer and getting their work seen. Thus, it seems I might be able to take on a similar role that Proboscis and New Deal of The Mind have performed for me – undoubtedly rewarding, and a symbol of how placements such as these can positively influence people, who then hopefully inspire others.
Hazem Tagiuri, March 2011
Creative Placements
March 1, 2011 by Giles Lane · Leave a Comment
Proboscis’ Creative Placement programme is a paid work-based training programme which we have set up to enable young people who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to work in the creative sector to experience and learn about creative work and gain a foothold. We are specifically targeting young unemployed people from diverse backgrounds who may not have gone through higher education. This is intended as a counterpoint to the pervasive culture of unpaid internships and entry to the arts through patronage, personal and family connections. Arts Council England’s report on Regular Funded Organisations (published February 2011) describes a 30% increase in ‘voluntary’ staff in 2009-10. Meanwhile the Low Pay Commission reported in March 2010 on the “systematic abuse of interns, with a growing number of people undertaking ‘work’ but excluded from the minimum wage”. In April 2011 the Low Pay Commission further reported that they “recommend that the Government raises awareness of minimum wage rules relating to internships and other forms of work experience placements and ensures that the rules are effectively enforced”.
Not just workers or trainees but citizens
Our approach is to look at the whole person – recruiting people who we feel can both learn from us and contribute to the organisation and the projects they will be working on. Learning by doing is a crucial part of this, not training to fit particular roles, but teaching the placements to be adaptable, to understand how they can learn and acquire new skills not just through formal education, but through their relationships with other people.
Our aim is to help these young people discover themselves as active citizens who have roles and responsibilities to others, and that the way they work and play is intrinsic to their participation in society and culture as mature adults. Our placements learn more than vocational skills – they participate in a creative community which offers them spaces and opportunities for discussion, argument, critique and reflection. The projects they contribute to introduce them to multiple perspectives, contexts and understandings. We aim to inspire them to want to achieve to their best potential, to engage in rich dialogues with others, to learn how to work collaboratively and to be able to create the possibility for collaborations to arise : to be critically and creatively responsive to the contexts and situations they find themselves in.
A civilised society is one in which the population is responsive, and has the resources and ability to critically examine and engage.
…Innovation depends on people who think, challenge, reflect, create and improvise. An educated and experimental population has the capacity for responsiveness.
…Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences provide the (public) spaces, the practices of openness and discussion, the time needed and the institutions in which citizens and their projects can unfold and develop.
…The value created … is carried by and in persons. As expertise, as confidence, as understanding and orientation to issues, problems, concerns and opportunities, as tools and abilities.Enabling Innovation: creative investment in arts and humanities research
James Leach & Lee Wilson (paper for AHRC/Nesta, 2009)
What we’ve achieved
In 2010-11 we have hosted seven young unemployed people from diverse backgrounds on 6 month placements in partnership with Islington Council and New Deal of the Mind, funded through the government’s Future Jobs Fund.
2010-11 Cohort : Moin Ahmed, Shalene Barnett, Karine Dorset, Radhika Patel, Hazem Tagiuri, & Mandy Tang. Read their placement reports here.
Proboscis has been a brilliant partner for New Deal of the Mind. The stimulating six-month placements it provided have given a group of a young people just the kickstart they needed in their careers. Proboscis is the living proof that the creative sector can help put Britain back to work.
Martin Bright, CEO, New Deal of the Mind
We have found Proboscis to be an enthusiastic participant in Islington’s FJF programme who contributed proactively to the overall success of the scheme. The 3 placements provided by them have helped the young people develop their skills further, broadened their horizons and enhanced their chances of progression within the world of work. We are pleased with Proboscis’ involvement in this initiative and looking forward to continuing to work in partnership.
Albena Karameros, Team Manager,
Regeneration & Community Partnerships, Islington Council
Where Next?
