Task 3: Product Sketches

Time Capsule - Beautiful on the Inside

Environmental Chandelier by Keith Melbourne
2008

I was attracted to this design because of how delicate and beautiful it looks, and how it is an unusual concept of using test tubes in a chandelier, but the viewer can only tell they are test tubes by reading the blurb or looking really closely. It demonstrates a changing world that is open to new possibilities by commenting on environmental issues. By using a compact fluorescent tube, this is saving energy, and the designer has made it into something beautiful.


Workshopped 08 - Design Matters

Twist Bench by Kenan Wang

This design caught my attention because of the way Wang took a traditional bench and changed it by twisting it to create a completely different bench that is so much more interesting, giving the bench more movement.

Modern Times: Modernism in Australia

Espresso Machine by Bo-Ema

Alexandria, Sydney 1967

This design appealed to me because of the classic look of it with the numerous knobs and long handles all positioned to balance the form out. Similar designs started an 'espresso craze' during the 1950s, and the impact of the design is shown today as some cafe's still have classic looking espresso machines for it's design and appearance.

Australian International Design Awards

Lightway Window & Lighting by Damian Savio

2008

If this window were to be installed in everyone's home, alot of electricity could be saved. The way that it absorbs energy from the sun and uses this energy as a light source in the night time is genius.

Inspired! Design Across Time

Ribs by Stefan Lie

Sydney, 1997

I liked this design because of the use of repetition of the long pieces and the way these were joined together to create this roundish bench shape. The interesting shadows under the bench that the pieces also added to the bench, as these would constantly change if the bench were outside. After a while, I realised that the ribs were movable, as it said in the blurb, that it was flexible.

EcoLogic: Creating a Sustainable Future

Toothbrush with a replaceable head by Colgate

This is a good concept of having to just replace the bristles as opposed to the entire toothbrush as we would be saving alot of materials and money, especially if everyone started to do this.

Task 5: Video Reflections, Paul Bennett: Designing Details

Take home messages from the video would be that we can get inspiration and ideas by looking at how everything around us works; things that normally wouldn’t be noticed usually or taken into consideration. This is demonstrated when they “become the patient”. Everyone knows that patients get bored easily because they are always staring at the ceiling, but designs have hardly been based around this aspect of hospitals. Bennet’s team however, took this experience and used it to inspire designs based on how to improve one’s experience in a hospital. The concept that I liked was the changing of flooring which would make the patient feel as if they were in their own personal space when entering their room. This shows how such a small change can make a huge difference.

As designer’s we would mostly be designing for other people, and a wide variety of target markets, so we should be putting ourselves in their shoes and seeing how everything works. From this, we can get ideas to improve their experience. As designer’s An example of this is how Bennet’s team, RDL were designing a water pump to be used in Kenya. Their initial thoughts were to improve in the way it looked in order to make it a more pleasant experience. However, when they visited their target market in Kenya, they found that the form is the least important aspect of the design, as they had to take into consideration the manufacturing methods and the use of indigenous materials first. This gave them a greater insight into their target market, which caused them to redesign completely. I have also learnt that we must constantly question our designs and constantly question the things that we do in order to further push our designs.

Task 5: Video Reflections, Yves Behar: Designing objects that tell stories

One of the major take home messages from this video is that sometimes designers have to break away from what other people want them to do, in order to take the design process further. An example being that the design firm Behar was with wanted him to basically only change the outer appearance of a product, as opposed to all aspects of the product, which made him leave the firm and create all these other products, becoming way more involved in his design practice.

The extent to which the user interacts with the product totally influences the product. For example, in the Swarovski Chandelier, where the person uses their finger to trace the desired shape onto a tablet, in turn causing the chandelier to change shape, makes the user more involved with the product, as it is entertaining and people would notice it more throughout the products lifespan. It is also a great talking point as it is so interesting and unique that other people would not have seen before. Another example of this is the Y-water, and how it allows the user to get more out of it. When part of the product is gone (the water), the life span of the product can be extended, as it can be used for other purposes. ie. A toy.

We as designer’s have to become passionate about the project, in order to make it push the idea to its fullest potential, as shown in the $100 laptop project. The people involved with this product were so passionate about it, that they fought with the suppliers and manufacturers, until the end of the design process. You could tell they were emotionally attached to the product, and making sure that it would be affordable to heaps of children, like in Nigeria, or else it would be pointless, as creating affordable laptops was one of their initial goals. They took into consideration the environment in which a child  may be using the laptop, such as being able to read the screen in sunlight, and coating the laptop in rubber to protect it from the environment.

This video has caused me to realize that designer’s have a responsibility of improving people’s lives. Through the products we design, we can affect the way in which people perceive something, through the values that we add to the design. For example, if designers make their products environmentally friendly, then this could in turn influence users.

Task 5: Video Reflections, Ross Lovegrove: Organic Design

Ross Lovegrove demonstrates the importance of form, and the emotional connection between the user and the designer. His passion for nature, and how he transforms what he sees or his impression of certain aspects of nature is so creative and inspiring. The concept of “mass-individualism” of a single product, as Lovegrove described with his water bottle design would give an edge to the product as it is so personal to the consumer, being able to fit to the shape of one’s hand. This would cause the user to feel like the bottle belongs there.  

