Bill Moggridge: what is design

Bill Morridge talk on design is very influencial. He talks about the importance of design and that it can be found in  everything. He also talks about the importance of design in future generations. Bill starts out by stating that to create good designs we need to first be able to recognise bad design. There is also emphasis on the design porcess, and how it varies with each and every person and there personal situation. Bill talks about several factors involved with the process; constraints, synthesis, framing, ideation, envisioning, uncertainty, selection, visualisation, prototyping, education. He places emphasis on not using these factors as a step by step process rather taking all into account. To design succesfully Bill says you must put yourself in the consumers shoes. This involves knowing the customers needs and testing constantly with prototyping and sketching to communicate ideas successfully. Bill also expresses how expensive prototyping should only be invested in at the very final stages of the design process. An extremely important concept Bill puts forward is that design is changing and this is due to resource exhaustion. As products become more impotant in our every day lives, bill suggests that our products need to go one step further and be helpful rather than just looking pretty. After watching this talk I have found  a few main concepts that really connect with me as a new generation designer one of which being the design process. As a learning designer this is a concept I am slowly coming to grips with and am learning very quickly that to ensure good design this process can be forced or rushed. A lot of big companies I feel do not appreciate this process and continue to turn out bad design or just imitation of good design that has seen such a process. I feel that this process is an extremely necessary part of creating good, smart and considered design rather than some fancy looking product that doesn’t function well and is environmentally damaging. The other key concept in this video that will have a great impact up on my future career in design in fact all designers’ futures in the design industry is the issue of sustainability. As bill rightly says with diminishing resources we as designers will be forced to look at our own way of designing and use of materials and will be forced to head in a direction of minimal material usage and also material re-usage.

comments project two

http://ides1031alexanderjackson.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcycled-light-design.html?showComment=1318930110303#c2729435443345007880

http://mad-attic.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcycling-project-2.html?showComment=1318930276020#c6947360032844951258

http://edricides1122.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcycling-unwanteds.html?showComment=1318930406363#c3076650260415845789

http://2011jj.blogspot.com/2011/10/poject-2.html?showComment=1318930592199#c8694871184811167229

http://tomloefler.posterous.com/

Sketch (only one i could find leftover)

Project two: Upcycling

Shinto Lamp Rationale

Using mostly JCDecaux polypropylene posters, the Shinto lamp is prime example of an up cycled product. Shinto is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people, my product was deeply inspired by the shrines, temples and pagodas of Japan. Exhibiting a tapering like tower shape towards the peak of the lamp it resembles the traditional pagoda style architecture that can be seen in Japan today. The lamp itself also has a somewhat floral and leaf like structure providing an organic atmosphere. Through this product I have been able to explore the relationship between industrial design and ecological sustainability through the reuse of an otherwise useless end of life product and material to minimize waste generation. As well as using discarded polypropylene posters, I have also recycled another material in my design, for every 2 leaves in my design I have used two spacers to separate the next two, after using many other methods of spacing (including spacers fashioned from the posters) I found the I could reuse old water tubing that had holes or deficiencies in them, these function perfectly as they are the exact diameter needed to fit round the wiring of the lamp. The polypropylene posters and spacers have been up cycled into a flat packable, easily assembled lamp that would be affordable, sophisticated and elegant for the home user. As one entire poster (1800 x 1200) can be used to make one lamp much raw material has been diverted from becoming waste material and ending up in landfill. The Shape used is also quite versatile and can be flipped with ease to reveal the either side of the poster, allowing the user to have crisp, plain white light or an exciting and vibrant light covered with patterns from the original posters. 

