Paul Bennett- Design is in the Details
This video explored the way that designers in todays society need to focus more and more on specific details to produce a complete product for the consumer. For example the designers put themselves into the shoes of the consumer thay are designing for to fully understand their task and therefore create something that ticks all the boxes. This was shown well with the data information mechanism for the nurses allowing them to get data as well as hold the hand of the patient whilst in surgery.
They also managed to tick all the boxes on their water pump. It is lightweight, is transportable by bikes and can be used by anyone. They focussed on every aspect that is important to the consumer and focused on the details to make it the best possible design.
this is important to us as designers as we need to learn to take our time do the necessary reasearch and focus on all the little details. this way we are able to design something that is just another product but something that improves the consumers interaction with the product.
Video Reflection
DESIGNING DREAM MACHINES
Dick Powell and Richmond Semore, both british designers, in this video offer a unique insight into the processes and design practices that are relevant to our industrial design course.
They used many great examples of design to show how important finding the x-factor in their designs is. the batman motorcycle for example showed a great insight into the development, and thought processes that go into the concepts of the bike. the amount of time and hard thought that went into that bike is quite amazing and is a good indication to us as designers of how much dedication to the product is needed.
it also showed the importance of brainstorming as the frist step. also sketching is a major part of their process as the pen allows you to create so much more easily than a computer does in the early stages of design.
also because the designers worked hand in hand with engineers, they were able to create a design that is both technologically correct and advanced as well as aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable for the consumer.
it is important for us as designers to design products that cover all the areas of design so that the product is a complete one in all areas.
Dick Powell and Richmond Semore, both british designers, in this video offer a unique insight into the processes and design practices that are relevant to our industrial design course.
They used many great examples of design to show how important finding the x-factor in their designs is. the batman motorcycle for example showed a great insight into the development, and thought processes that go into the concepts of the bike. the amount of time and hard thought that went into that bike is quite amazing and is a good indication to us as designers of how much dedication to the product is needed.
it also showed the importance of brainstorming as the frist step. also sketching is a major part of their process as the pen allows you to create so much more easily than a computer does in the early stages of design.
also because the designers worked hand in hand with engineers, they were able to create a design that is both technologically correct and advanced as well as aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable for the consumer.
it is important for us as designers to design products that cover all the areas of design so that the product is a complete one in all areas.
Bad Design
For this project i chose the on and off button on my mobile phone. When i first got the phone i thought that the green button shown below on the phone was the on button. i got this idea because of the misleading design cues it was giving me. first of all it is green, a colour that represents "go" and "do" and second of all it looks very similar to the actual on button which is the red one across from it on the key pad. this misleading button confuses the user as they are unable to turn on the phone by the button they think is the on button.
To improve this design so it is less confusing to the viewer i decided i would change the appearence of the green button so it didnt look like a generic power button. i decided i would remove the right semicircle and dot from the green button so all that is shown is the green phone sign.
Postal Presents
For this brief i decided that i would design a cd rack. current cd racks i feel lack a connection to music as they are mostly just metal towers or plastic stands that have no link whatsoever to what they are storing; music. with that in mind i wanted to design a rack that had this connection. i came across my mothers vinyl record collection and realised that it was exactly what i was looking for, both a flat packable material and a material that has a direct connection to music. From this i wanted to folllow the curve semi circle shape of the record so designed it so the cd's would follow the angle of the curve. this i feel adds movement to the design and creates something quite aesthetic. i used alluminium as the base material becasue it is both light and strong whilst looking sleek against the matte black of the record. it also makes a great gift.
Video Reflection
the story of stuff- Annie Leonard
i think this video touches on very important issues to designers in our current society. based around consumers, which is everyone, she looks at the processes involved with extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. there are important messages in this video surrounding these processes and the environment that as designers are very benificial to us. if we can design a product that does all of these processes in the most friendly way for the environment then that is a plus. after all designing is not just about the product, its the whole production process.
an interesting video with insightful information and important messages.
i think this video touches on very important issues to designers in our current society. based around consumers, which is everyone, she looks at the processes involved with extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. there are important messages in this video surrounding these processes and the environment that as designers are very benificial to us. if we can design a product that does all of these processes in the most friendly way for the environment then that is a plus. after all designing is not just about the product, its the whole production process.
an interesting video with insightful information and important messages.