The video suggests that for our growth as industrial designers, more and more options will become available to us, as can be seen in his Diatomic structure furniture. Before, it was not possible to see this blown up version, but now that it is possible, he has replicated a similar concept into his designs. The use of new materials in his design, shows how a design changes dramatically when made out of something else. It would be interesting to see him apply his idea of making a product out of foodstuff, as it would change the entire concept of a product, as opposed to it being made out of plastic. It would also shorten the lifespan of the product, adding meaning to the design.  The video also shows that with creativity, basically anything can be used as inspiration for a design; even his furniture and how he connects pieces as if they were bones is amazing.

Task 5: Video Reflections, David Kelley: Human centred design

The most prominent messages that I received from this video is that designers have to take into consideration that they are designing for the interaction between human and the products function, as opposed to the human and the product, as demonstrated in Spyfish, where there was a stronger concentration on mimicking nature. Also, designers have to think up ways to push themselves creatively, putting themselves in the users position, and be able to “experience” the design.

The possibilities that the video suggests for my growth as an industrial designer are endless, demonstrating the continuous developments in technology, with examples of designs that incorporate them. I have learnt how a design team would work together, and extend themselves creatively, putting themselves in the position of the user, as demonstrated in the creation of Dilbert’s ideal office cubicle. The way they put themselves in the workers positions are so interesting, especially, the people as walls, as they close in on Dilbert and have a group hug. Basically, they created a work space that they believe would allow people to work better, by giving them positive, creative inspiration in their surroundings, that is more personal and friendly, as opposed to a traditional, clinical, cubicle that is usually boring to be in. They invented creative techniques of interacting with their office environment, as they said “Life would be sweet in a cubicle like this”. 

As innovative and creative as technology has allowed designers to be, I believe that if we are not careful, designers could take the technological advancements too far, as demonstrated in the Spyfish. The concept of the product is very creative and strong, being able to control the device and navigate around what the user sees on the interface, however, the video hardly showed the actual user interface that the user would be seeing everything on, which would simply be a screen. This would lessen the experience, and even though the speaker says that you would “completely lose yourself under water”, it is impossible to mimic nature with technology, and the experience of actually immersing oneself in water to interact with the sea life. After a while, people will settle for this, but getting so distracted by the awesome design and technology, as opposed to the full experience of interacting with life under water.

I think that as a designer, we would have to be up to date with technological advancements in society, to be able to take advantage of them, as can be seen with these designs. Also, we would always have to be aware of the consumers when designing. 

Task 2: Good Design

Task 2: Good Design

 

EVA SOLO BIN

Designer: Tools Design (Denmark)

Manufacturer: Eva Solo

 

Designpreis 2008 – Nominee Germany

Baden-Württemberg International Award 2007


Red Dot best of the best 2007


DesignPlus 2007
IF Design Award 2007


Formland Design Award 2006[1]

  

The Eva Solo Bin was created to be more aesthetically pleasing than your average rubbish bin, hiding the liner inside and allowing the consumer to open the lid from any angle. It opens by lifting the lid from any side, where it balances on the rim of the bin and is pushed back down to close. As the lid is detachable, it can be used as a tray to collect rubbish. Inside the bin is a rubberized metal ring that the top of the bin liner folds over, hence eliminating the appearance of the liner from the outside. The bin comes in three different sizes to be able to be used for various rooms, from kitchens to bathrooms. As it is made of stainless steel, the price is high, and it would be assumed that the consumer would purchase the product because of its unique concept.

  

FORM – It is simple, sophisticated, formal

LINE – The form mostly has straight lines causing it to look formal.

SHAPE – The positive space of the shape is vertical, solid and simple.  It consists of the cylindrical base of the body, which starts narrow and the base widens in size towards the top.

DIRECTION – The overall shape of the product is vertical making it look well balanced and stable.

TEXTURE – The stainless steel body has a matte silver finish with a matte grey cover for the lid.

COLOUR – The product is colourless, only using the grey and silver tones for the top and the main body. The only colour it would show would be slight reflections from its surrounding environment.

TONE – The stainless steel body is silver and the top is grey.

BALANCE– It is well balanced due to the symmetry of the shape, whether viewed from any side of the bin or from the top.

GRADATION – The body is lighter than the top, but there is no gradation of tone or colour in each component, causing it to appear static.

PROPORTION – The matte silver body of the bin dominates the entire form.

The Eva Solo Bin

More information on the Eva Solo Bin:

http://www.fokal.com/designfile/hotproduct/eva-solo-Waste-Bin

http://www.fokal.com/designfile/hotproduct/eva-solo-Waste-Bin

 

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[1] Hot Product – eva solo Waste Bin – FOKal.com, Date of Publification: 6/11/07 [Date accessed: 5/8/08]  http://www.fokal.com/designfile/hotproduct/eva-solo-Waste-Bin

Task 1: Shape of a Scent

Task 1: Shape of a Scent

 Initial sketches

The Container

My initial thoughts when smelling the scent was that it belonged to a sophisticated young woman in her 20s, as the scent was floral, sweet and strong. As I got more used to the smell, it started to change, hence my idea of the scent and its owner changed, as it became more acidic and mature, possibly belonging to a woman in her 30s-40s. I interpreted this change through the dynamic line that runs through the container. The container appears different from every angle that it is viewed from, demonstrating the constant change in smell that was experienced. The shape of the form is organic and curvy to reflect the mature woman that wears the scent.

After creating the container, we found that the actual scent was "G: Calvin Klein CK One Electric (2006)", which is a unisex scent, and not as mature and womanly as we thought. This demonstrates the power of marketing.