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.