With the cancellation of the Future Jobs Fund we are now seeking sponsors for a new programme of 12 month placements. Please contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Begun 2010 | Ongoing
Partners : Islington Council, New Deal of the Mind
Funders : HM Government (DWP – Future Jobs Fund)
Professional Development Commissions
June 5, 2009 by Giles Lane · Comments Off on Professional Development Commissions
As part of our internships programme we are initiating a new series of commissions for recent graduates – of vocational courses as well as higher education. The commissions are designed to offer an exciting opportunity for emerging practitioners to work alongside the Proboscis team on a modest project of their own, but where it is not possible or practical for them to complete an internship in the studio. We anticipate offering four commissions a year, two of which will be open submission with one deadline per year (date tbc).
More details will be posted in the summer.
people
October 29, 2008 by Giles Lane · Leave a Comment
CORE TEAM • ASSOCIATES • INTERNS • ALUMNI
| CO-DIRECTORS | Alice Angus & Giles Lane |
| TEAM/KEY ASSOCIATES | Jo Hughes, Joe Flintham & Paul Makepeace |
| SOUNDING BOARD | Bronac Ferran, Dr Myria Georgiou, Angad Kaur, Hannah Redler, Sarah Thelwall, Bill Thompson. |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS | Alice Angus & Giles Lane |
CORE TEAM
Proboscis was founded by Giles Lane and is directed by Alice Angus and Giles Lane.
ALICE ANGUS
Alice is co-Director of Proboscis since 1998 and an artist, her personal interests and work revolve around; an interest in using artistic practices to rethink perceptions of common space (in urban space, landscape and water) and environmental knowledge, particularly around food and water; and an interest in how artistic practice can intersect with other disciplines suggesting new models of collaboration. Over the recent years she has been creating a body of work exploring concepts of proximity and presence, against the lived experience of a place including: In Good Heart (2010) about perceptions of farming; At the Waters Edge: Grand River Sketchbook (2008) for Render at the University of Waterloo, Ontario and Topographies and Tales (2005 – 09) a collaboration and short film with Joyce Majiski. The role of food markets, independent shopkeepers and the economics of the high street is being explored in 2010 in a series of collaborations and commissions with The Empty Shops Network, with Dodolab, and with Mid Pennine Arts.
GILES LANE
Giles founded and co-directs Proboscis. He leads its research programme (SoMa) as well as directing major projects and initiatives such as bookleteer.com, Social Tapestries, Urban Tapestries and Mapping Perception. Giles founded and edited COIL journal of the moving image as well as conceiving the DIFFUSION eBook and StoryCube formats. Between 1998 and 2002 Giles worked at the Royal College of Art, first in the Computer Related Design Research Studio (1998-2001), and latterly as a Research Fellow in the School of Communications. He was a Research Associate of the Media and Communications department at the London School of Economics (2001-10) and a visiting tutor on the MA Design Course at Goldsmiths College, University of London (2008-10). Giles was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2008 for his contribution to community development through creative practice.
JO HUGHES
Jo is Proboscis’ finance manager and bookkeeper. Jo runs her own accounts management and bookkeeping business for arts organisations – Blackdot Ltd.
ASSOCIATES
YASIR ASSAM
Yasir is the senior developer of bookleteer.com and runs his own software development company, Endless Void from his base in rural Australia.
JOE FLINTHAM
Joe is a web architect, developer, research and lecturer in Interactive Media at Bournemouth University. He works with Proboscis on interface development for bookleteer – his website is stowaway.net
STEFAN KUEPPERS
Stefan is an educator, designer and technologist with a focus on creating technologies for the built environment, collaboration, knowledge management, visualisation and simulation. He has worked as a researcher at the Bartlett School (UCL) and University of the Arts and most recently has been a Design & Collaboration Technology Specialist for the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London. He has been a Proboscis Associate since 2007 as a key member of bookleteer’s development team and since Autumn 2011 has been Senior Research Associate developing new R&D capabilities in electronics, 3D fabrication and other technologies.
FREDERIK LESAGE
Frederik is a sociologist and ethnographer who has worked with Proboscis on several projects including Sensory Threads and bookleteer.com. He received his PhD from the London School of Economics and is currently a Teaching Fellow at Kings College, University of London.
