Harp thearpy

The object designed in this brief was a harp, this harp would be used to remind its user about a special occurrence in time. As nearly everyone is connected to sounds and vibrations wither it is emotionally, physically or mentally it effects the time that goes by each day in our lives whether we know it or not. The moment in time I wished to capture the essence of was of a premature baby being in hospital. As premature babies are born before their expected time due into this world, and are taken out of there nurturing environment early we need to make up for it. Adding to this their heart rates are usually unsteady, this is risky time for babies, such tasks as crying are inevitable for all babies but for premature baby’s this could lead to something else, as they cry they burn off extra energy which they valuely need. How ever by playing a harp to a premature baby can improve their heart rate into a stead rhythm. This practice is becoming more popular around the world as the rhythm, sound and vibrations produced by the harp really helps the babies go into a steady rhythm.
Soothing sounds or music research is undertaken each year to prove if sound and vibrations from certain notes help humans and our immune system. So why a harp? And not a Brass, Percussion or another String Instruments such as :Bow,cello,fiddle,guitar,violin,.
Well first of the entire harp is an instrument has a long history and its connection with time; it is also plucked, and has 3 main parts, the sound box, Colum and the neck. When played the harp is held in a position much like you are hugging something very close to and you have a deep connection with, and as you play the harp held close to you and every little vibration from the strings can be felt going through your body. This symbolizes much like a child and mother connection where the mother is calling out to the child and it is responding.

With this brief it started off in all kinds of directions for myself, as I did not have a clue to where if this was a research assignment or a thinking assignment, after reading the brief a numerous amount of times, I came to a few idea’s on where to base my object on. It started off with research and I stumbled across the harp.
After some sketches and more research on the history of the harp a lot of this in regards to the harp and its history I thought was very relevant to the brief.

Seymour Powell: Designing Dream Machines Wk 10

A very detailed insight on how a industrial design firm actually operates. Seymour Powell in the documentary takes the viewer on a journey on the real deal on what he actually goes through in he's daily occupation as a industrial designer. Prior watching this video, did i have only a vague image of what it would be like to work in a industrial design firm, faced with briefs to resolve many of the the problems a customer will hand over. Furthermore, Like most of the studio work we have learn't through out this semester and the processes involved. In every brief we carry out pretty much the same routine to begin with, this being selecting the markets, then then brainstorming so forth. This has then made me realize on the importance of actually getting used to the routine and perfecting it if i were to ever become a good designer.

Working in efficient teams is also another major take home message after the viewing of this video, as it is inevitable within this course we will be given group work it is also a likely factor that conflicts may occur as well. As shown in designing dream machines, they have a creative event also known as brainstorming, this leads to the topic of having a group of designers all with lots of idea's on one boards, it will be hard to pin point the correct or more suitable idea. The video shows how they overcome this by dividing into sub groups then choosing from there on.

Interviews are also shown in the documentary, this really gave me a real insight of how the concepts and mock ups should actually look like when presenting to a client. The amount of detail and work that is put into a product and if it's not liked it just thrown out. This reminds me much of what the lecturer Annika once said "we must be like spiders". Other major take home messages is when Seymour said "we must be able to sketch and interpret what wants to be said, by communicating though sketches". In a way i think this is the most basic part of design that has to be spot on, this is because everyone see's things differently, but if your product has that "identity, character or X factor " Seymour Powell : Designing Dream Machines, it will see through.

How has my opinions changed after viewing this video,? well firstly seeing what Seymour has gone through with the BSA bikes from falling down to climbing back up, its all worth it in the end. Doing something as to liking it or to doing it because you have to is a completely different thing. To plan and think beyond and to the future is also an important thing to always keep in mind. Lastly, research though the internet is not always the best way, much like the video that actually observed and gathered much information on the culture around the target markets to achieve a positive outcome.

Shower/sauna

As notated in the picture on the left, the twist type control, controls the output of the water, this is the con in this shower/sauna. This top control controls the shower head where it is connected to the handle, the 6 mist jets, and the top shower where water is dispensed. Notated on the bottom is the handle to control the amount of water dispersed and temperature.


Pictured on the right depicts the shower head where it is connected to the handle, the 6 mist jets, and the top shower where water is dispensed. They are highlighted in red.