Annie leonard: The Story of Stuff

This video explores the current nature of consumerism and its impacts. This 21 minute animation investigates every step of the consumer process from material extraction to production to distribution to consumption to disposal. This video also covers intensely the problems associated with this linear process. Annie talks about how a linear process does not work when the resources used are finite. The first and major limit talked about in the video is the limit on resources, because of over consumption the earths forest, fisheries and minerals are becoming scarce. Annie also talks about problems relating to production and the many thousands of chemicals relevant in both our products and bi products of this process. These chemicals are either going into products we use on a daily basis or into the atmosphere where we are still exposed to them. Not only this but the people in third world countries that have no other choice but to work in these chemical infected factories. As for consumption stage Annie talks about how consumers are made to keep consuming with low prices by externalising costs as well as integrating planned obsolescence and perceived obsolescence into the market place. These factors keep people purchasing more and more on a day to day basis which keeps accelerating the process more and more, this is emphasised as the key factor in the whole process. Disposal is the las stage of this corrupt system and is one of the most pollution causing factors. Every year as more and more stuff is thrown away it is either thrown into landfills or incinerated both methods are hugely toxic and cause large amounts of pollution. The solution that is put forward in this video is to have a process that once disposed products materials can then be harvested to make new materials, taking stress of natural resources, limiting waste and pollution and creating a sustainable way of consumerism.

blog commenting

http://mad-attic.blogspot.com/2011/09/experience-enrichment-project-motar-and.html?showComment=1316060876119#c1185217153116237956

http://siuchancheung.blogspot.com/2011/09/experience-enrichment-poster.html

http://patrickdunnindustrialdesign.blogspot.com/2011/09/blog-post_8876.html#comments

http://rachaelsigley.blogspot.com/2011/09/tools-project-scissors.html#comments

http://ides1031-z3332715.blogspot.com/2011/09/experience-enrichment-hero-shot.html?showComment=1316061208604#c664714935336033986

Project one: Experiance Enrichment

This product was created for project one: experience enrichment. My redesigned handtool is a kitchen grater.

rationale

Design Solution

For Project One: Experience Enrichment, I redesigned a kitchen cheese grater. My redesigned grater is a versatile blend between a traditional box style grater and a hand held grater. When grating this product it can be used on either on a flat surface or over food and bowls.

Brief

This product answers project one’s brief through redesigning the everyday hand tool, the kitchen cheese grater. Used both stationary and handheld this product enriches and enhances the users experience through fun, flowing and playful aesthetics as well as a comfortable, soft and ergonomic handle. With a large enough surface area for grating easily this products functionality, ergonomics and aesthetics create a much more pleasurable way of operating a cheese grater.

Benefits

The benefits in this product are present through its functional, ergonomic and aesthetic values. This grater has a versatile shape that allows it to function in several ways while maintaining a relatively large surface area for grating. It has a unique blend between a traditional box style grater and a handheld grater. The somewhat triangular shape allows it to sit on a flat surface and retain its stability while being used. The angled handle also allows the user to use it anywhere in the kitchen whether handheld over food or resting on the edge of a bowl. The ergonomic benefits of this item include its soft comfortable handle that also can be used in a number of ways. The handle can be held front on or side on allowing for both large and small hand types, the comfortable use of this product makes it a much more easy and pleasurable device to use. The curvaceous, flowing and somewhat bulbous shape of the object makes it a fun and exciting product to use.

Materials

This product will be made from a injection moulded plastic frame with soft and rubbery characteristics yet still firm enough to provide stability when grating. The somewhat rubbery material will also act as a stabiliser so the product does not slip and slide around when being used on a tabletop or flat surface. The grating area of the product will be made from stainless steel making it resistant to wear over long periods of time as well as being easy to clean.