PAUL MAKEPEACE
Paul is a programmer and sys admin working for Apple in California. He host and administers Proboscis’ public webserver, lists and mail server. Paul was also a programmer on Urban Tapestries and upgraded the original system for the mobile phone trial in June 2004.
GARY STEWART
Gary is an artist and researcher working between the UK, Brazil and the Caribbean. He is Artist in Residence and Research Associate at People’s Palace Projects a creative NGO established at Queen Mary, University of London whose vision is to extend understanding of the transformative powers of art to progress social justice and human rights issues through individual, collective and institutional change. Gary’s multidisciplinary activities across different countries enables him to forge relationships and dialogues across disciplines that bring together international and UK artists, activists, academics and audiences. Gary works with Proboscis as a Senior Creative Associate on new creative projects combining youth and public engagement with experimental media practices and technologies.
HAZEM TAGIURI
Haz collaborates with Proboscis on new publishing initiatives arising from bookleteer. He originally joined Proboscis in July 2010 on a 6 month placement supported by the Future Jobs Fund through New Deal of the Mind and was employed as a Creative Assistant on publishing and engagement projects until August 2012.
MANDY TANG
Mandy works with Proboscis as an illustrator. She originally joined Proboscis in July 2010 on a 6 month placement supported by the Future Jobs Fund through New Deal of the Mind and was employed as a Creative Assistant using her illustration and drawing skills across a range of projects until August 2012.
SARAH THELWALL
Sarah is a business and strategy consultant whose skills combine blue chip marketing, strategy and business development (B2B and B2C). Sarah was Proboscis’ Consultant in Residence (2004-07) is collaborating with Proboscis on a series of business development and strategy consulting initiatives for the the visual arts sector. Sarah received her MBA from Imperial College London.
INTERNS & PLACEMENTS
ELENA FESTA (June 2011-October 2011)
MOIN AHMED (November 2010-May 2011)
RADHIKA PATEL (November 2010-April 2011)
HAZEM TAGIURI (July 2010-January 2011)
MANDY TANG (July 2010-January 2011)
SHALENE BARNETT (March-September 2010)
KARINE DORSET (March-August 2010)
JOHN MCCARTIN (September-October 2009)
DIA BATAL (January-July 2009)
NIHARIKA HARIHARAN (July-September 2008)
PETER TIMMS (May-June 2008)
CARMEN VELA MALDONADO (January-June 2008)
DIAB AL-KUDARI ( July-September 2003)
ALUMNI
MOIN AHMED
Moin is a Web Development Assistant on a 6 month placement supported by the Future Jobs Fund through Islington Council.
DEMETRIOS AIRANTZIS
Demetrios is an electronics engineer and works with Proboscis on developing sensor platforms for Sensory Threads, Snout and Robotic Feral Public Authoring.
DANIEL ANGUS
Daniel is a programmer based in Ayrshire, Scotland. He specialises in network application design and implementation, and is a senior programmer at the Student Loans Company. He was previously CTO of Autonomous Software and Thought Ltd. Daniel was the original software architect of the original Urban Tapestries platform.
SHALENE BARNETT
Shalene was a Communications and Coordination Assistant on a 6 month placement supported by the Future Jobs Fund through Islington Council. Shalene joined in March 2010 and worked both on projects related to bookleteer and studio coordination.
JOHN PAUL BICHARD
John is a games and web designer. John took part in PRPS as well as designing the project website. John led the software development on Urban Tapestries in 2003/04 and is now developing ‘Neighbourhood Games’, a research project on social gaming and mobile technologies, for Social Tapestries.
CAMILLA BRUETON
Camilla worked for Proboscis from November 2005 to June 2006 as part-time project assistant on Social Tapestries. Camilla is a practising artist and combined her role with Proboscis with that of Training Manager at SPACE Studios.
