inherent: the redefinition of family

The notion of family has changed significantly over the span of a few generations. Adoption, divorce and remarriage are just some of the disparities that require an alteration to the changing definition of the word itself and have simultaneously made the concept of family more important than ever. In view of this, I intend to uncover, record and exhibit the stories behind numerous contemporary “families” and use these narratives to help redefine the modern family.

Current discrepancies in the definition of family additionally make the accepted methods of mapping and recording a family’s tree antiquated and inept. Gay marriage, blended families and single parenthood are just a few of the ordinary occurrences that lead to challenges within a family tree. There is a need for the design of a tree as organic as the word itself not only for the historical benefit, but to make the narratives behind these kinships more lucid and comprehensible. And what of finding inherent identity through family mapping? Within a modern pedigree chart, would it be possible to find a connection between identity and kinship? In attempting to prove this idea, a number of options unfold. One that I plan to focus on is the possibility of a link between the intrinsic qualities of people and their current surroundings.

In an age when many people are at a loss for identity, employing design methodology to help redefine and expand the very meaning of family itself seems a task worth pursuing. Creating an organic family tree and possibly illustrating that a link exists between the inherent traits of identity and environment will be successive, but would be a rewarding outcome as well.