The problem with this shower is that everytime i get into it to have a shower, i have cold water sprinkled over me. This is very unpleasant and i have no way of knowing where the water is going to be dispersed from as the knob does not have any indicators.
















As shown there are no indicators on or beside the knob to show where the water is going to come out. The knob is also symetrical, which makes things even more confusing.

To over come this problem here are some suggestions.


In these two pictures, the graphics of where the water will be dispersed will be lasered onto the meatal. A arrow will also point to the direction of down to show what it is actually pointing to.


This image shows the graphics engraved onto the knob. This will allow the user to know where the water will be dispersed, a arrow will also point to the output graphic.

Candy factory

Rationale (Candy factory)

Project 2, postal presents.

The brief was given to create a prototype gift that could be collapsed and sent through the mail in an ordinary c4 envelope. After receiving the brief different types of product that could be flat packed were explored throughout my research. This lead to objects that mainly folded into something of 3dimensional form from a 2d structure. I took this into consideration and after consultation I decided to do a candy dispenser.

The candy dispenser was a task which had be to redesigned as a whole as conventional candy dispensers which dispensed gobstoppers have not been distributed as flat packed before. The first thing taken into consideration when deigning the dispenser was what was the type of candy I was to be dispensing and the actual dimensions. After research and investigation, gobstoppers were the main candy the dispenser was to dispense due to the fact that they came in a conventional size; the dispenser could also dispense candy up to 17mm in diameter.

The form of the candy dispenser was inspired by the machines which were used in Willy Wonka’s epic movie with Gene wilder, how ever there were problems which had to be overcome in taking these forms into a flat packed item. There were many idea’s for the dispenser, from a rubber band belt driven dispenser, push type (where you push a button and a candy pops out), and twist type dispenser. Many types of mechanisms were tested out to ensure candy was dispensed at a 90% rate each time the device was used. After much refinement, research and actually using the candy dispensers in the shopping mall, the correct mechanism was applied to the dispenser.

The material of choice for the body of the candy dispenser was PVC foam, as PVC is widely used as containers and is also food safe, and the hopper was made from polypropylene. Clear acrylic washers were and pine wood was also used in the dispenser, as they are all food safe. Adding to that, as the rigid PVC foam was painted with a coat of red acrylic urethane coat and ecotuff clear coat, this added to the further compliance to food safety.

Sending a flat packed present to someone which would bring a pleasant surprise to them I though would be a candy dispenser, as this would be used over and over again, it would also be placed where it would remind the user/owner of the sender and the sweet gift they sent them.

Annie Leonard: The Story of Stuff ( week 7)

Annie Leonard’s video mainly discusses America’s contribution towards resources and waste, none the less it has still opened up my doors a bit more into this big worlds of ours. A lot discussed by Annie in this video, I was not aware of prior to watching it. Discussion and an insight of how the world operates in it's economy's and how it is controlled like a monopoly I found interesting.

Further more learning that 50% of us taxes are contributed to the us military annually, would have been the biggest take home message for me. As this has nothing to do with design, it interested me in a new light thinking about how much terrorists they may have prevented by dosing so much money in their military.

Materials and resources are an important part of our every day life, and as Leonard’s elaborates a numerous amount of times in the video, we are using more then our share which is twice the amount 50 years ago. This means we are not contributing as much back to the environment then we taking out of it. By this I have also learnt we all lose out, we lose out on our health and mostly our future generations health and lifestyles due to the toxins in the environment.

The golden arrow rule I think would be very important to know as an industrial designer, by now having a deeper knowledge into how the world operates with its products, making the use of buying goods and making it a ritual would benefit me as an industrial designer. This would mean the product being designed would have to have emotions to satisfy the buyers. Following this the ascetic’s of the product would then have to be even more appealing as Annie says on a daily average we are attacked by up to 3000 advertisements daily.

