MoMA: SAFE: Design Takes on Risk

There's an interesting exhibition at the Museum of Modern art in New York called "SAFE: Design Takes on Risk." It was originally going to be an exhibition on "Emergency," planned in March 2001 by Paola Antonelli, MoMa's curator of architecture and design, but the events of September 11 put that on hold. She then broadened the topic to cover safety, survival, and rescue. The official description on the website is "devoted to objects designed to protect body and mind from dangerous or stressful circumstances; respond to situations of emergency; ensure clarity and information; and provide a sense of comfort and security."

The exhibit includes a wide variety of interesting objects designed to protect against dangers or survive dangerous conditions. There are anti-theft chairs (that you can hook a bag to while you're sitting in a public place to avoid purse snatchers), a NY subway "help point intercom," airline passenger briefing cards, a variety of locks, a bicycle that folds to 50% its original size to store or lock more securely, a kidney transporter that resembles an iMac, "QuikClot" temporary traumatic wound treatment, a bulletproof duvet cover, and many other interesting objects and devices.