Bill Moggridge: What is Design?

I highly enjoyed the video “what is design, by Bill Moggridge. A key strong factor as to why I enjoyed it so much was because it did not specify to one general field of design, or style of design, or aspect of design, instead it spoke about design in total….from various fields of works and different key factors like aesthetics, functionality, innovation and so on. This gave me, an industrial design student an open eye to key notices in good design and good design ideas.

One strong point that Bill stated was that design is a human thought up concept. Along with this being a human thought up concept it is the style of how it is shown to the user on what makes it a good design. It solely revolves around the communication between the individuality of the design, and the people. With this he also made a strong statement which I did already know, but it is great to have a reputable individual have the same statement. This was the statement that a designer does not design something to suite and use themselves or the average person, they design something so everyone else can use it, people that are outliers; the old, the young and many other categories.

The context of designing was very informative for me, explaining how designers originated to think they are there to design “things”, but instead it has been given the context of people, social, and environment. This goes on to describe how it is first designed for a person or people, to help a need. After it is there to suite the need they make it to suite the social area. Then finally designed to suite the environment, if you have all these areas fulfilled you will make a good design. I found this rather informative as I then noticed that these contexts are filled in good design, without me even knowing about it till now.

Generally speaking this “what is design” by Bill Moggridge was more a recap on design, rather than a factual speech. Many aspects of this I did already know, but despite already knowing, it did open my eyes into certain areas that I already knew about. Something I need to highly commend this video on is how they relate it to ALL design, not just one specific area.

Peer comments

here are the list of blogs i commented on
1.http://sarahoward1031.blogspot.com/2011/09/product-redesign-tape-measure.html#comments

2.http://christinaale.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/concept-poster-easi-open/#comment-13

3.http://fooides.blogspot.com/2011/09/blog-post.html?showComment=1315899135720#c6196300804709496372



4.http://dominicsee.blogspot.com/2011/09/habu-kitchen-knife.html?showComment=1315899025233#c1487288798401341458

5.http://idesluke.blogspot.com/2011/09/project-1-experience-enrichment-water.html#comments

Product Redesign - The screwdriver

Rationale

The T driver is a new and improved re-design of the screwdriver. As many have experience when required to remove or install screws into materials such as metal we are often faced with the main dilemma that we are simply not strong enough to turn the screw into such a material, this is a common problem noticed by people that take up many labor intensive trades. Due to this people usually result to using power drills for a task as simple as forcing a screw into a sheet metal. The T-driver is here to fulfill the same task without the use of a power tool; no need to charge up, no need to carry an extra-large piece of equipment, nice and simple, easy to use, safe, and every household can have one at a low cost.

The T driver has been designed to create leverage and giving the human body a mechanical advantage when turning a screw, allowing the screw to be turned with more force. This then allowing the driver to be used in more situations than normal.

The material this design is made of is generally comprised of the simple metal screwdriver tip, whilst the ENTIRE handle is high density rubber, the reason for the use of rubber is simply so the production process is quick and cheap on the device, whilst also allowing the user to have a pleasurable grip on it without any hard edges and lowering the chance of the tool slipping whilst in use.

One of the common things to note with a regular screwdriver is that is that there was really only one way to use it. This way involves using one hand to grip on and push, making it so the same hand needs to turn AND push the driver at the same time, this can often result in only a small force being applied, or when a larger force is applied the hand slips or causes pain. The T driver allows various different ways to hold onto it.

The first method of holding the driver is exactly the same to as a regular driver; this is useful for small non major tasks. The second method involves using one hand to hold it by the T grip with the center shaft going between two fingers, this then allows your fingers to do the turning whilst the palm of your hand doing the pushing force. The third method is a mix of both the first two; this is that one hand holds it similar to the regular screwdriver, for control, whilst the other hand holds it by the T grip for the pushing force.

This has allowed one piece of material, one tool, to be used and capable of replacing most other screw driver’s tools. The fact that this handle is so simple to use makes the OHS for this tool significantly better than other powerful or industrial strength tools.