The Knuckle Grip ( hand held excercising device)

The Knuckle Grip.
A hand held exercising device,

My target market was aimed towards males of 25-30 year of age, they would have a busy social life and as well as having a stable job with a reasonable income to be well off in this modern society. The occupation the males would fall in into the white color category. Why a hand exercising device? Well being a businessman who likes to party after a long days worth of work he would need to keep fit as well. So the aim of the brief was to make a hand tool that would create an enriching experience. By taking the above into consideration the knuckle grip was then developed as the male could carry this device around anywhere and keep fit, as typing on the comp for 8 hours+ per day would make the hands feel a little neglected from excercise.

The knuckle grip needed to fulfill a pleasure analysis which consisted of four sub groups, being of physio, socio, psycho, and ideology. The form of the knuckle grip was then firstly explored, the form was mainly derived from existing products that the male of the target market already owned. Items that were explored were previous hand grip devices, shavers, camping equipment to belts. Numerous sketches were sketched out to become the possible form.

Psychological benefits to what the product could bring came next on the list of what was to be the knuckle grip. Having research carried out with various males within my target market it became evident that I could not get a specific sizing for the knuckle grip device. Internet searching with books and encyclopedia’s such s the ergonomics and human factors guide lead me to the proportions of what the size of the hand grip device should be, and it was then settles that the device would come in two sizes as males within my target market had two dominant hand sizes in which the hand size varies in. Other things taken into consideration of the knuckle grip was the resistance it would give to the user, 80lbs was finalized as conventional products on the shelf for the average Joe was 80lbs. The resistance of the knuckle grip was also very important to take into consideration as part of the enriching experience for the consumer would be to stabilize vibrations and impact motions which would be inflicted upon the fingers when the device is used. The reason for this is because the lower part of the deice would sit in the hand and any part of the device in contact with the hands would be sprung weight causing the vibrations to damage joint in the long run.

Innovation to the product was also a must to actually meet my requirements of ideology, as was explained before the shock of the device could actually cause a flaw in the use of the product which would be opposite to enriching he's experience. Versa flex was the material of choice to solve this problem. Having the properties to absorb shock and haveing soft flexable feel, versa flex would be injection molded onto the handles and the core of the device, by doing this it eliminated the shock which you would expect in ordinary hand grip devices. The shaping of the finger guides were also a must as the fingers are doing the work in this device, as your fingers are tensing the muscles from your fingertips up to your fore arm, this creates torque and friction. By eliminating the grip on the top proportion of the device and leaving it of a polished aluminum surface, the user's fingers would glide with ease, minimizing the friction and creating a more pleasurable product to use.




(Click for a enlarged version)

Sketches from Design o8

Product name: MIZ (Coffee table)

Designer: Babak Aryaie

Year of creation: 2008

Why i choose it:
The Form of this coffee table caught my eye the first time i saw it. Other reasons why i choose it is because of how it is constructed, it had me guessing wether it was one sheet of meatal folded or was it welded?. As its construction is made of aluminium it is also light it weight where it looks like it weights a lot








Product name: Thompson Coupling


Designer: Thompson Couplings LTD


Year of creation: 2007


Why i choose it: This mechanical device has solved a 400 year old puzzle, which is already a very valid reason why i choose it. The coupling is able to keep a constant velocity even when turning.




Product name: Goggomobil Dart


Designer: Bill Buckle


Year of creation: 1957


Why i choose it: The Goggomobil is a vechicle whichi think is made of simplicity. The simplicaty of the actual form drew me to investage further to then relise the car is not like any conventional car. The Goggomobil with headlights like a porche has no panels, this would have been a interesting task in the 50's - 60's to manufacture.





Product name: Talon Chair

Designer: David Granger and Bryan marshall


Year of creation: 1997-2000


Why i choose it: The reason why i choose this chair is because of the fast that it is made of carbon fibre. Being into fast cars, one knows carbon fibre is lightweight and also gives properties which are of high stength. Having read into carbon fibre and the processes involved in makeing anything from the Carbon fibre, manufacturing a chair that is stackable is just genius to me.




Product name: Vermitech worm farm

Designer:


Year of creation: 1997-2000


Why i choose it: Having much advertising pushed daily about enviromental awareness and what is happening into this world of our's, the Vermitech worm farm is a great solution to minimise waste scraps. As mostof our rubbish leads to land fills which will eventually run out, by having a worm farm and eliminating just a bit of our waste will contribute towards helping the enviroment.