Task 5: Video Reflections
Yves Behar: Designing objects that tell stories
i believe that the major take home messages of this video were surrounding the ideas of values in design and values of the design process. he talks about making products that tell a story and how it is important to see the journey the product has taken and the importance of that story to the outcome of the product. he expressed how it was important to him that he was a designer that did it from the inside out, rather than just designing skins for the product. i think this is an important message for all designers.
he also taked about how his products involve the user, creating more friendly relationships between product and consumer, like the leaf lamp which can be adjusted to the feel of the user, creating a more personal connection to the product. he also gave insight into his designing process talking about the pushing and the pulling during design and how important that is for the process. to really understand the object designers need to look beyond the first layer and delve deeper into the values of the product and the stories it has behind it.
he also expresses how it is possible to change the world with the right values in design and i believe that his XO laptop is a great example of how he has taken design to a very valuable level, leading the way for world changing designs.
i believe that the major take home messages of this video were surrounding the ideas of values in design and values of the design process. he talks about making products that tell a story and how it is important to see the journey the product has taken and the importance of that story to the outcome of the product. he expressed how it was important to him that he was a designer that did it from the inside out, rather than just designing skins for the product. i think this is an important message for all designers.
he also taked about how his products involve the user, creating more friendly relationships between product and consumer, like the leaf lamp which can be adjusted to the feel of the user, creating a more personal connection to the product. he also gave insight into his designing process talking about the pushing and the pulling during design and how important that is for the process. to really understand the object designers need to look beyond the first layer and delve deeper into the values of the product and the stories it has behind it.
he also expresses how it is possible to change the world with the right values in design and i believe that his XO laptop is a great example of how he has taken design to a very valuable level, leading the way for world changing designs.
Task 5: Video Reflections
Ross Lovegrove: Organic Design
i think that the major take home messages from this video on organic design are centred around forms from nature and "fat-free" designs. Ross talks about getting inspiration from nature and organic forms. he likes to strip forms to the essentials, letting go of all unnecessary parts. he has dreams of cars being made out of 300 components instead of 30 000. i believe that designers need to look to the future, like ross, and find solutions to problems through new ways of production and new material experimentation. i think that this video shows how the design world is moving forward and that clients and customers need to move with it to accept such organic designs. these designs have elements of human features in them stemming from nature.
this video suggests that to grow as industrial designers we need to find inspiration in new things, materials and problems and stick by your own beliefs and passions about the future of design.
i think that the major take home messages from this video on organic design are centred around forms from nature and "fat-free" designs. Ross talks about getting inspiration from nature and organic forms. he likes to strip forms to the essentials, letting go of all unnecessary parts. he has dreams of cars being made out of 300 components instead of 30 000. i believe that designers need to look to the future, like ross, and find solutions to problems through new ways of production and new material experimentation. i think that this video shows how the design world is moving forward and that clients and customers need to move with it to accept such organic designs. these designs have elements of human features in them stemming from nature.
this video suggests that to grow as industrial designers we need to find inspiration in new things, materials and problems and stick by your own beliefs and passions about the future of design.
Task 5: Video Reflections
David Kelly: Human Centred Design
I believe that the major "take home messages" from this movie surrounded the notion that the future of design is in making designs 'human centred', not just products and objects. It is now important in the design world to produce products with behaviour and personality that creates a 'man - machine' relationship for both the designer and the consumer. The video showed good examples of this with the Prada store, specifically the change rooms.
It suggests that as industrial designers, we need to look to producing such products that are human centred, not just aesthetic and functional products, but products with life. This can be obtained by designing personality, flair and behaviour into the products. I believe that this not only will result in better products for the consumer, but make the design process for the designer a lot funner and more enjoyable.
I believe that the major "take home messages" from this movie surrounded the notion that the future of design is in making designs 'human centred', not just products and objects. It is now important in the design world to produce products with behaviour and personality that creates a 'man - machine' relationship for both the designer and the consumer. The video showed good examples of this with the Prada store, specifically the change rooms.
It suggests that as industrial designers, we need to look to producing such products that are human centred, not just aesthetic and functional products, but products with life. This can be obtained by designing personality, flair and behaviour into the products. I believe that this not only will result in better products for the consumer, but make the design process for the designer a lot funner and more enjoyable.
Task 2: Good Design
Ergon GR2- Bike Grips
Silver- International Design Excellence Awards
Leisure & Recreation
Client: RTI Sports (Germany)
Design: Ergonomidesign (Sweden)
Creating the world's most ergonomic and comfortable bike grip required finding out how different hand sizes are affected by the biking experience. Research showed, for example, that women have more nerves in the palms of their hands. The designers of the Ergon GR2 used this and other information to create a grip that reduces/eliminates pain and numbness in the hand, thereby increasing bikers' performance and enhancing the joy of bicycling. In addition to being comfortable, the grip gives the biker maximum control when riding on rough surfaces with sweaty or muddy hands.
Visual Design Analysis:
Line: Bold, smooth, curvatious lines
Balance: Not symetrical alone, but when attached to a bike a pair becomes symetrical. The large flatter surface of the grip is balanced by the more cylindrical, sharper shape of the gear lever.
Contrast: Minimal contrast, eg, light grey to black or light green to green
Form: Organic, stable and safe. The ergonomic form fits the hand well and allows for maximum comfort and useability. large flatter handling area and a horn like gear changer.
Colour: Blacks and greys as well as jungle greens and yellows
Texture: Sleek and smooth metals and palm friendly rubber grip pads
Proportion: Horn like lever dominates the organic form leading down to the handle
Contact: Anna Romboli: anna.romboli@ergonomidesign.com
