How Its Made; Packaging

This series of videos is incredibly interesting and valuable for designers. It covers the industrial manufacturing of packaging from cardboard boxes, metal tubing, Tetrapak, aluminium cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles. Cardboard box manufacturing goes through a number of processes from the creation of the three layered system of two flat pieces of card and one corrugated piece to being cut, creased and inked/printed on. Cardboard is completely recyclable and all of the off cuts are used again in the same process up to 6 times over. The series also investigates the manufacture of flexible metal tubing that stores items such as toothpaste and paint. These are made from a coin size of aluminium which is stretched to create a cylinder mould. This cylinder is then filled with contents and folded over to seal. Aluminium tubes are also recyclable as aluminium does not deteriorate, all excess material is sent back to aluminium factory where it is melted down to be reused. Tetrapak is an innovative packaging system that is comprised of 3 layers of material to keep the contents fresh without the addition of preservatives or refrigeration. The first most outer layer is made of a plastic which prevents any leakage while the middle is paperboard and the inner most layer is aluminium. This complex packaging is also completely recyclable making an incredibly efficient form of packaging. Aluminium cans are created much the same as aluminium tubing. A sheet of aluminium has holes punched from it which are then stretched to create the body the can is then processed to create the top before being sent of to the company that will use it. As with the tubing all excess material is sent back to aluminium factory to be recycled and reused. Glass bottles are created from 3 main ingredients as well as a small amount of recycled glass. The glass is melted into goo which is then cast into miniature bottle called a parison. The parison is then blasted with air to expand the glass to the actual size of the bottle. The bottles are then treated to create a thread at the top of the bottle. Glass like the other materials shown in the video is also recyclable. Plastic bottles are made from PET which is melted and injection moulded into performs which will later be heated and stretched using compressed air much like glass bottles. These will then be printed then tested to be sent to the companies that will use them. Unlike other materials only the new plastic left over from the manufacturing process is recycled for hygienic reasons.

Technical Drawings

Giving Packaging New Life

This series is all about the recycling and reuse of materials in the packaging industry. It covers everything from recycling paper, Tetrapak, tinplate, aluminium, glass and most importantly plastics. The series also covers innovations in the recycling world through new methods of sorting and separation. A video like this can be very useful for designers to watch as sustainability is becoming more and more necessary when designing and manufacturing. As a designer I will be more aware of how my product is constructed and what materials are used so when it comes to the end of a products life it may be easily separated and sorted for recycling. We see in this video the differences between recycling different types of packaging. The video on paper recycling shows us that ink and other impurities must be removed prior to pulping. While paper is recycled easily other materials such as Tetrapak must be processed to separate paper from aluminium and plastic. Some materials use innovative separation techniques such aluminium which is magnetised to sort them, this allows it to be easily melted down and turned into sheets which require only one twentieth of the energy needed for the production of new goods. Glass is also a material that has to be sorted and separated as coloured glass and impurities such as ceramic can hinder the recycling process. Innovations in technology have made this process much more viable, computer light readers can pick up coloured glass as small as 15mm and compressed jets blow these unwanted parts away immediately. Plastics are one of the most important materials to be recycled within the packaging industry and require the most sorting. Before technological sorting equipment majority of plastics ended up in landfill or were incinerated. With the aid of sorting innovations plastics can be separated into bottles, films, PET, expanded polystyrene and mixed plastics. These different plastics are then recycled individually. As a designer knowing these recycling techniques is very important, as they can be implemented into our own designs by using materials or manufacturing methods that make the sorting and separation of our products easier at the end of the life cycle. The three take home messages for this video series would be to design with recyclable materials, design with sorting and separation techniques in mind and try to minimize use of different materials within the one product. All of these are done to make the recycling process at the end of a products life easier, more effective and more efficient. Designing with these things in mind should make a more sustainable and more environmentally sound future. 