Paul Bennet (week 5 )

Having watched the previous video's on new ways to gather data for design and how to make it of use, I will start with the most significant take home messages from this video. Paul Bennet talks about he's theory's such examples of "small is the big new" this is very interesting, as most good designs are nurtured with idea's Bennet gives some very great examples. Before watching this video the only way I saw design was by being inspired by something small as Paul explains and then brainstorming and then mapping out things in relation to the subject, then cutting out the bad ideas. This to an extent is somehow wrong and can get very message and can lead to getting off task, as Paul explained that we should do is "use the world around us to create solutions". This message I think will help me to pin point ideas more clearly the next time I have an idea in my head. The quotes "use your eyes to create possibility's" and the examples of emphasizing will help my growth as a designer, as I most probably wont be designing products for my self, but to a whole new other market which will have a different life style and taste to myself.

Yves Behar's (week 4)

The most significant message Absorbed after viewing Yves Behar's video would be to design something with more then just form and ascetics, but also with values and meaning. Examples such as the matt that can be folded into a table and stool has much more value behind it as opposed to being just a product. Designers also face with the problem of planning ahead, this planning would have to involve the product being sustainable, functionable and uses low power. There is no point in designing a product that looks very well but does no perform the task. Inspirations that lead to a design is also a good way of building up the design as it has meaning behind it, this is much like chasing that dream. Fighting with suppliers and not giving up doing things different for the better is also another key concept to keep in mind. As a industrial designer we must think of the values of the product and as Yves said, we may be able to change the world.

Ross lovegrove (Organic design)

After watching Ross Lovegroves video, I have learnt a new style of design of having it based around only natural forms. Having heard of many styles of designing before, having designs based only from nature and what is around us, Ross’s designs go to a whole new level. The DNA (Design, Nature and Art) approach is a good benchmark for he’s design. From what Ross has explained I can really see the truth behind what designs are becoming like in the 21st century, examples for this is much like the Water drop shaped car. In the early 80’s and 90’s all cars were pretty much very blocky and did not have much curves at all, but now in 2008 every single car has curves whether it’s at the front or rear of the vehicle.

Going into detail of modern technology and materials it has now also come apparent to me of what we can achieve in our designs for designers. Examples include of thinner and lighter materials which have the ability to bend and stretch to new lengths. This new technology will then allow us to design products which will take form as never seen before. The research and self inspired work from Ross, would impact industrial designers as many of the shapes and form’s he introduces into he’s designs are based around out every day lives.

Video one, David Kelley: Human centred design

After viewing this video, I have learnt several things on how designs are based around humans. However I think the most important point which has become very apparent is that, with designs they are constantly changing to benefit humans closely following Maslow’s concept which also incorporate behavior and personalities. The 3 second delay mirror is a perfect example of something that makes things a lot easier for the consumer in a clothing shop, as normally we cannot see the back of our selves this mirror then allows us to making it much easier to do clothes shopping. Foot pedal and LCD doors is another great example I have learnt from this video. As physically closing a door requires strength and contact, the LCD door can be activated via a foot pedal, this minimizes the energy used to close a door and also increases hygiene with the technology. Products such as the Spyfish scuba diver are also a product that has been designed with its own personality, allowing the consumer to scuba dive yet not even touching water. These examples have helped me cone familiar to innovation, making things easier for us humans.

The information has also given me a little more of an insight into design, as there is more to just designing. Projects such as the Approtec inspired me to design something that is very useful yet is low in cost and saves the environment, this is one thing that I will always keep in mind.

