Team 3 Black Swan Event typology Topic: Crime

1. Cross Disciplinary Studio | Project III Ideation
Black Swan Event in
Brooklyn Heights
Team 3
Jianan Gu
Soham Khadatare
Brian L. Krohnengold

2. Typology of Design Fiction (1/5)
Basic Rule of Fiction(What
if- Scenario)
What if an exponential increase in the speed and
intensity of floral growth prevented its removal?
What if cities and neighbourhoods are designed to
provide equitable access to resources?
What if, in reaction to a major crime wave, we attempt
to create an absolutely safe place (no-crime zone) free
from the various criminals in the city?

3. Typology of Design Fiction (2/5)
The manifestation of critique
(How is it critical?)
Human infrastructure has to adapt to natural growth in
ways that allow both to coexist.
By questioning the access of resources in urban
planning models and decisions.
By comparing existing security facilities, functions and
technology in the neighborhood with areas that with
high/low crime rate.

4. Typology of Design Fiction (3/5)
Design Aims (What are the
possible consequences?)
Invention and construction of tools, habitats,
transportation, and other infrastructure which is able to
mold itself to its surrounding natural environment.
To explore new ways of organizing wealth and society.
To look for potential design solutions that can keep areas
safe and crime free.

5. Typology of Design Fiction (4/5)
Materialization & form (How
is it visualised?)
Architectural concepts images and / or 3D design
models might both be ways to illustrate this change.
A model of the new organization.
As a model of new systems, cultures and technologies
related to creating crime free areas.

6. Typology of Design Fiction (5/5)
Aesthetic of Design Fiction
Fits both a sustainability and disruptive design
aesthetic well. Aspects of postmodernism might also
be interesting to include.
Disruptive and Postmodernist (Maybe Sustainable?)
Modernism and postmodernism.

7. Research
NYC Open Data for Crimes in NY

8. Crime Statistics:
76th & 84th
Police Precincts

9. Dangerous and
safe places in
NYC
(2019-2020)

10. Crimes around
Brooklyn
Heights area
(2019-2020)

11. NYPD facilities around
Brooklyn Heights
neighborhood:
only 2

12. Design Fiction - Crime Wave
How would Brooklyn Heights adapt in the
present, near, and far future to an
expansive wave of criminal activity?

13. Initial Concepts
What changes are brought about in
regards to cultural systems, technologies
and the justice system as a result of the
rising crime rate?
How does the history of criminal activity in
NYC influence this design fiction?
How can alternate crime related design
fictions provide insight into this process?

14. Current Impacts
In the absence of active policing, how
might civilians living in these
neighborhoods adapt to this crime wave?
Are there solutions using present
technological capacities that can be
designed to hamper criminal activity?
Neighborhood watch type groups and
vigilante policing might be critical during
this phase.

15. Near Future Impacts
In the near future how does the breakdown
of the policing and justice system affect
the neighborhood?
How does this pseudo-lawless state
impact the lives of civilians and the
systems and technologies available to
them?
During this period hired mercenaries might
be required to enforce laws. What powers
and technologies would they be allowed?

16. Far Future Concepts
How might policing technology adapt to an
increase in crime?
How might criminals use advanced
technology?
Surveillance and tracking technology in
particular might play a large part in this
speculative design fiction.