I first became interested in design in highschool. I studied design and technology at St Andrews Cathedral School, a school more commonly known for its musical talents. I enjoyed design and technology much through my younger years, as it was typically a “bludge” subject. During higher school certificate I chose to continue studying design and technology optionally, this is where my interest began. During years 11 and 12 we embarked on individual projects of our own choice, this allowed me to explore the design creative process and problem solving in situations I could personally relate to. Once completing my HSC and my first portfolio project I had to make decisions on life after school. The only thing I could imagine enjoying was design and technology so I saw a career advisor as well as taking a careers test. My results came back that I would be very compatible in a design related job, so I saw the councilor and my design teacher both of whom suggested doing a bachelor of industrial design among a few other design fields. The usual degrees didn’t pose much interest to me such as architecture, interior design and landscape design. I instead chose industrial design, which had been described to me as “a course that covers all aspects of design apart from buildings” I did not really know what this course would cover but I was excited as I knew it would involve drawing and construction of some kind. I applied for UTS, UNSW and UOWS industrial design courses as well as Wollongong’s design and visual arts course. I was accepted by all except UTS, UNSW being the most convenient and most prestigious was off course my first choice. Upon studying this first semester I have found that industrial design covers mostly product design but also all elements and principles of design in any field. This has only encouraged my enthusiasm for a career in product/industrial design. I enjoy very much the communal nature of the design process involved with solving problems and creating new designs as well as the individual creativity behind making something unique and personal. I also very much enjoy group work and group brainstorming and having prospects of working in such environments after university is very appealing. As for my future in design it is very uncertain at this point, whether I become a product designer or not I intend to still be involved in the design industry. A hope and dream of mine would be to have some sort of ownership of my own Design Company or firm. At the moment I have a lot to learn about the industry and how things work in the real world far outside of university but I am quite positive when I think about making a career out of design one way or another.

COnfusing design

My design confusion poster

Note: redesign missing from jpg as it was done by hand on my final poster.

My Design Excellence Poster

Throughout this project I have found the process to be very valuable. I have learnt how to critically analyse a products aesthetic characteristics through key concepts learnt in semester ones fundamentals course such as shape, form, line, colour, texture, harmony, proportion ect. I also found this quite an enjoyable project for working on my graphic design skills, learning programs such as photoshop and illustrator in the process.

David Kelly: Human Centred Design

During David Kelly’s talk on human centered design the main focus is on the changing direction in which design is heading. He states the obvious that design is mostly a focus on the products but also how designers are taking a human centered approach to design. This involves designing emotions, behaviors and narratives into new products. David Kelly also explains how the design process itself has changed, with many design companies no longer presenting just 3D modeling to their clients to communicate their ideas but instead how the product must be in motion prior. David Kelly explains that designer must now present experience prototypes to better communicate the man to machine relationship i.e how a product will interact with a user and how it will be perceived by the consumer. This reinforces the idea that design is all about the user experience. David uses examples like the Prada store in New York and how important the role of the user and their experience is with the product. David Kelly also explains how designers are becoming more trusted and integrated into plan of businesses emphasizing the importance on human centered design and designer’s ever expanding influence on product development.

Don Norman Emotional Design

Don Normans talk on emotional design portrays one key factor that beautiful, fun, pretty products are far more enjoyable and better to use than ugly ones. Norman talks about the importance of aesthetics, function but most importantly reflection. This reflection made by a user about a certain product is what he calls the emotional design. One example Don Norman uses to express that fun and beautiful products are better to use is that of the mini cooper review done by Times Magazine, in the review it states “This is a car that has lots of faults, buy it anyway! Its so much fun drive.” Norman also explains how this positivity within products is recognised by the subconscious mind, where a user will recognise a product to be pleasant to use but they don’t know why. This idea that pleasant things work better runs true in my own day-to-day life, I keep using my new nokia touchscreen phone even though the screen is broken over a much older style mobile because of its beauty. It functions the same if not worse than other old mobiles lying around my home but for some reason sub-consciously I prefer it because of its aesthetic appeal. This is also an example of reflection within the product, having a touch phone says something about my own self-image therefore I can connect with it better. Norman talks about the three levels of processing, Visceral, Behavioural and Reflective, Visceral is all about what we like and dislike, bright colours, smiling faces. The example he uses is water bottle, “you buy it because of the bottle not because of the water” its all about the visceral experience. Behavioural is all about function, usability and being in control of your environment. Reflective is all about emotion and how a object will reflect on our own self image. The products we surround ourselves with are reflective of how we see ourselves. The best example of this used by Don Norman is the Hummer, an extremely head turning car makes a comment on the owners individual self-image and status. He also talks about the story within design, making particular reference to Jake Cress an alternative furniture maker and narratives placed within his designs, these stories are accepted by the user without question.