Sketches

Peer comments

ryan go
http://ryan-go.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcycling-unwanteds-jellyfish-light.html?showComment=1318912190950#c2340725869797174414

Sarah howard
http://sarahoward1031.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcycling-utility.html?showComment=1318915663777#c4314465895066742581

Alexander Jackson
http://ides1031alexanderjackson.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcycled-light-design.html?showComment=1318915784612#c5783223491167371644

Luke messina
http://idesluke.blogspot.com/2011/10/project-2-upcycled-recycling.html?showComment=1318915987075#c5452180080018128819

Charlotte Hartley
http://chartley1122.blogspot.com/2011/10/light.html?showComment=1318916127645#c3110251166833797859

Project 2: upcycling

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.

Annie leonard: The story of Cosmetics

During this video it explained how chemicals in many cosmetics are really bad for the human body, and can result in being seriously detrimental to our health. The way I noticed that all these cosmetic companies are getting away with this is because of all the slight loop holes they are finding. They have noticed that there are NO laws against this, the FDA barely inspects their products, not just this but not all the ingredients are required. Along with this they go to say that the level of toxics in these products will not affect the human body, but they ignore the fact that people use numerous chemicals each time. The big kicker was when they decided to make their own committee to monitor their own work.

In what Annie Leonard explains how the main way to solve this problem is by making a list of laws to abide by, WILL fix the problem, although this will fix a problem, it will also result in the problem of price increase. If there were two different products on the shelf, both doing the same thing, except one costs more than the other, people would usually choose the cheaper option, this is the only complication with making the laws. Unfortunately we have all reached a stage where people are reliant on cosmetics.

I feel that more of a push needs to put on the chemists in creating products that do not have any toxics that are bad for your health, if this industry can boom, and then with some marketing strategies along with keeping the price similar to the toxic products, it will eliminate the toxic product. Seeing as these companies always want to stay in the industry, not only will it eliminate their toxic products, but it would encourage them to join the band wagon of creating products that do not affect your health in a bad way.

Personally I do not feel this has much of an effect on my as the cosmetics I use are the bare minimum to maintain a healthy hygiene and nothing more. Because of this I don’t really believe that I am the sort of person to discuss this topic, but from what I understand the best way I could describe it comes down the ingredients and marketing.

Annie leonard: The story of bottled water

This Video did not so much talk about the design ideas but more target the marketing campaigns and the movement they believe people should take. In total it speaks about how tap water is the same if not better quality than bottled water. This then led on to elaborate on the damage bottled water is doing to the environment.

Something that amazed me most was the acknowledgement of when a bottle is thrown in the recycle bin, it is not necessary recycled, I was amazed to see that 80% is put in land fill. Like usual this all has to do with the money, and how the recycling of a bottle is not very cost affective.

The idea that the only way to stop bottled water from being produced and to help the environment is to stop buying bottled water in total. This technically speaking would work, but I can NOT see everybody stop buying bottled water. The reason why I believe this is because drinking bottled water also has to do with convenience, and a social status. Somebody may be thought to be highly respected if they go ahead and buy a bottle of water, as appose to bringing a pre used bottle of water from home. I believe that way to totally stop bottled water is by making it so this bottled water is no longer socially acceptable, after all that is how bottled water started. Originally everybody believed that buying bottled water was stupid whilst it was free. Then the companies made tap water seem bad for you. This same concept can be thrown back at the bottled water companies by showing how tap water is better quality to bottled water, along with that, if the word spreads about what effect bottled water has on the environment, it will then encourage people to no longer have it.

Annie leonard: The story of electronics

I personally Have always had an obsession with electronics, since I was 8 and I was given my first screw driver set I was opening, disassembling, and modifying computers and anything with a circuit, this led to me having a great understanding of the general area of electronics.. Due to this I had a higher interest of this video simply by the title.

This video general went on to explain how Designs of electronics were made to maximize profit, and the result of that is the price that has to be paid to the people working with the chemicals and the environment.

It also then went onto explain how design could be changed so that instead of replacing an entire product, you could just replace a single or a number of small components.  This then resulting in less waste.  But in total it all came back to the designer, how we are now challenging designers to create devices with a longer life.

With this entire video I both agree and disagree in certain aspects. On one side we have the argument that as designers we should create devices that have a longer life cycle, whilst on the other side we have the argument that everything should just be upgraded.

actually believe that electronics should NOT have a longer life cycle, this is solely because I know that currently we are in a world where electronics is booming in every industry, and a major factor to this has to do with their short life cycle, the fact that a design become obsolete so quickly, results in something bigger and better coming out quicker, again resulting in more powerful electronics. Along with this I also feel it will make those companies that create long life cycles run out of business, the reason for this, is whilst one company has a longer life cycle, there will be another company that has a shorter life cycle design, having newer designs on the market more frequently.

ALTHOUGH, seeing as I disagree with the fact that the life cycle of the product should stay how it currently is, I believe the life cycle of the materials used should be altered. Seeing as so much of a design goes to e waste I believe that a design that can be entirely recycled, and made into these newer faster developing electronics will result in both making the company, the customer, and the environment happy.

Why did i want to be an industrial designer?

When I was always questioned what I want to be when I grew up, I never really thought what can I see myself doing for the rest of my life, I never really thought what is a big money maker, I simply thought….what is fun?

Ever since I was young I found a passion in drawing, designing, and building….back from the days where I would be building houses out of Lego, to my more mature days where I rebuild cars. It always lit up my eyes, it always left me excited to have completed something, look back at it and think “I did that”. There were three main factors that contributed to this admiration, and they were; creating something unique, making something from nothing, and fun. When I got to my later high school days I started searching university courses, and then I noticed how much I loved Design and technology at school, It was by far always my favorite subject and would always show up and class with a smile, this led to my choice in industrial design.

Being a designer I realized that it is all about creating or designing something, that is not already designed, this contributed to me wanting to create something unique. The aspect of making something unrealistic, seem a reality always had my wanting to work harder and push more for design. Somebody that truly inspired me in this area was James Dyson, whom which I saw a design exhibition for whilst in high school. Watching designs of his like the ball barrow, to the bag less vacuum cleaner. His vacuum cleaner was always seen as unique, but impractical, some companies even laughed at him, whilst after he went through the effort to design it. His company is now taken control of the vacuum cleaning market.

Making something from nothing was ALWAYS a big hit for me, the general concept of having an idea in your head, and then with some thought, and innovation, that thing in your head could become something real and practical. This led to the limitation of what I considered as design, was the limitation of whatever I can imagine. This added somewhat a large fun factor to it. Knowing that what I create was from my head, and if designing for someone else, it is something that they can enjoy.

The last yet MOST important factor was fun. If you do not enjoy doing what you’re doing, then why do it? Teachers like to teach, so they become a teacher, they enjoy it. The same concept is for me and designing. I will design something, I will have fun during the process, there will always be some hurdles, but in the end, when the product is complete, I have a smile on my face. If design was not a fun thing to do, then the evolution of every product we use in our day to day life will be very limited.