Treasuring Time

The concept of my project is based on creating a family tree, I believe, personally that it is a journey of sorts, where it is about discovering, searching and digging deep, looking to your roots. For many people it is somewhat a spiritual experience, one can understand where they've come from and sometimes they can find out some interesting facts about themselves whether they are related to someone famous or important; you never know.

Made from Pine, an easy to keep and a lasting timber. Simply by applying some beeswax polish can keep the timber's luster. Being made entirely from timber, it gives it a more authentic and handcrafted appeal; as timber is a lasting material it can go for generations. The product is a constructable, where branches - which represents offspring and the spheres representing a relationship or a family connecting to each other through the same means as a science molecules kit. Creating this tree could be a family project where they would understand more about their family, and through time, it could be passed on from generation to generation to further add to it. In a sense, the product could become a sculpture which can be a centre piece in a household as the extended family grows, so does the tree. Furthermore, being made from timber, to add a more personal touch, one can get the branches engraved with the name of the person, or other important dates such as birth or the day they passed away. Through time, the earlier branches and trunk would age and eventually the image of a aged tree with newer branches being made from new timber and the older generations of progressively older timber.

Designing Dream Machines

The video was quite interesting, where it takes the audience through the daily tasks of a industrial design firm; it really gives an insight to the viewer about how a product can be developed from the beginning, such as researching and analysis existing products in the market to nurturing and developing ideas and creating a prototype. Designing isn't really about what you think looks good, but in the real world, the end user is the client, and we must design to satisfy the client's needs and specification. There is a huge emphasis of the importance of communication with the client and as designers we must communicate with clients in order to understand their needs and let them know our aspirations and perspective of the project/product; and the only way highlighted in the video is communicating through sketches. As everyone sees things differently, sketching and presenting visually is the most effective way to communicate what you want and through this, the client may also interpret different things abou the ideas. However, during the design process we must also consider various aspects such as new technology, materials and aesthetics as well as the client's needs; with all those combined, we can then design a product that is suitable for the end user market.
The end result of creative and successful design is a collaboration of all the aspects mentioned above. There is without doubt that the bond between client and designer is very important to produce good design; the video has given me the message that communication with the client is above all the most important factor in the design process. They are there to lead us in the right direction and if we don't collaborate and engage in discussion as designers, we may never produce good designs

Bad Design: Vodafone Pre-pay Starter Pack

The pack has a fancy opening mechanism, in which when you pull on the indicated tab; the tab pulled is connected to another tab where when pulled comes out the other side of the pack. From first sight, it looks straight forward, simply pull the tab indicated on the pack and there you go. But naturally when one holds onto the product to open it, the hands are positioned in a way that obstructs the movement of the opening mechanism. So, it would appear that it wouldn't open because the other hand is blocking the way. In order to open the pack, the alternate hand must be positioned in a less comfortable alignment, but not awkward. However, once you know how the product works, this problem no longer arises, but the aim for my product is for it to be used properly during first-time use.

In order to ensure proper first-time use of the product I decided to include some sort of indication that a second tab does come out or an indication of how to hold the product when used. Thus i have devised 2 different ideas in which the product could be improved.

Postal Presents

The postal presents project encapsulates the essence of 3D transformation through flat pack design and the use of sheet material. At first I started off with some storage products but I wanted to move away from storage items as they are popular reusable products. Although they may be useful, there are other little things that someone would want and would be useful. So i decided on my one idea, a Calendar.
The product was made from MDF and this was laser cut -- mainly for the appearance and the precision in manufacture. The rings and components are cut and the text is engraved; all the components are shipped along with the 'offcut' sheet for protection. Contrasting colours such as the burnt edges, darkened engraved letter and the untouched MDF surface create an interesting appearance making the product have more presence.
The original design of the calendar was for it to be wall mounted, hence the wall mount components along with the main calendar rings are fit into one sheet of approximately A4 sized MDF. However, as a later development, I added a desktop version, which would not fit into the original sheet, thus it is made from a separate sheet.
The wall mount version is mounted using 3M Velcro Command strips as they are versatile,easy to use and does not damage the walls.
Being laser cut, the CAD drawing could then be sent to any manufacturer and the same product could be reproduced.
This calendar is an interactive product, where the user has to change the date -- by rotating the respective rings; and by not having years, it could be an everlasting product. With very few components, it is easy to assemble and can be done so with very little effort.