Blog Comments

http://ides2161yvonnesha.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/favum-new-kitchen-storage-experience.html

http://vindustriald.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/biodesign-pelapo.html?showComment=1332808537211#c7942029591071490608

http://tomloefler.posterous.com/

http://ttinging.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/project-one-bio-inspired-storage.html?showComment=1332809295052#c3700384247799285173

http://akiwei.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/model-project-one.html?showComment=1332809425239#c2897594064894982132

Proj 2.

Rationale

For this brief I had to develop a bio inspired domestic storage system by looking at how nature storage systems work. For my area of storage I focused on kitchen bench top storage. To do this I had to look into a range of different items that are commonly stored along the bench tops, these include spatulas, wooden spoons, vegetable such as onions, garlics, tomato’s as well as herbs and spices and salt and pepper. With so many different items being stored on kitchen bench tops I knew that my product would have to cater to at least a range of these items. By looking at how nature would store these sorts of items I came along a source of inspiration from an insect known as a lacewing, the insect goes about storing its eggs on the undersides of leaves from a thin strand of silk to protect them. This gave me the idea to create a storage unit that is elevated from the bench tops by hanging from the under sides of a kitchen cabinet. My concept consists of three hanging pod like forms, carrying on from the natural inspiration for a concept these shapes take on quite organic and natural forms. Each pod like piece holds a different kitchen item. The longest and thinnest pod stores wooden spoons, spatulas and ladles. The widest pod is for fruit and vegetables that can be stored out in the open, it will fit food such as onions, tomatoes and garlic. The smallest pod, which has two separated bowls, is for storing cooking salts and pepper or herbs of the users choice. The benefits of having an elevated storage system means in medium to high density living small kitchens will have increased bench space to work with. These hanging storage units are not only a functional item for the kitchen but are also meant to have decorative value. The final product will be made from clay as it gives the user the feel of preciousness and delicateness, as well as being aesthetically appealing for kitchen type environment. Clay also has the strong ability to absorb moisture, this benefits the storage of fruits, vegetable, herbs and spices by absorbing any excess moisture and keeping those items fresher for longer. Assembly is easy as the timber rests on hooks that have adhesive bottoms that stick directly onto the underside of a cabinet. If no area underneath a cabinet can be used for hanging these items the adhesive hooks can also be directly placed onto the wall. This product will be manufactured from clay using a slip casting method, this involves using a plaster cast for the clay to be to put into.

I have not uploaded my technical drawing as it has to be re submitted.

Truth

An Inconvenient Truth

This movie displays the nature in which humans interact with our environment and the problems it poses. Starring Al Gore he takes us through our polluting habits and the damage it is causing to the atmosphere and the overall warming affect it will have on the earth. He uses many examples of how human involvement has caused the melting of glaciers, warming of seas, increased flooding and drought and how all of these relate back to human interference. These are all due to humans increasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere through pollution and energy consumption.  Al Gore demonstrates how warming oceans have even caused storms to increase in intensity and how heat waves are becoming more and more prominent. Global warming effects are even being seen in natures natural life cycles with populations of birds that rely on certain worms to be born similar times are now being seen much earlier in the year. Developing nations as well as the USA are some of the highest contributors to Co2 emissions. Many have tried to pass global warming off as a theory rather than fact in the public limelight however global warming is scientifically recognized as fact and due to human involvement. Al Gore preaches at the end that we need to take a stand, we have the technologies and resources to reduce such emissions.  He places great importance on the fact that we must look to renewable resources and choices for the future to cut carbon emissions to zero. This incredibly relevant for industrial designers as they are the ones responsible for the production, manufacture and designs that are used on a major scale. Industrial designers need to think very hard before they take a product to the market on how they may reduce wastage, carbon emissions and how a product may in turn be recycled to be used again. In the 21^st century these are some of the most important factors that will go in our designs such as “how can we make this product from cradle to cradle” to breath new life into old, obsolescent products. After watching An Inconvenient Truth, as a designer I will be much more conscious about the materials, manufacturing processes and packaging I incorporate into my products as well as this recycling and the reuse of the products I design will also be a major factor. Al Gore for world president!!

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.