LOREN CHASSE
Loren is a sound artist and educator based in San Francisco, USA. He collaborated with Proboscis on the Sound Scavenging project as part of Topographies & Tales as well as 3 Social Tapestries workshop projects with Jenny Hammond Primary School from 2005-7 (Sound Scavenging; Everyday Archaeology & Experiencing Democracy)
DIMA DIALL
Dima has recently completed his PhD in Computer Science at University College London. He designed and built a sensor platform for the Robotic Feral Public Authoring project as part of Social Tapestries.
KARINE DORSET
Karine was a Communications Assistant on a 5 month placement supported by the Future Jobs Fund through Islington Council. Karine joined in March 2010 and worked on bookleteer projects.
STEVE EHRLICHER
Steve acted a Proboscis’ finance consultant (2004-06), assisting with bookkeeping, managing of project budgets and reporting to funders. Steve is also a practising artist and performer.
PAUL FARRINGTON
Paul is a designer, sound artist and founder of the design agency Studio Tonne. For Proboscis Paul designed and developed the DIFFUSION eBook format. Proboscis and Studio Tonne teamed up to write, edit, design and produce a book for IDEO London about their innovative design and product development for the Prada Store in New York.
NIMA FALATOORI
Nima is a designer and principal of NMoDesign. He collaborated with Paul Farrington on the design and development of the DIFFUSION eBook format, and designed individual titles. Nima was also responsible for design and implementation of the DIFFUSION website launched in May 2002. Nima designed the CD-ROM for the Mapping Perception project.
MICHAEL GOLEMBEWSKI
Michael is an artist and interaction designer, recently graduated from the Royal College of Art MA Interaction Design programme. Michael designed some Flash animations about Urban Tapestries and created the original Flash Viewer for the UT system.
NIHARIKA HARIHARAN
Niharika is a MA student at Central St Martins College of Art & Design (Creative Practice for Narrative Environments) and received her BA and Professional Diploma from Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. Niharika was an intern during 2008 and has since worked with Proboscis as an assistant on the project Being in Common.
KEVIN HARRIS
Kevin runs the community development consultancy, Local Level, and collaborated with Proboscis on the Social Tapestries project, Conversations and Connections.
DAMIAN JAQUES
Damian co-founded Proboscis with Giles Lane in 1994 to publish COIL journal. Damian was the graphic designer of the first 6 issues of the journal and a director of the company. Damian left to develop his burgeoning freelance design practice in 1998.
NATALIE JEREMIJENKO
Natalie is a world renowned artist and engineer and a founder member of the bureau of inverse technology. Natalie was an EPSRC Visiting Fellow at Proboscis during 2004/2005 investigating the uses of her Feral Robots with Urban Tapestries. Natalie was previously commissioned by Proboscis for PRPS. Natalie runs the Experimental Design Lab at University of California San Diego (UCSD).
JOAN JOHNSTON
Joan is a freelance arts manager with experience in the independent film and video sector and a director of Supernova*, a new site for Early Childhood in East London. Recent projects include: Location Manager – a guide to East and North London’s filming locations and local services, published through her own company Lightbulb Productions. Most recently Joan has been involved in research and development for the Centre for the Cell for Queen Mary and Westfield College and Barts and the Royal London Hospitals Trust. Joan received her MA in Arts Management from City University, London in 2000.
KATRINA JUNGNICKEL
Kat is a socio-cultural researcher on business, non-profit and academic projects. Her work focuses on new technologies and social behaviour, mobility and place. She was a team member on Urban Tapestries and contributed to other projects such as Mapping Perception and LILT.
ANGAD KAUR
Angad is a curator, editor and art consultant. Her work for Proboscis included co-editing Performance Notations (DIFFUSION eBooks), and research and development on Topologies and, more recently, planning the marketing and promotion strategy for Mapping Perception. She is a Contributing Editor of Portfolio Magazine and was Managing Editor of Afterall Magazine. Angad consults widely for artists and organisations, editing several CD-ROMs for FACT, developing a contemporary commissions programme for the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (1999-2001) and working as development officer for Blast Theory.