Stuff

The video encapsulates the system and processes anyone involved in consumer goods has somewhat a role in; the materials economy. This is described as a linear system on a finite planet, where there are limitations in the cycle and thus problems appear. We are exploiting the environment -- undermining the variability for people to live and running out of resources fast.
Other important problems described include the release of chemicals and toxic materials. There are thousands of synthetic chemicals which can result in huge impact on physical and mental health; such chemicals are used in manufacture to make new products. However what goes in must come out and thus those chemicals may still remain in the product after manufacture. It is highlighted that brominated flame retardants are neurotoxins and with a combination of other toxic chemicals we don't really know what will happen with extended exposure.
With the excessive extraction of resources, people living in those areas are losing homes, and they have no choice but to work in atrocious conditions in factories etc.
Costs that are involved in extraction and manufacture does not materialise in the form of money, what it does do is materialise in these people's lives through losing homes, jobs and deteriorating health through exposure to chemicals for example.
We are also consuming masses and masses of goods thus producing as much waste. This is a vicious cycle where we need or want more, so we get more but in the end we make more waste; disposal of such waste can also cause environmental impact along with those through manufacture.

There are problems with the system we use today, problems that impact everyone whether directly or indirectly; impact on society or the environment. Society is trying to change this system, but it is slow and we are only working at the uppermost layers. Change does not happen unless the underlying factors that result in such massive, even global problems are resolved. As a result of this mass consumption of we really have to consider the bigger picture, not by just creating the product but think about the whole lifetime beginning from extraction to manufacture to disposal. It encapsulates the concept of 'cradle to the grave' as designers we also have to consider what happens to a product at the end of its lifetime.

Experience Enrichment

The safety razor has been phased-out since the 1970s, this was due to the introduction of the modern cartridge type razors, fueled by the need to control the market. This introduction, in a sense was an innovation but new is not always good; why was the safety razor replaced?
For this project I was to re-design the phased out razor to be a more contemporary product for my target market of Business men aged 35 and above, someone who likes grooming and takes care of themselves.
Wet shaving itself is really an art form which is delicate and requires finesse. One can sense a hint of nostalgia when coming into contact with a traditional razor. The design process essentially revolves around the mechanism and the razor blade itself; these are restricting factors when it comes to form, hence the emphasis of the design of the handle. Standardisation was an important factor to consider in my project, with more 'modern' and traditional razors, variable settings were not standardised, where a setting of 1 for example will give a different shave with every razor.
The final design consists of a twisted handle in black chrome or polished black anodised finish which would allow light to reflect in various directions giving an interesting look. The complicated mechanism would also be hidden from view with a larger razor cover along with a standardised measurement of razor height.

Designing Details

Paul Bennett talks about how the little things in design are the things that can really make an impact, and how the simplest solutions are practical etc. The philosophy behind it is that designing is not always about new ideas and solutions to problems, little things around us that we look past everyday can bring out new opportunities for development. Relating to this Bennett touches on how everyone is actually designing, people design their own experience subconsciously; such as the teabag string around the cup handle. We are using the little things around use to facilitate ourselves, and in a way creating our own design solutions.

Another interesting point mentioned by Bennett is that form is not always the most important thing in design. Designing is not always concentrated on form but rather, other aspects such as practicality, usability etc. But the most important point I think, is that designers often neglect the human element, where human interaction can sometimes overpower the form and aesthetics of a product, where this interaction is the most important thing to consider.

What I also find intriguing is that there is a need for a designer to know the market, to know, to be and live like the people they are designing for. By putting themselves into someone else's shoes there is a whole new level of understanding. For example the designer for IKEA was sitting under tables to understand a child's point of view. Through this they found a different stratum of thinking in children, by understanding this, they were then able to create a storage product more suited to a child.

Product Sketching

Mr Chair
Ludwig Mies van de Rohe, 1927


The Mr Chair captures the essence of simplicity, where a single loop of tubing and a little bit of canvas can produce a striking piece of furniture. I was inspired by this product as it is the result of early experimentation with cantilevered seating and in that time this was an innovative concept.

Thompson Couplings
Glenn Thompson, 2002

I chose this product as it is a revolutionary invention and it was conceived locally; the same type of couplings in machinery have been used for hundreds of years and it has not changed much, but the Thompson Couplings were innovative in ways that increased efficiency and reduced hazards.

Kettle, a-9093
Michael Graves, 1985

Otherwise known as the tea kettle with a bird shaped whistle, the kettle is a product in which encapsulates the relationship between product and user. Even though the bird itself possesses no function, it is the symbolism of the whistling bird which makes the concept genius. With its simple geometry, and the use of colours for example on the handle; the kettle has a personality.

"Michael Hirst" Chair
Clement Meadmore, 1959

Many chairs in the 1950s-60s were constructed by solid pieces, thus yielding potentially bulky pieces of furniture. This chair stripped away all the solid pieces and instead, was replaced by plasticised metal, the material was used probably because of its elasticity and the ability to conform to the user's bodyshape; this may have been a new application of metal rods in the 1950s.