Nike Triax vapor 300

Nike has released the Nike Triax vapor 300, a watch in which revolutionizes watch designs. The Nike Triax Vapor 300 released with its futuristic looks and ever changing curves is much like a concept design or model in the making. As the Nike vapor 300 is a running watch designed for running track athletes, it is equipped with a large LCD screen display mounted in an aircraft aluminum casing making it weigh only 40g. The casing of the watch is super thin, as it’s casing, lens and straps have curves which flow to the curvature of the wrist. The shape and form of the vapor 300 screen is not based on the normal conventional circular face but a rectangular face with smooth radiuses, these radiuses are also used in the flow on the straps to how it is attached to the body of the watch. Scale is also used to harmonize the watch as each strap on either side is balanced with a radius. The lines which appear on the watch due to it construction and assembly are also balanced once light is reflected off the curves. Perfectly balanced curved lines are constructed from the face, buttons and strap of the watch
Designed for athletes on the running track, various warm colors are available for the triax vapor 300. The unisex range of colors is available to give the user a confident and comfortable feel. Texture is also used to give the watch a sense of speed, as the face is curved and smooth, leading to the straps where there is texture of a matte effect and smooth ellipses which are carved and punched through the straps. The buttons on the side of the watch extrude out with a solid look, as they are curved inportion to the straps and face of the watch.
Clearly printed on the edges of the face the vapor 300 displays important information for the user to know what each number on the watch represents, displaying stop, start and mode are examples which are printed in black. In red is the stop button, shaped with different scales in diameter on each of its 4 sides. Giving that the watch is used by serious running athletes, the stop button is the most essential button which is clearly displayed in red or black. The stop button is located on the front face of the watch towards the bottom, this location makes the watch unique and more user friendly as its color is very visible.

The overall feel for the watch is speed, as the ever changing curves on the watch are perfectly balanced. An smooth yet solid look is applied to the Nike Triax Vapor 300.

LINE: Fast, flowing lines created by light reflected off the watch

BALANCE: The curvature of the entire watch make it uni sex with a solid feel

CONTRAST: lines based on the Curves which change in contrast due to the angle and amount of light

FORM: Free flowing, organic, aggressive and solidity

FORM: Even though the vapor 300 is thin, the curves consolidate for the solidity

FORM: Fit’s around males and females wrists

COLOR: Variation of warm colors, stimulating the users mind to achieve goals
TEXTURE: Smooth solid mineral glass face, solid lightweight aluminum, smooth buttons and body with textured straps for grip

PROPORTION: large display for easy reading of times, sense of aerodynamics for the face and straps

References:
http://www.nike.com

http://www.nike.com.au/

http://www.wristdreams.com/gallery/watch-photo-gallery-4-2.html

http://www.likecool.com/

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/

http://www.technabob.com/blog/?s=Nike+Triax+Vapor+300&searchbutton=search

http://www.zappos.com

Perfume, yet Clay making

Friday the 1st of august, the very first industrial design studio class for 1031 2008. We had a long day ahead of us as it was a 9-2 class for studio then 2-5 class for materials and technology. The class started off with a course briefing where we got the course outline and was explained what the semester would contain.

After the course outline read out, we had to get into groups of 3. From here in our groups, we were given a scent and a brief to follow.

Shape of a scent
Each group if students will be given a scent to experience. from here we were to mind map what feelings, aspirations, mystery and personality we can reflect upon the scent. we were then told to individually, sculpt a plasticine "container" with the emotion of the fragrance.

I was given scent C, this was a women's perfume by estee lauder.

Time was then given to carry out concept sketches, these sketches would then reflect upon what the final sculpture was to look like. after consultation off a various concepts, Each student was then given a piece of plasticine to work with in the light workshop. Tools were also supplied out to ease the sculpting.

After the plasticine was moulded into the desired shape and 3 hours later, they were brought back into the classroom for marking. The containers were layed out in their groups.

My design.















Scent C*
Once smelt, the first thing that came into my mind was a neutral color that did not have much energy, This was not a hold nor cold colour, but then once smelt again it had a very lavender purple colour. With decussion amost the groups we then came to a few key points about the scent. The scent was a lady's scent, one for a lady in her mid thiry's or so, no to young and no to old, the type for a every day housewife with a little secret. The next major point of the scent was that it had smooth flowing lines with a mysterious sense. A sense of darkness where you wouldnt know what was coming but it was around the corner, it would be a suprise but one that wouldnt have much energy. With the sketches i tryed in incorporate the smooth lines with a mystery behind them. This was done by making layers to cover what was below. Curvy and rounded edge's were key features as to link the mysteriousness of the scent, you just didnt know what was around the corner. The bottle did not have much texture as the smooth free flowing curves from a womens body wanted to be kept. A 2 dimensional look was also desired to keep it looking like it did not have much energy.


Eric chau