BRANDON LABELLE
Brandon is a writer, editor and sound artist, and the founder of Errant Bodies. Brandon has performed and created installations for art and music venues and festivals in the USA, Japan, UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Holland and Denmark, such as for ISEA 98 and at NTT ICC, Tokyo. Recordings of his work have been released by labels such as: Unique Ancient Tavern , Fringes, Selektion, Ground Fault, meme, digital narcis. Brandon curated the Social Music series of experimental sound works for Kunstradio Vienna, which were broadcast from May to October 2001.
JOYCE MAJISKI
Joyce is an artist and wilderness guide based in the Yukon, Canada. Joyce is collaborating with Proboscis on the Topographies & Tales project.
KAREN MARTIN
Karen has worked for Proboscis in a variety of roles: on interface design for the Robotic Feral Public Authoring and Snout projects, facilitating the Diffusion Case Study Residencies and developing the Diffusion website. Recently Karen has been a team member on bookleteer.com, Sensory Threads, Being in Common and Sutton Grapevine. Karen is an artist and researcher studying for an EngD at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University of London.
RACHEL MURPHY
Rachel is an interaction designer and principal of Rudegirl Designs. She has worked as a Usability Consultant for Motorola and a Conceptual Designer for Lego Futura and Hewlett-Packard Research Labs. Rachel was a team member on Urban Tapestries and is a commissioned artist for Navigating History.
DIKAIOS PAPADOGKONAS
Dikaios is studying for a PhD in Computer Science at Birkbeck College, University of London. Dikaios worked with Proboscis on the development of a Java client for mobile devices for the Urban Tapestries platform.
GEORGE PAPAMARKOS
George is studying for a PhD in Computer Science at Birkbeck College, University of London. George has taken over the role of software architect and system programmer for the Urban Tapestries platform and is led the development of version 2 of the system.
RADHIKA PATEL
Radhika is a Marketing Assistant on a 6 month placement supported by the Future Jobs Fund through New Deal of the Mind. Radhika joined in November 2010 and is working across projects on marketing and promotion.
VICTORIA PECKETT
Victoria recently completed her Masters in Media and Communications at at the London School of Economics. She was a social researcher on Urban Tapestries.
DIAB AL-KUDAIRI
Diab read Computer Science and Management at Kings College, University of London. He was on a STEP Placement with Proboscis during Summer 2003, working on the DIFFUSION eBook Generator proof of concept prototype.
ZOE SUJON
Zoe is a PhD candidate in Media & Communications at the London School of Economics. She is a social researcher on Urban Tapestries and Social Tapestries.
CARMEN VELA MALDONADO
Carmen is a MA student at Central St Martins College of Art & Design and has a postgraduate Diploma in Design for Visual Communication at the University of the Arts, London (London College of Communication), and a BA in Advertising and Public Relations, at the Communication University in Seville, Spain. After completing a 4 month internship with Proboscis in 2008, Carmen has since been commissioned to design several print publications for Proboscis projects as well as contributing template designs and other graphic material for bookleteer.com.
MARCEL WEIHER
Marcel is a programmer and principal of metaobject. Marcel collaborated with Proboscis on the development of the DIFFUSION eBook Generator proof of concept prototype.
NICK WEST
Nick is an information architect and researcher, currently studying for a PhD at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He has managed research projects at New York University (with Bell Atlantic/ Nynex and Viacom), National Museum of Fine Arts, Rio de Janiero as well as posts at Paramount Pictures and Apple. Nick worked on Urban Tapestries and Social Tapestries.
ORLAGH WOODS
Orlagh Woods is an artist whose work explores how diverse people and communities engage with each other and their environment – how they connect, communicate and are perceived both through digital and non-digital means. She worked with Proboscis from 2004 to 2010 on projects such as Social Tapestries, Snout, Everyday Archaeology, Experiencing Democracy, Render, Lattice:Sydney, Perception Peterborough, Being in Common, Sutton Grapevine & With Our Ears to the Ground. Orlagh also curates a professional development programme for British Asian theatre company, Tamasha, in London.