Designing Objects That Tell Stories

Yves talks about how design is very much afraid of change, many innovations relate to the outer layers, appearances etc, rather than the inner structure and technology of products. As designers we need to work towards designing products as a whole and work on the entire process of human experience; by creating new experiences we develop more innovative and interesting objects. In a sense we need to think about designing products from the inside out. Another important aspect of a human experience is what we, as humans base our perceptions and cognitive thinking around; our values. Incorporating values such as environmental and sustainability issues within the design process can also enhance and create new experiences.

An interesting point mentioned was that new design is designing in a humanistic sense, where we fuse together 2 contrasting things - similar to human centered design we need to understand the relationship between work and the world, how the intricate details piece together the world around us; and how we use this relationship to develop new, innovative ideas.

Organic Design

The video was quite inspiring, the emphasis of reduction in designing has been present in many other design styles however in organic design; but with organic design, reduction is where maximum visual beauty and impact is achieved. There is also a need for greater respect for nature and how organic design relates to this, where such respect concentrates on form.There is also mention on new materials and technology, the emphasis of new materials, bio-polymers for example helps evolve the form of products.

However, what is more interesting is the way we look at nature, how nature creates, manipulates and adapts to the environment. By zooming into the realm of microscopic structures, Ross grasps the essence of creation in nature. Evolution is limitless and as designers, looking into organic design can lead to an ever changing view, where it develops alongside the evolution of nature. In addition, there is no boundaries in creations, as a designer I have the right to dream, to be innovative and come up with ridiculous ideas which are not feasible.

Human Centered Design

The video on human centered design was very interesting, where it mentions the evolution of design; the emphasis on emotional interaction between product and consumer has seen the development of more creative and innovative products with the help of the advances of technology in recent years.
By understanding the aspects of interaction, emotion, behaviours and personality, it broadens the understanding of the relationship between man and machine. As a designer, rather than concentrating on raw aesthetics, though understanding the emotions, behaviours or what not, we can grasp how, without physical interaction a product communicates with the user.
I think it was very interesting where this one man, has created jobs and opportunities in the third world, it has made me consider the aspects we may overlook or take for granted when we design products. It has also given me a greater understanding on our impact in the third world, where something simple may result in dramatic effects.
The application of new technology in the Prada store has also been quite intriguing, by adding features which enhance the experience of the consumer such as the magic mirror or displays which show the products on the runway etc. It promotes a more mellow environment, thus making the consumers more comfortable. I believe that the technology used in the Prada store could be what shopping is like in the near future.
Through watching the video it is clear that working at a design firm is no common office job, but there are things in which we have to consider and discuss throughout the design process, human centered design is one of many important aspects in which we have to cover; and by doing so we would create products which are stylish, innovative and enhance life.

Good Design

Tatung Wireless VOIP Phone



Designer: Nova Design Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) -- http://www.e-novadesign.com/
Manufacturer: Tatung Co. (Taiwan)
Credentials: Gold Award, iF Product Design Award, 2008
..................Silver Award, International Design Excellence Awards, 2008

Nova design has diverged from the general trend of sophistication in terms of functionality, by sticking to the philosophy of reductionism, they have taken a step back, and stripped away the various functions in which many of today's 'smart phones' carry; while doing this Nova, has also incorporated new technologies to the design of the VOIP phone. The jurors for the iF Product Design Award have noted "Not only does this phone look good, it also makes you smile".

The reductionist theme extends to the shape, where the block-like design emotes simplicity. The product is one case in which the form, the simple geometric shape with a stubby faux antenna is a representation of it simply being a wireless phone; unlike many of today's mobile phones, where they are mostly square blocks, the antenna gives the product the image of what is considered retro by the designers; taking the generic shape of the first phones.

Nova has provided the VOIP phone with a simple interactive interface, with the use of thermal sensors, buttons illuminate with the touch of a finger; such simplicty also enables easy usability for the product. Round edges were incorporated to enhance comfortable use for the user as well as to soften the image of the product. The overall shape and original colour, black, makes the VOIP phone a somewhat discreet product - whereby with the added option of changing the colours or even adding patterns to the front cover, it will surely liven up its presence. The polished metal finish on the back creates an "iPhone-esque" harmony between the two colours of front and back, be it black or other vibrant colours such as pink. The phone is easy on the eyes with its bold shape, it was clear to the designers that functionality and ergonomics were crucial components of the design criteria.


More information on the Tatung Wireless VOIP Phone:
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/07/0717_idea_winners/26.htm?chan=search
http://www.e-novadesign.com/project_story.aspx?WebType=3&LeftImgID=32&sqno=68&RowNo=3
http://www.idsa.org/IDEA_Awards/gallery/2008/award_details.asp?ID=678

Shape of a Scent